Wolfpack staying in Hartford?????

[ks71ny]

Rumors are starting to fly around Albany that when this season is over the Carolina Hurricanes will no longer be affiliated with Albany, instead moving somewhere to a southern city, possibly Charlotte. Already hearing of talks between Albany and New York Rangers. Anyone have any knowledge that could substantiate this?? Whats going on in Hartford???? I am in no way a fan of the Rangers, but think this could be huge for Albany in boosting attendance.

[AlJensen]

Rumors are starting to fly around Albany that when this season is over the Carolina Hurricanes will no longer be affiliated with Albany, instead moving somewhere to a southern city, possibly Charlotte. Already hearing of talks between Albany and New York Rangers. Anyone have any knowledge that could substantiate this?? Whats going on in Hartford???? I am in no way a fan of the Rangers, but think this could be huge for Albany in boosting attendance.

Jason Vogal is from GF and holds a front office position for the Rangers. Two years ago they looked into GF, but then signed either a 5 or 10 year lease to stay in Hartford. He claims they are very happy there. Carolina could be on the move, but the Rangers will not be the new affiliate in Albany if the Canes leave. Rangers deal was for 4 years beginning in 2008 and could last up to 2013.

Montreal might be looking if Hamilton gets their NHL team.

[FireSather16]

I wonder if Brooklyn could be a possibility? I'm sure the Rangers would love to have the pack that close to the Garden. Anybody heard anything about this??

[bingdusters]

Rumors are starting to fly around Albany that when this season is over the Carolina Hurricanes will no longer be affiliated with Albany, instead moving somewhere to a southern city, possibly Charlotte. Already hearing of talks between Albany and New York Rangers. Anyone have any knowledge that could substantiate this?? Whats going on in Hartford???? I am in no way a fan of the Rangers, but think this could be huge for Albany in boosting attendance.

The Rangers still own the Wolfpack franchise. Thus, they simply couldn't move the affiliation to Albany. Either the Rangers would have to sell their franchise to another party interested in an AHL team and then affiliate with Mr. Robb's Riverrat franchise or Mr. Robb would sell his team to a party not interested in keeping it in Albany, opening the door for the Rangers to move in.

As for Brooklyn, it won't be until at least 2013 before anybody is playing in Brooklyn. The hockey team that gets the most discussion about moving there is the NY Islanders.

[ks71ny]

Yea I am not sure but I believe there is going to be something breaking in the news here soon towards seasons end. What I am hearing is Rangers selling their current franchise in the AHL to Carolina for possibly Charlotte or Southern U.S. City which would save them money, then affiliate with Albany River Rats. I am still working sources but apparently this is not a major secret as many booster club and season ticket holders for the River Rats already seem to be well aware of this as I am told.

[FireSather16]

There has been a push for the Islanders to move to Queens, probably next to Citi Field. If that's the case then I see Brooklyn as the likely destination for the Pack.

[ks71ny]

There is no place in Queens for the Islanders right?? The arena in Brooklyn is still years away yet, and I heard the Islanders were looking at Brooklyn. This Brooklyn arena is still what a few years away yet anyway?? Not sure the NY Metro could support the Rangers, Islanders, and an AHL team all in one city but who knows. Baseball works but thats america's game and past time. Football is also different, basketball well we will have to wait and see. Hockey, thats going to be a tough one...The Islanders identify with Long Island, and some fans in Queens who live closer to the Island so they think they are Islanders lol. The Rangers, well thats NYC hockey fans true hockey love. Take the Islanders outta Long Island and they are no longer Islanders! If they move the Islanders from the Island they better change the name.

[Primis]

Charlotte?

The Checkers have building problems, as I recall. I wonder if an AHL team would be treated the same way as an ECHL team there...

I also wonder if being a Canes affiliate would actually do anything to help draw interest, even as a primary.

I'd also like to point out that like Hans has noted in an earlier thread, moving an affiliate closer to parent club saves money on one end, but would then often cost more money on the other side -- in this case, the travel for a Charlotte franchise around the AHL. Hartford's travel expenses at the moment have to be about as low as they could be. Same could be said for Albany So in Carolina's case moving the team closer to them result sin the AHL team then being further away from all the other AHL teams.

[bingdusters]

Charlotte?

The Checkers have building problems, as I recall. I wonder if an AHL team would be treated the same way as an ECHL team there...

I also wonder if being a Canes affiliate would actually do anything to help draw interest, even as a primary.

