ECHL could be looking at a "Fresno" again.

[Thatkid]

I heard out of Bako that the West might be minus a team by Christmas. Anyone else heard this?

[hockey]

Stockton 6697 No
Ontario 5554 No
Bakersfield 4764 No
Alaska 4655 No
Vegas 4081 No
Victoria 3984 No
Utah 3966 they pay no rent as they are part owned by the county.
Idaho 3956 No

[Thatkid]

There is a yes in there for sure. Those numbers don't mean anything.

[puckyduck]

ECHL could be looking at a "Fresno" again

Is the AHL in need of one more team, or are they all set?

With the relationship Bako has with Anaheim, would their be any benefit to them (Bako) going to the AHL?

Speaking of Fresno though.. I sure miss them. San Diego too. :sad:

[mfrerkes]

With the relationship Bako has with Anaheim, would their be any benefit to them (Bako) going to the AHL?
Unless the city wants to underwrite a huge travel subsidy (like Abbotsford does) the cost structure of the AHL would make it tough for Bakersfield to break even with 4,700 per game showing up.

There's also the issue of having an available AHL franchise to place in Bakersfield. The only franchise not currently accounted for is Iowa, and that is all tied up in court right now. Polk County won't allow the team to be moved if Schlegel Sports sells the franchise. They have a non-relocation agreement that runs through 2015 to ensure an AHL team is located at Wells Fargo Arena.

[TIO]

I heard out of Bako that the West might be minus a team by Christmas. Anyone else heard this?

Yep... I've heard just that. I think it will surprise everybody.

[Pete]

Any update? I see where Bakersfield had 8K the other night.....

[Thatkid]

From what I hear the AHL is coming maybe as soon as next season, with Bako, Ontario, Stockton, and maybe Utah making the switch. That would up the Ahl at their 5 teams out West which is what they forecasted with the Stars starting this season.

Tio.....Dare I say who is on the way out?

Which means that the West Coast League or the CHL may come into play for the other teams not moving to the A.

[Quacky]

I hate to throw a wrench in this, but where are the AHL franchises coming from? Five AHL teams are moving from the East to the West?

Not that it's inconceivable or won't happen......but there are no available franchises at this moment. The 30th franchise (Des Moines) is tied up in court. Could possibly be a long time before that one frees up! And Austin is playing without a franchise right now.....with an agreement that they'll have one by the beginning of next season. As it stands now, they can't ever have the Des Moines franchise (conflict of interest).

[Thatkid]

I hate to throw a wrench in this, but where are the AHL franchises coming from? Five AHL teams are moving from the East to the West?

Not that it's inconceivable or won't happen......but there are no available franchises at this moment. The 30th franchise (Des Moines) is tied up in court. Could possibly be a long time before that one frees up! And Austin is playing without a franchise right now.....with an agreement that they'll have one by the beginning of next season. As it stands now, they can't ever have the Des Moines franchise (conflict of interest).



Think about what you just said. Anything is possible. No wrench, this is something that has been talked about for awhile. And if you look at the movement over the past few years that's what it spells. Cost effective is the name of the game. And I said nothing about Des Moines. If the AHL always followed their own rules Texas wouldn't be playing right now. As you pointed out.

[caps06]

So, does the fact that it's now the All-Star Break mean that whichever team was on the verge of folding isn't? And will play out the season?