Not really sure why Saskatoon or Regina doesn't have an AHL team. Would be perfect for a Flames farm team.
I know where Utica is. Syracuse is an hour away while Kingston is 2.5 hours away.
How do you know Kingston where Kingston is but not Syracuse? Sryacuse is 5-6 times the population AND they have a popular college basketball team!
Not really sure why Saskatoon or Regina doesn't have an AHL team. Would be perfect for a Flames farm team.
Probably related to existing arena deals with the WHL or whoever, like the Regina Pats or Saskatoon Blades.
Seems like a hotbed of junior hockey. Maybe they're just too much into that.
I don't buy this rumor at all. The Canucks signed a 2 or 3 year deal with Utica that was said to be iron clad.
I don't buy this rumor at all. The Canucks signed a 2 or 3 year deal with Utica that was said to be iron clad.
Wow. A 2 or 3 year deal? That's almost a 3 or 4 year deal. No way they could ever move.
Esche acknowledged there is an escape clause but suggested it is heavily weighted in MVG’s favor and something the Canucks would be very reluctant to exercise.
And "Las Vegas Heat" has a nice ring to it as well. I would catch a Heat game while in Vegas; way more incentive to go there than Abbotsford.
I went to a Wranglers game a few years ago and it was one of the most unique game experiences of my life. The promotion was "Midnight Game". That's right, puckdrop at 12:01. No kids allowed!! Pole dancers set up in the seating bowl!! Ber servers wearing bikini tops!! And best of all, sold out building. It was awesome.
Fill me in on that Anglesmith, I don't remember that one.
Well, as a moderator, I have to behave myself and not try to post a picture.
But a lady beside the penalty box showed off a pair of wonderful... "tracts of land"... to Ben Eager during a Sharks/Canucks playoff game.
Maybe this was a bigger deal here in the Canucks kingdom.
That's pretty much it. Neither city would be able to support an AHL and a WHL team. And if it's one or the other, it's WHL 100%.
We had another thread a few months ago where somebody mentioned Fort Mcmurray. Interesing idea, but too many obstacles IMO. No AHL calibre building, out in the middle of nowhere, and a one dimensional economy.
My pick for the Heat...................Las Vegas. That would be awesome.
They are in progress of building a new building in fort Mac with a seven thou seating capacity, they haven't broke ground, as they are still in talks with the builders, but the money and land have been set aside. This is probably the best option if we want fans (they have one of the highest ajhl attendance records and the rink they use isn't that big), and easy access to calgary (remember it's just not flight time, but total flights per day), but there's still the scheduling issues.
Well, as a moderator, I have to behave myself and not try to post a picture.
But a lady beside the penalty box showed off a pair of wonderful... "tracts of land"... to Ben Eager during a Sharks/Canucks playoff game.
Maybe this was a bigger deal here in the Canucks kingdom.
It seems like the talk of the Flames leaving Abbotsford and heading east is starting to heat up again and if you do swap AHL locations with Vancouver and come to Utica you won't be disappointed. The Utica Comets have had tremendous fan support this season and being centrally located in Upstate New York they have one of the easiest travel schedules in the entire AHL.
Yes, callups may take a little longer but that hasn't been an issue even a single time this year with Vancouver. The increased practice and better development outweigh the callup issues.
The Comets played 6 games in Abbotsford this season and won 5 of them. In every game it looked and sounded to me like there were more fans cheering for the Comets than the Heat. Two of the games were back to back OT wins for the Comets and the cheers were very loud each time.
It has to be very demoralizing for the Heat players to have more fans cheer against you than for you in your own building.
Surprisingly enough, the Heat are starting to build a following in Abbotsford. Went to 2 Utica games, and in one the cheers were about even for both sides, and in the other it sounded like Abbotsford was getting most of the support. The arena's were pretty full vs. Utica though, it seems like those games sell more
Then again, I was watching this from Club seats where the people around me cheer for Abbotsford because they go to most games over the Canucks affiliate
can anyone add any insight to this article??
http://poststar.com/news/local/calg...cle_d24a5e8a-b087-11e3-ad54-0019bb2963f4.html
looks like the flames are looking for options. and word on the canucks moving in to abbotsford???