Utica Comets May Leave at the End of 2018/ 2019 Season

[Barclay Donaldson]

Hartford Echl would never work The locals did not react well to going to the AHL from the NHL in the 90s An echl move would be even worse

They might not have many other options for in-state hockey if Spectrum chooses to move them. UConn announced last month plans for an on-campus arena and will move out of the XL Center in 2021 and the EC has been moving into a lot of East Coast markets who have lost their AHL teams.

But Connecticut has faced this issue since well before the Whalers left. It's a state split between Boston and NY. Hartford has set their goal of becoming a stable minor league market. They have local ownership who attracted the Yard Goats a few years ago, now with a large following and regular sellouts after they branded, marketed, promoted, and engaged it to the community very well, and will soon have Hartford Athletic of the USL who will conduct business in a similar manner. The city has found a formula for success that the AHL isn't compatible with while the ECHL is. Local ownership is something increasingly fewer AHL have and will have while the EC thrives off it.

I can't see too many scenarios where Hartford doesn't end up with an EC team under local ownership and operating much like the Yard Goats and the Athletic. Hockey fans are a different breed and, like you mentioned, won't be happy about the drop in level of play, but it seems like a very likely scenario.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

They might not have many other options for in-state hockey if Spectrum chooses to move them. UConn announced last month plans for an on-campus arena and will move out of the XL Center in 2021 and the EC has been moving into a lot of East Coast markets who have lost their AHL teams.

But Connecticut has faced this issue since well before the Whalers left. It's a state split between Boston and NY. Hartford has set their goal of becoming a stable minor league market. They have local ownership who attracted the Yard Goats a few years ago, now with a large following and regular sellouts after they branded, marketed, promoted, and engaged it to the community very well, and will soon have Hartford Athletic of the USL who will conduct business in a similar manner. The city has found a formula for success that the AHL isn't compatible with while the ECHL is. Local ownership is something increasingly fewer AHL have and will have while the EC thrives off it.

I can't see too many scenarios where Hartford doesn't end up with an EC team under local ownership and operating much like the Yard Goats and the Athletic. Hockey fans are a different breed and, like you mentioned, won't be happy about the drop in level of play, but it seems like a very likely scenario.

uh, it will never happen, might as well shuffle Bridgeport and Springfield then to the ECHL, AND THEN what happens if MSG says NO, Barclay, Spectra doesn't own Hartford, any more than Esche owns Utica, and the common link is Spectra, that is why the Rangers ended the affiliation with Greenville, ans shifted to Portland, in fact, the first hire Portland made came directly from Hartford's XL Center ops

 

[Centrum Hockey]

They might not have many other options for in-state hockey if Spectrum chooses to move them. UConn announced last month plans for an on-campus arena and will move out of the XL Center in 2021 and the EC has been moving into a lot of East Coast markets who have lost their AHL teams.

But Connecticut has faced this issue since well before the Whalers left. It's a state split between Boston and NY. Hartford has set their goal of becoming a stable minor league market. They have local ownership who attracted the Yard Goats a few years ago, now with a large following and regular sellouts after they branded, marketed, promoted, and engaged it to the community very well, and will soon have Hartford Athletic of the USL who will conduct business in a similar manner. The city has found a formula for success that the AHL isn't compatible with while the ECHL is. Local ownership is something increasingly fewer AHL have and will have while the EC thrives off it.

I can't see too many scenarios where Hartford doesn't end up with an EC team under local ownership and operating much like the Yard Goats and the Athletic. Hockey fans are a different breed and, like you mentioned, won't be happy about the drop in level of play, but it seems like a very likely scenario.

despite what some people may think the ECHL has not been overwhelmingly embraced by some Former ahl markets
Manchester Monarchs [AHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com
Manchester Monarchs [ECHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com
Norfolk Admirals [AHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com
Norfolk Admirals [ECHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

despite what some people may think the ECHL has not been overwhelmingly embraced by some Former ahl markets
Manchester Monarchs [AHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com
Manchester Monarchs [ECHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com
Norfolk Admirals [AHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com
Norfolk Admirals [ECHL] yearly attendance at hockeydb.com

add to that jury is still out on Newfoundland and Portland

 

[PCSPounder]

I don't think Vancouver was waiting for "whether" Seattle would happen. I think they were waiting for an indication of WHEN Seattle would happen.

The indications on the BoH board, complete with some media input, says Seattle won't start playing until 2021. There's some consternation that the original promise of 2020 appears to not be likely.

So it seems the Canucks could sign a 3-year deal, perhaps Seattle doesn't wind up an AHL team for a year, and THEN teams move. At least that's a possibility.

 

[go comets]

The Canucks could sign a 50 year contract with Utica and still leave whenever they choose.... These Contracts are worth nothing....

