Albany says no to ECHL

[ckg927]

http://canamifl.com/

Interesting

It should be noted that Buffalo is also in that league.

 

[ckg927]

Single-A short season. Literally just above rookie ball. Barely professional. Trust me, fans aren't coming for the baseball (though the team tends to do fairly well in the standings), they're coming for the giveaways and the mascot races and the fireworks. They're coming for a dirt-cheap fun night out. And because it's short-season, you don't have those pesky early spring and early fall games dragging attendance down.

No argument from me on that point-and this comes from a person who's worked for our local Triple A team for 20 seasons(and has watched baseball at almost all levels, from the majors to independent teams). You'll get your baseball purists, but most people are there for the reasons you mentioned-with baseball being incidental to it all.

 

[Peter6625]

That Can-Am arena league football is a joke, it's not going to last. Most of the guys they get are from local semipro football teams. If I was 10 years younger I could play in that league. The whole NH Brigade team is from two local leagues; EFL and NEFL. I know and played against many of the players. The players were promised $200 a week and are getting $50 a week. One lineman this past week walked off the field in the middle of he game and said it's not worth it. Arena football is 10 times more dangerous than regular football ask anyone who played it. I will stick to my semipro football at least I get free beer and food after the game. None of those players are going to get a sniff of the NFL. I've been critical of the level of play in the ECHL, but at least those guys have a chance to make it to the NHL.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Football as a whole is dangerous. Youth participation is continuing to drop. Only thing lower is baseball. Concussions are on the rise. The NFL is becoming a joke to watch because they are hopelessly trying to make it safe.

 

[Nightsquad]

Clearly no plans for hockey in the future. Albany is elated to be hosting NCAA basketball regionals instead. Sorry Albany fans... They said they make more money from one weekend in the NCAA basketball then they can make in a whole season of minor league hockey.

http://1045theteam.com/belber-expect-new-albany-team-annoucement-in-next-few-months/

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Ouch, what a slap in the face?

 

[Nightsquad]

Ouch, what a slap in the face?

If I was a hockey fan in that area I would view it as a face slap. That is directly from the mouth of the arena manager. He praises County Executive (the county CEO and county owns arena) and he praises NY's Governor as the critical piece getting several millions in funding not only for arena renovations but building the attached convention center. All that investment for a couple day NCAA regional event? Men's regional isn't until 2020 lol. I hope every hockey fan next year in that area takes their money out of Albany and spends it up in Glen's Falls...

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

If I was a hockey fan in that area I would view it as a face slap. That is directly from the mouth of the arena manager. He praises County Executive (the county CEO and county owns arena) and he praises NY's Governor as the critical piece getting several millions in funding not only for arena renovations but building the attached convention center. All that investment for a couple day NCAA regional event? Men's regional isn't until 2020 lol. Bunch of tax and spend liberals trying to look good politically. I hope every hockey fan next year in that area takes their money out of Albany and spends it up in Glen's Falls...

I guess if you think about it a weekend of tourism could bring in more than a typical hockey season. Sure you might get some fans of in state teams coming in but Adirondack fan wouldn't have to stay in Albany over night. Now Elmira is no more. AHL to me seems very unlikely going forward unless a NY team ewally wants to so it but the Rangers have Hartford for now.

 

[Nightsquad]

I guess if you think about it a weekend of tourism could bring in more than a typical hockey season. Sure you might get some fans of in state teams coming in but Adirondack fan wouldn't have to stay in Albany over night. Now Elmira is no more. AHL to me seems very unlikely going forward unless a NY team ewally wants to so it but the Rangers have Hartford for now.

Be pretty funny if Glens Falls tries to lure away the annual Albany Mayors Cup hockey game between Union & RPI. Hey if Albany doesn't care about hockey maybe Glens Falls can host the annual game. Make it a double header like Albany used to it. ECHL Thunder game in afternoon then a 7pm matchup of NCAA college hockey.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

They said they make more money from one weekend in the NCAA basketball then they can make in a whole season of minor league hockey.

http://1045theteam.com/belber-expect-new-albany-team-annoucement-in-next-few-months/

They probably do. Far less overhead. The NCAA provides the court and a large portion of the infrastructure, and they open the doors and the college hoops fans flood in. With hockey, they pay $12K per month just to keep the ice frozen, and the Devils/etc. couldn't sell beer to an alcoholic.

Bottom line: It's not about politics, it's about business.