I'd also like to point out that like Hans has noted in an earlier thread, moving an affiliate closer to parent club saves money on one end, but would then often cost more money on the other side -- in this case, the travel for a Charlotte franchise around the AHL. Hartford's travel expenses at the moment have to be about as low as they could be. Same could be said for Albany So in Carolina's case moving the team closer to them result sin the AHL team then being further away from all the other AHL teams.


I have family in Charlotte and I can tell you that people down there don't give two hoots about the Hurricanes.

The level of priority for teams in Charlotte is 1) Panthers 2) Nascar 3) Panthers 4) ACC Basketball 5) Panthers 6) Bobcats 7) Panthers.

[ks71ny]

The rumors starting to fly around are incredible. One has the Senators pulling out of Binghamton in favor of Cornwall Ontario. Cornwall Civic Complex is identical to that of the arena in Bingahmton but closer to Ottawa and its keeping the organization in Canada which Canadian teams are partial to. It also mention the Rangers pulling their players out of Hartford for Binghamton, but if Albany is in the mix I dont see how the Rangers would pass up Albany because there are many more people in the Capital District who would support the River Rats if they were a NY affiliate. One has to only look at Rochester's fan base, being all but gone since Buffalo's departure. If Carolina puts their farm hands south, Oklahoma gets going, were going to have an immediate surge of Southern markets in the AHL.

http://sportstalkbuzz.com/index.php/nhl/ottawa-senators/1637-ottawa-possibly-moving-their-ahl-affliate-from-binghamton-to-cornwall

[bingdusters]

The rumors starting to fly around are incredible. One has the Senators pulling out of Binghamton in favor of Cornwall Ontario. Cornwall Civic Complex is identical to that of the arena in Bingahmton but closer to Ottawa and its keeping the organization in Canada which Canadian teams are partial to. It also mention the Rangers pulling their players out of Hartford for Binghamton, but if Albany is in the mix I dont see how the Rangers would pass up Albany because there are many more people in the Capital District who would support the River Rats if they were a NY affiliate. One has to only look at Rochester's fan base, being all but gone since Buffalo's departure. If Carolina puts their farm hands south, Oklahoma gets going, were going to have an immediate surge of Southern markets in the AHL.

http://sportstalkbuzz.com/index.php/nhl/ottawa-senators/1637-ottawa-possibly-moving-their-ahl-affliate-from-binghamton-to-cornwall

With Oklahoma City coming on board, I think its only a matter of time before someone takes a look at putting teams in the new arenas in Tulsa and Wichita.

[crowmania]

With Oklahoma City coming on board, I think its only a matter of time before someone takes a look at putting teams in the new arenas in Tulsa and Wichita.

I don't think many in Wichita would mind a change, especially if it's to the AHL

Wichita Eagle (http://www.kansas.com/sports/lutz/story/1138960.html)

[AlJensen]

We are all forgeting one thing. Where are all of these franchises coming from? Mass movment south seems like something that could happen, but it has been showed recently just how hard it is to get an AHL franchise. The Iowa franchise appears to be held up in a court case. Dallas wants one but can't find a seller. Edmonton has kept theirs for years without running it. Edmonton even had major money issues a few years ago and refused to sell it.

Charlotte as of right now is as far off the map as Abbottsford is. The cost for Carolina to run this franchise is going to be staggering. Closest team is Norfolk, then the rest of the East is going to be at least a five hour bus ride.

[bingdusters]

Charlotte as of right now is as far off the map as Abbottsford is. The cost for Carolina to run this franchise is going to be staggering. Closest team is Norfolk, then the rest of the East is going to be at least a five hour bus ride.

It's a five hour bus ride just to Norfolk from Charlotte. This is one of the reasons why Charlotte is not a good idea.

If the Hurricanes want an AHL affiliate in NC, their best option (in my opinion) is Fayetteville. It has a perfect sized arena for minor league hockey (8,500) and it would not play second fiddle to a major league team. It fits better geographically. Even though it would be the southern most outpost, it's much closer to Norfolk than Charlotte and it's off of I-95, the main artery to most of the AHL.

Fayetteville is also part of the Raleigh-Durham TV market so it's a logical way to expand the Hurricane branding. It's a mere 75 miles between the 2 arenas.

But if they want to move the AHL team to a building where it will never given the first pick for dates and to a town where major league sports and ACC sports rule that's their business.