Professional hockey returning to Madison, Wisconsin

[FWKRTJ]

Website (http://www.madisonprohockey.com/)

Quad City, Chicago, Bloomington and Madison in the west...

Fort Wayne, Port Huron, Kalamazoo, Muskegon in the east (maybe Flint?)

Rumor going around is that they are IHL bound...but regardless, it looks like professional hockey is coming back to Madison.

[foulball]

Personally, I think it would be crazy to try. Plus-with the way the economy is-they're going to have ytouble finding corporate sponsors.

[hockey]

"We are currently in negotiations with Madison-area venues"

This is a single A operation. AA teams don't negotiate with area venues. There is only one building an AA team could go into. Sharing with UW is not likely.

[silvershoes]

This is a single A operation. AA teams don't negotiate with area venues. There is only one building an AA team could go into. Sharing with UW is not likely.
You know this - how?

IHL could go to Madison (http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090224/BLOGS11/902249887)

More on Madison (http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/sports/tailingthekomets/?p=1483)

[foulball]

I would definitely go to games if a team comes to Madison. But to compare hockey to the Mallards (summer college league team that draws 6,000 avg. over 34 games), is crazy. The Mallards play in a park that has few costs, and they keep concessions-so they are able to keep the prices low

[VDOJAQ]

"We are currently in negotiations with Madison-area venues"

This is a single A operation. AA teams don't negotiate with area venues. There is only one building an AA team could go into. Sharing with UW is not likely.

Could you explain your point here? " AA teams don't negotiate with area venues"
If you do not own your own arena , then who would you negotiate with? Area movie theaters?

[evasvilleicemen]

Could you explain your point here? " AA teams don't negotiate with area venues"
If you do not own your own arena , then who would you negotiate with? Area movie theaters?

I think the point he was trying to make, and correct me if I am wrong, is that there are not multiple venues that would require "negotiations" that are the size that could support a AA team. Where as there may be multiple smaller venues capable of support a single A team that would merit negotiations.

I don't know much about the aren, but I can't imagine there are multiple 7000-8000 seat arenas around there that can support ice.

[hockey]

I think the point he was trying to make, and correct me if I am wrong, is that there are not multiple venues that would require "negotiations" that are the size that could support a AA team. Where as there may be multiple smaller venues capable of support a single A team that would merit negotiations.

I don't know much about the aren, but I can't imagine there are multiple 7000-8000 seat arenas around there that can support ice.

We have a winner!

[foulball]

The web-site still says that there is going to be a team. The only other arenas in Madison that I know of are on the east-side of Madison (Hartmeyer), which can hold 2,200, one in Oregon, and one in McFarland. The Colisseum hold 8,700 for hockey, but alot of the seats have a bad site-line, and all of the concession revenue goes to the county. Plus you have to pay for parking. I do have to say that even though the team has had huge crowds, alot of the enthusiasm seems to be gone from Badgers hockey games. Of course everything seems more somber the last couple of years. we need to get this economy going!!!

[QCfan]

Well, if they get a team...I hope whoever is charge of picking our the jerseys has better taste than what those poor Monsters had to wear. Ouch! They were really bad!!! :happy:

[arlingtonway]

just got this email





The Madison Professional Hockey Club

Thanks to everyone for joining the Madison Professional Hockey Club's mailing list. This mailing list will serve as a newsletter for fans, with all the latest news on the team. Be sure to check our web site, www.madisonprohockey.com, for the latest information on the team. We will also be giving more details soon on our press conference to be held April 15th. At that time, we will announce the winning team name and unveil the team's new logo.

Booster Club Founders Needed

One of the most key ingredients to a successful minor league hockey franchise is a strong support base, especially in the form of a booster club. If you are interested in starting up a booster club for the new Madison Professional Hockey Club, please email us at madisonprohockey@gmail.com.

Questions? Comments?

Please email us at madisonprohockey@gmail.com.

[foulball]

Yeah-I got that too. Hopefully they don't get too "cutesy" with the name or marketing.

[foulball]

They said IHL or ECHL. Still wondering how it's going to work out. But hey-me and the wife will be to some games!!! Just keep Leo Hunstiger away from the team.

[Chaulker]

I'm also hearing MWHL or AAHA.

[Twopop44]

It can work if it does not interfer with the Badger games. And possibly fix the sigtlines of the lower part of the arena

[badgerbadger]

I hate to spoil the party, but the team will be playing at Hartmeyer and yes it will be in a single "a" league with the MWHL.

[hockey]

I hate to spoil the party, but the team will be playing at Hartmeyer and yes it will be in a single "a" league with the MWHL.

See post #3.

[FWKRTJ]

I guess if they have good success in the MWHL, maybe they'll end up as an "AA" league before too long...

[foulball]

I don't think that is actually bad news. Their only shot is to keep costs extremely low.

[Dimaline312000]

If this does indeed happen I think that it is great to have hockey back in Madison. I remember the Madison Monsters in the UHL as a Fury fan back then I dreaded playing them because they were very good. Yes the economy is tought right now but if the owners and office staff can be smart about it than I think this team would be successful in the IHL. I hope Madison does come back and I hope it comes to the IHL. The IHL needs more teams. I'm getting really tired of seeing the same 5 teams come to the Walker Arena in Muskegon.

[FWKRTJ]

Rumor has it, the investors pulled out and Madison will not have hockey next season unless something else happens...

[Geoff]

Or if U-Dub still exists. :happy:

[foulball]

Well-it's not too shocking. i saw the highlights for the new indoor football team, and it looked like there were maybe 100 people there.

[badgerbadger]

The jig is up and the new team in Madison is indeed confirmed as an "A" league. :devilish:

http://madisonprohockey.com/

[DrRonDerryJr]

I didn't think they would be bringing in an IHL team. I'm pretty sure the area learned from the Kodiaks and Monsters.

[Geoff]

So this is the other AAHA team.

[foulball]

It just seems to make better sense than trying to compete directly with the Badgers.

[majikle]

The jig is up and the new team in Madison is indeed confirmed as an "A" league. :devilish:

http://madisonprohockey.com/

OK...I read that differently. They could very well be playing in a Single-A league. but what I got out of the statement was that they were going to play in "A" professional hockey league this fall ....of which the league will be named later? Maybe?

.

[Geoff]

Oh so they are still alive. I hadn't even thought to check in on them recently.

[foulball]

Yes-there's supposed to be a news conference soon. It'll be interesting to see if anyone covers the announcement.