 

[Centrum Hockey]

The Canucks could sign a 50 year contract with Utica and still leave whenever they choose.... These Contracts are worth nothing....

Even if there is a clause that Negotiated Vancouver must have another team assume the lease. Vancouver may not make the clause AHL specific leaving the door open to placing a ECHL or Junior team in utica which The Canucks can later sell to a local owner.

 

[JMCx4]

Even if there is a clause that Negotiated Vancouver must have another team assume the lease Vancouver may not make the clause AHL specific leaving the door open to placing a ECHL or Junior team in utica which The Canucks can later sell to a local owner

I'm glad you didn't put a period at the end of all that, Js, or I would've been really confused.

 

[axecrew]

Canucks' owner Francesco Aquilini talked about the possibility of having an AHL team playing closer to home on Thursday morning.

The Vancouver Canucks’ lease at Utica’s Memorial Auditorium is up at the end of this season.
The Canucks own the Utica Comets and the American Hockey League has played there since 2013.

Vancouver's contract...agreement...blood pact...whatever you want to call it ENDS at the end of the 18-19 season. When that time comes they will have completed and fulfilled each and every bit of the term and conditions of said contract. At that point they are FREE...just like Dobby...they are FREE. Free to do whatever the hell they want with absolutely NO penalty whatsoever. If they decide to move closer to BC and or Vancouver...tough shit Bobby and his arena guys...it will then be up to Bobby and the Boys to secure another team, if thats the way they want to go...NOT Vancouver...remember they are FREE like Dobby.

 

[PCSPounder]

The Canucks could sign a 50 year contract with Utica and still leave whenever they choose.... These Contracts are worth nothing....

They're not worth "nothing." Usually, a departure clause is written into a contract.

I imagine there's been an instance or two where contracts were actually broken and end up in court. Usually, however, contracts simply have loopholes you wish didn't exist.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Time to stir the pot...given the improvments that Utica has made to the Aud and the surrounding area, and the near tooth pulling effort it takes to get Onondaga County to do anything to the ancient, POS crypt that the Crunch have to play in as well as the lack of support activity around the dump also known as the Oncenter, would it be asking too much for Dolgon and the Lightning to look at paying the leaving early fine, packing the bags, and moving the Crunch 40 miles or so East? Fire at will.

 

[UticaHockey]

Time to stir the pot...given the improvments that Utica has made to the Aud and the surrounding area, and the near tooth pulling effort it takes to get Onondaga County to do anything to the ancient, POS crypt that the Crunch have to play in as well as the lack of support activity around the dump also known as the Oncenter, would it be asking too much for Dolgon and the Lightning to look at paying the leaving early fine, packing the bags, and moving the Crunch 40 miles or so East? Fire at will.

Didn't Dolgon just sign a new long term lease with the county to keep the Crunch in Syracuse? I'd love to see that happen but doubt it will. On a similar but unrelated topic the arena soccer team moved from Syracuse to Utica this season and played their first home game last Sunday. Not sold out but they had a nice crowd and was well received.

 

[210]

Vancouver's contract...agreement...blood pact...whatever you want to call it ENDS at the end of the 18-19 season. When that time comes they will have completed and fulfilled each and every bit of the term and conditions of said contract. At that point they are FREE...just like Dobby...they are FREE. Free to do whatever the hell they want with absolutely NO penalty whatsoever. If they decide to move closer to BC and or Vancouver...tough **** Bobby and his arena guys...it will then be up to Bobby and the Boys to secure another team, if thats the way they want to go...NOT Vancouver...remember they are FREE like Dobby.

Despite using Dobby twice you can only earn a +1 for each post once...

 

[Captain Crash]

Time to stir the pot...given the improvments that Utica has made to the Aud and the surrounding area, and the near tooth pulling effort it takes to get Onondaga County to do anything to the ancient, POS crypt that the Crunch have to play in as well as the lack of support activity around the dump also known as the Oncenter, would it be asking too much for Dolgon and the Lightning to look at paying the leaving early fine, packing the bags, and moving the Crunch 40 miles or so East? Fire at will.

The Oncenter just received a fairly significant upgrade this year.

 

[JMCx4]

Despite using Dobby twice you can only earn a +1 for each post once...

But can he get another +1/2 for using Bobby AND Dobby twice each in a post?

 

[Crunchrulz]

The Oncenter just received a fairly significant upgrade this year.

