Davenport out in Vegas? Could he return to Fresno?

[hockey]

So Davenport is out of Vegas. In a perfect world he could return to Fresno where he has already revived a franchise once.

[mike]

Where did you hear this, I haven't seen anything on Davenport being out in Vegas?

[hockey]

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/wranglers-experience-lean-times-79750367.html

"Charles Davenport, the team's principal owner since its inception in Las Vegas in 2003, recently sold his share to co-owner Jonathan Fleisig, who also owns the Bakersfield (Calif.) Condors."

[mike]

Wow! Davenport is still listed on the Wranglers website as primary owner (at least he was last night). I doubt he'll return to Fresno, he wasn't that happy with how things went here. The City puts up roadblocks to everything (though that has gotten better) and made life tough for him here. It would be nice to hope but I think his pockets aren't quite as deep as they used to be.

oh and just in case GO FALCONS!

[hawkeybawl]

Wouldn't the junior team that now plays in Selland Arena have something to say about a pro team moving in?

I would think they have a lease, wouldn't they?

Fresno couldn't support a minor league team, how would they support a pro team AND a junior team?

[mike]

The junior team plays at Selland arena, if someone wanted to put a pro team in Save Mart Center I don't think they'd have anything to say about it. The junior team is also currently (though hopefully not next year) tier III junior B and plays in the WSHL with all other league teams playing in rec rinks so I don't think there'd be much of an argument to stop the pro team from moving in. This is very, very low level junior hockey (but fun too watch). The Monsters have been a great success but mostly due to low overhead of the WSHL. They are supposed to move up to the NAHL which will incur brutal travel costs but still low overhead compared with a pro team. I have no doubt that a pro team can survive and even thrive in Fresno if it is run properly and if the economy continues on an uptick but it's a tough one to jump into for sure!

Falcon Fan FOREVER!

GO MONSTERS!
BEAT THE GULLS!