Seattle's AHL Affiliate Will be Known As Coachella Valley Firebirds

[Adam Michaels]

Click to read more...

 

[Mike Jones]

Should be this oldie and goodie:

 

[JMCx4]

So where's the backstory on successfully appealing the trademark rejection?

ETA: Thanks @Adam Michaels.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[JMCx4]

Good excuse to schedule another SoCal AHL hockey road trip for The JMCs. I hope the enthusiasm lasts until 2022-23 - and beyond.

 

[fivehole32]

I think there will be a pretty good following here in the desert for this team. With a poorly run rink that closed because of covid, we were able to have an eight team hockey league, high school hockey team as well as house hockey. This local rink did nothing as far as outreach, and I talked to snowbirds daily at my business that had no idea that there was a rink in the Coachella Valley. So with outreach and community involvement I think this team and the arena facility will be a home run.

 

[President of Hockey]

Nice logo, the name is meh, plus there is already a Firebird team in Flint...

 

[JMCx4]

Nice logo, the name is meh, plus there is already a Firebird team in Flint...

The Flint team owners don't seem to mind.

 

[gstommylee]

Nice logo, the name is meh, plus there is already a Firebird team in Flint...

The OHL team gave them the okay to use it.

 

[JMCx4]

The OHL team gave them the okay to use it.

I reckon @President of Hockey was hoping for another Admirals team in the League.

 

[G50]

With this new franchise likely going to the Pacific division, does this mean Colorado or Henderson are moving to the Central? Because otherwise the Pacific is going to have 10 teams.

 

[royals119]

With this new franchise likely going to the Pacific division, does this mean Colorado or Henderson are moving to the Central? Because otherwise the Pacific is going to have 10 teams.

With all the AHL teams playing the same number of game starting next season, there is one less obstacle to Colorado moving to the central division. It wouldn't be all that surprising to see them stay in the pacific though. The AHL really isn't concerned that much about having equal sized divisions, or a balanced schedule. The are concerned about travel. Moving Colorado to the central doesn't change much for them, since they are probably flying a lot anyway. It does increase travel for the five team upper midwest cluster in the central though. Those teams might feel like they are already burdened with long travel to Texas and Manitoba, and not want to add Colorado. Might be considered more "fair" to have only two outliers in the central and two outliers in the pacific vs 3 in the central and one in the pacific. Of course the (soon to be) 8 team cluster of south-west teams in the Pacific would probably prefer to get Colorado out of their division, which would reduce their travel, and there are more of them, so maybe they can out vote the midwest teams.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

With all the AHL teams playing the same number of game starting next season, there is one less obstacle to Colorado moving to the central division. It wouldn't be all that surprising to see them stay in the pacific though. The AHL really isn't concerned that much about having equal sized divisions, or a balanced schedule. The are concerned about travel. Moving Colorado to the central doesn't change much for them, since they are probably flying a lot anyway. It does increase travel for the five team upper midwest cluster in the central though. Those teams might feel like they are already burdened with long travel to Texas and Manitoba, and not want to add Colorado. Might be considered more "fair" to have only two outliers in the central and two outliers in the pacific vs 3 in the central and one in the pacific. Of course the (soon to be) 8 team cluster of south-west teams in the Pacific would probably prefer to get Colorado out of their division, which would reduce their travel, and there are more of them, so maybe they can out vote the midwest teams.

If the AHL were to go 8-8-8-8 Grand Rapids to the North and Colorado and Tucson to the Central, but like you said it won't happen because of the additional travel and number of outliers per division.

 

[LadyStanley]

Jersey reveal

 

[mk80]

Jersey reveal

I've got to say how I love that everything so far is not an exact copy of the Kraken jerseys, identity, etc.

 

[JMCx4]

@ 4 PM Pacific today (1/26/22)

Announcement player embedded in this KESQ-TV post ... Live @ 4PM: Coachella Valley arena name announcement - KESQ

 

[JMCx4]

<The crowd is gathering. There is a breathless excitement hovering just out of reach above them ...>

 

[JMCx4]

Their "live feed" ain't quite live.

 

[JMCx4]

Seinfeld's "David Puddy" was the opening speaker. Need I say more?

 

[JMCx4]

Acrisure Arena ...

ETA: Opening in December 2022.

 

[JMCx4]

WHO???

 

[JMCx4]

From the horse's mouth ... Acrisure and Oak View Group Announce 10-Year Naming Rights For Coachella Valley Arena

 

[LadyStanley]

At least visiting teams can fly into SeaTac. Guessing Kraken will be paying difference in airfare vs bus travel costs.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

AHL recognizes and officially welcomes Coachella Valley fanbase as the 32nd franchise