So long, Binghamton.
The franchise is owned by a local group in Binghamton.........
Belleville and or Ottawa has to have a franchise to play in the AHL....
Why Binghamton or Utica over Albany?
The way its understood is the Senators will purchase the AHL franchise from Tom Mitchell and relocate to Belleville for the 2017-'18 season. The Albany Devils will relocate to Binghamton with Mitchell acting as manager of the organization. The Canucks have plan in place to move its team west. I've heard Pacific Coliseum in the first choice, but they are looking at Abbotsford, Victoria and another un-named city in BC.... St. John's will relocate to Laval. Whether another team relocates to Albany or Utica remains to be seen. I've heard yes that's its a possibility and I've heard that the ECHL is likely option for both cities.
Bingo seats about 4679 but fills it almost every game (3812). Albany seats 15K, but averaged 3366 last season. Utica averaged 3860 in a 3860 seat arena.
Which city of those three would you avoid?
playing a game in Albany is like playing in a morgue..... the devils simply can not draw fans there. ahl stats suggest and average around 3300 fans, but actual bodies in the seats is far less. i have heard of people saying some games are under 1,000 fans with no problem. either Bingo or Utica is a much better atmosphere and they would have media attention which they get little of in Albany.
What on earth does any of that have to do with development? Albany has much more to offer than Utica. Building is better, travel is easier. The damage done by Lou's mismanagement will take time to heal. Especially when there's DI hockey to watch. The hockey fans in Albany might just expect more for their time and money. But if you want to play in a tin can with falsely reported sellouts in an inconveniently located city, Utica is your place.
What a stupid move. Binghamton sits right in the middle of the Eastern teams. Short trips to Rochester,Syracuse, Utica,Albany,Wilkes Barre,Hershey, Lehigh Valley and even not too far from the New England teams. Now Ottawa is adding thousands of miles of travel to their prospects.But wait, this is Ottawa, stupid moves are a way of life with this franchise.
What a stupid move. Binghamton sits right in the middle of the Eastern teams. Short trips to Rochester,Syracuse, Utica,Albany,Wilkes Barre,Hershey, Lehigh Valley and even not too far from the New England teams. Now Ottawa is adding thousands of miles of travel to their prospects.But wait, this is Ottawa, stupid moves are a way of life with this franchise.
Just a guess but I think the motivation behind the potential move is for a few reasons:What a stupid move. Binghamton sits right in the middle of the Eastern teams. Short trips to Rochester,Syracuse, Utica,Albany,Wilkes Barre,Hershey, Lehigh Valley and even not too far from the New England teams. Now Ottawa is adding thousands of miles of travel to their prospects.But wait, this is Ottawa, stupid moves are a way of life with this franchise.