Take a long look at what they did to the Oncenter and what Utica has done to the Aud. It is a night and day difference. Syracuse sports world will always circle around SU regardless of what the Crunch or the Mets do. To the local new agencies, our AAA level teams are little more than a side show to what happens on "the hill".. In Utica, there would be no such distraction to take the attention away from the Crunch. Look at the way the Utica area goes hog wild over the Comets. Just look at what the 50/50 usually is and that tells you just a tease about how strongly they support their team.
As for the Oncneter, there is only so much perfume you can put on a pile of poop before the smell is no longer able to be disguised. It was an awesome arena when it was built in the 1950s, but it is sadly out dated now. The local baseball team can draw less than 4k per game yet still play in a county built facility that is less than half the age of what the Crunch are stuck in. Take away the 36 or so home games a year the Crunch play, and they might as well just tear that place down and the only ones who will miss it are the veterans who have resisted all attempts to build a replacement. Ale and Angus is the only place to stop after the game within safe walking distance, and they are having problems keeping the doors open due to just how bad the neighborhood around the Oncenter is.
Dolgon has said many times that he would not think of moving the Crunch from Syracuse until they won a title. Utica is still in Central NY, and less than a 45 minute drive from Syracuse. Money talks, and if the Comets leave Utica, I think Dolgon will have to listen to the offers from Utica just as the soccer team did.

 

[UticaHockey]

Dolgon and Esche would make a good partnership. Still don't see it happening though.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Dolgon and Esche would make a good partnership. Still don't see it happening though.

Totally agree. We can hope, as stranger things have happened. If Dolgon is going to make money while getting your traditional STRONG support from the community and Esche is going to keep hockey in Utica .......

 

[210]

But can he get another +1/2 for using Bobby AND Dobby twice each in a post?

 

[Centrum Hockey]

Take a long look at what they did to the Oncenter and what Utica has done to the Aud. It is a night and day difference. Syracuse sports world will always circle around SU regardless of what the Crunch or the Mets do. To the local new agencies, our AAA level teams are little more than a side show to what happens on "the hill".. In Utica, there would be no such distraction to take the attention away from the Crunch. Look at the way the Utica area goes hog wild over the Comets. Just look at what the 50/50 usually is and that tells you just a tease about how strongly they support their team.
As for the Oncneter, there is only so much perfume you can put on a pile of poop before the smell is no longer able to be disguised. It was an awesome arena when it was built in the 1950s, but it is sadly out dated now. The local baseball team can draw less than 4k per game yet still play in a county built facility that is less than half the age of what the Crunch are stuck in. Take away the 36 or so home games a year the Crunch play, and they might as well just tear that place down and the only ones who will miss it are the veterans who have resisted all attempts to build a replacement. Ale and Angus is the only place to stop after the game within safe walking distance, and they are having problems keeping the doors open due to just how bad the neighborhood around the Oncenter is.
Dolgon has said many times that he would not think of moving the Crunch from Syracuse until they won a title. Utica is still in Central NY, and less than a 45 minute drive from Syracuse. Money talks, and if the Comets leave Utica, I think Dolgon will have to listen to the offers from Utica just as the soccer team did.

Wasn't there a rumor a while back that the lightning where mulling placing a AHL team closer to Florida Vinik would probably pay More for the team than Esche whould.

 

[gianni]

Hope the Comets stay in Utica. I like the idea of sending prospects out-of-province away from the local media/spotlight. Also, the fan support there is great, and it's nice to see Canuck prospects develop a following/support on the east coast.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Wasn't there a rumor a while back that the lightning where mulling placing a AHL team closer to Florida Vinik would probably pay More for the team than Esche whould.

There was some talk about moving the AHL team to the ECHL home in Orlando, which would have been a dream match-up for Bolts fans. Unfortunately, logistics wise, it would be a financial nightmare for the cost of teams having to travel so far south of Charlotte to play Orlando.

 

[Centrum Hockey]

Hope the Comets stay in Utica. I like the idea of sending prospects out-of-province away from the local media/spotlight. Also, the fan support there is great, and it's nice to see Canuck prospects develop a following/support on the east coast.

Would you feel you the same way about the Canucks if Vancouver puts a echl team with a Canucks affiliation in utica and moves the AHL team Elsewhere like Manchester NH and the kings.

 

[axecrew]

LOL That's funny guys...loved the comments...just had to use the Harry Potter reference to illustrate that at seasons end Vancouver is free to do what they want. Maybe they sign for another couple of years to bring them up to the time Seattle comes in with their AHL affiliate and then move with them?

 

[Nightsquad]

I think the Comets and Vancouver relationship has been great, and the market deserves it continued. I hope though that "IF" the day comes whereby the AHL can no longer stay in Utica the market does the stand up thing by supporting which ever replacement league. If this happens to be the ECHL I think Utica, Adirondack, and Worcester would be solid franchises in the north division. I dont see things going well for Manchester or Portland. Manchester wont be around too long and there will be opportunities for the ECHL to make some moves, especially with the AHL looking westward in newer larger markets with larger buildings and major league amenities.