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sharkattack
10-26-2009, 08:02 PM
I was at a game this weekend, and was discussing the Ihl during Periods. I was told that the league is looking to add 3 more teams next year. I was told that these teams were Evansville, Battle Creek, and Toleda any truth to this... what are ya'll thats on next season and expansion
pioneer98
10-26-2009, 08:21 PM
Sweet Jesus, I hope you're wrong. This league simply will not die. It's like Jason or Freddy. Come to think of it, the IHL would make a pretty good Halloween costume.
mfrerkes
10-26-2009, 08:31 PM
I was at a game this weekend, and was discussing the Ihl during Periods. I was told that the league is looking to add 3 more teams next year. I was told that these teams were Evansville, Battle Creek, and Toleda any truth to this... what are ya'll thats on next season and expansion
Evansville has already been added. They just need to fix the minor issue of not having an arena to play in right now. To my knowledge, not even so much as a shovel-full of dirt has been turned on Evansville's arena so far. It could be two or three years before such a facility is ready to open. I'm not sure the IHL will make it that long.

Battle Creek was discussed as a potential market last year. Battle Creek is awfully close (25 miles) to Kalamazoo, and I'm sure having an ECHL team right next door will make it tough for the IHL to compete. Also, Battle Creek is only 53,000 people. That small market size could pose even more obstacles to making an IHL team financially viable there.

Toledo is a non-starter right now. They have the ECHL and appear to be supporting the team quite well; leading the league with over 6400 per game. Putting an IHL team in direct competition with the Walleye's customer base would be financial suicide. I doubt Toledo has enough market to support both, and I doubt the IHL could wrest away any significant portion of the ECHL's market share.
FWKRTJ
10-26-2009, 09:04 PM
Evansville could always expand their existing arena for the time being, a la Danbury Trashers style.
mfrerkes
10-26-2009, 09:18 PM
Evansville could always expand their existing arena for the time being, a la Danbury Trashers style.
Swonder Ice Arena has seating for 1,000 in their main rink, and 500 in the other.

Sure, if they tear down some walls and raise the roof...they might be able to get 3,000 in there. Will that be cost-effective for recouping the millions of dollars in construction costs? Most IHL teams can maybe break even with 3,000 fans in attendance.

If expanding the capacity at Swonder was so economically feasible, they'd be doing it already.

Here's a better idea: move the Evansville IceMen to the Polar Dome in East Dundee until their new arena is ready. That proposal worked brilliantly for the Chicago Hounds.
bingdusters
10-26-2009, 09:24 PM
Evansville has already been added. They just need to fix the minor issue of not having an arena to play in right now. To my knowledge, not even so much as a shovel-full of dirt has been turned on Evansville's arena so far. It could be two or three years before such a facility is ready to open. I'm not sure the IHL will make it that long.


Demolition work began last week in Evansville. Arena is scheduled to open Fall 2011.
pioneer98
10-26-2009, 09:32 PM
Demolition work began last week in Evansville. Arena is scheduled to open Fall 2011.

It looks like we may be too late to save Evansville.

Whatever you do, Battle Creek, don't fall asleep. That's when they get you.
Quacky
10-26-2009, 09:40 PM
It looks like we may be too late to save Evansville.

Whatever you do, Battle Creek, don't fall asleep. That's when they get you.

:lmao:
mfrerkes
10-26-2009, 09:42 PM
Arena is scheduled to open Fall 2011.
Okay...so I was right in saying it would be two years before Evansville's arena will open.

I don't see the IHL making it another two years with Flint and Dayton. Both of those teams are bleeding more cash than General Motors with a bad case of hemophilia.
JungleMonkey
10-26-2009, 10:23 PM
Maybe some more half rate AHL teams will lose thier teams and be forced into the IHL against thier will..
mfrerkes
10-26-2009, 10:27 PM
Maybe some more half rate AHL teams will lose thier teams and be forced into the IHL against thier will..
I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. The Iowa Chops simply don't know what they're missing in the IHL...and they're lucky for that!
eddie shore
10-26-2009, 10:46 PM
Demolition work began last week in Evansville. Arena is scheduled to open Fall 2011.

The Evansville Icemen had better get a lease before they start making plans to play there.
mfrerkes
10-26-2009, 11:45 PM
The Evansville Icemen had better get a lease before they start making plans to play there.
Better yet, the Evansville Icemen had better have a league to play in two years.

They'll look kinda funny playing themselves 76 times per year because the IHL folded during the previous season.
TheGreaser
10-27-2009, 12:04 AM
Battle Creek seats around 800 I believe. I doubt thats workable for the IHL purposes.
mfrerkes
10-27-2009, 12:30 AM
Battle Creek seats around 800 I believe. I doubt thats workable for the IHL purposes.
It could work for Dayton right now. Might even cut down their overhead by a little bit.
amc155
10-27-2009, 10:50 AM
It could work for Dayton right now. Might even cut down their overhead by a little bit.

Give us a bit of a break, we've had ONE non-Sunday home game. :sad: Sunday games around here have never had great attendance.
bingdusters
10-27-2009, 06:26 PM
Give us a bit of a break, we've had ONE non-Sunday home game. :sad: Sunday games around here have never had great attendance.

Better get used to them for awhile. For the first half of the home schedule, the Gems play 13 times on either Sunday or Wednesday. It won't be until February before the home schedule gets more favorable.
Quacky
10-27-2009, 09:13 PM
Give us a bit of a break, we've had ONE non-Sunday home game. :sad: Sunday games around here have never had great attendance.

Don't feel too bad....we've only had one home game. Period. For a huge total of 2 games played!!!
VDOJAQ
10-28-2009, 09:47 PM
Swonder Ice Arena has seating for 1,000 in their main rink, and 500 in the other.

Sure, if they tear down some walls and raise the roof...they might be able to get 3,000 in there. Will that be cost-effective for recouping the millions of dollars in construction costs? Most IHL teams can maybe break even with 3,000 fans in attendance.

If expanding the capacity at Swonder was so economically feasible, they'd be doing it already.

Here's a better idea: move the Evansville IceMen to the Polar Dome in East Dundee until their new arena is ready. That proposal worked brilliantly for the Chicago Hounds.

Here is the best idea. Why don't you move out of your Mother's basement and get a life? :shake: