OHL Expansion

[GoKnightsGo44]

If it was I, I would add Muskegon and Youngstown from the USHL and Markham and Newmarket next year.

In years to come possibly Cornwall and Chatham if there was massive investment in their rinks (that’s a tough sell for those municipalities).

I would build a purpose built rink in Milton and move the steelheads to a permanent home in 3-5 years.

I think there could be room to add either Plymouth and Lansing if the USNDP moves to Iowa (it wouldn’t make sense to keep the team in Plymouth if their is no USHL teams around them).

So that could be 6 teams within 3 years:

Muskegon
Youngstown
Markham
Newmarket
Plymouth
Milton

Later:
Lansing
Cornwall
Chatham

 

[JMCx4]

How about Elmira New York

As @Matthew L Wilson pointed out in this post, LECOM Event Center (fka First Arena) has a long-time curse when it comes to housing hockey teams. I wouldn't wish the municipal ineptitude & political subplots of the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency on my most hated sports enemy.

 

[Otto]

If it was I, I would add Muskegon and Youngstown from the USHL and Markham and Newmarket next year.

In years to come possibly Cornwall and Chatham if there was massive investment in their rinks (that’s a tough sell for those municipalities).

I would build a purpose built rink in Milton and move the steelheads to a permanent home in 3-5 years.

I think there could be room to add either Plymouth and Lansing if the USNDP moves to Iowa (it wouldn’t make sense to keep the team in Plymouth if their is no USHL teams around them).

So that could be 6 teams within 3 years:

Muskegon
Youngstown
Markham
Newmarket
Plymouth
Milton

Later:
Lansing
Cornwall
Chatham

In 3-5 years the rink in Burlington will be ready. I also don't think you'll see a return to Plymouth. Attendance was poor when they previously had a team.

 

[Ward Cornell]

If we can include cities that need a new arena but could support a OHL team, I suspect Stratford would be an ideal location.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

In 3-5 years the rink in Burlington will be ready. I also don't think you'll see a return to Plymouth. Attendance was poor when they previously had a team.

Plymouth averaged 2400, I don’t think that is terrible and could be improved.

If we can include cities that need a new arena but could support a OHL team, I suspect Stratford would be an ideal location.

Stratford would be full of London fans, the catchment area is too large

 

[Otto]

Plymouth averaged 2400, I don’t think that is terrible and could be improved.


Stratford would be full of London fans, the catchment area is too large

Plymouth averaged 2,400 with very good teams. Not sure how you expect to improve on that

 

[EvenSteven]

Plymouth averaged 2,400 with very good teams. Not sure how you expect to improve on that

And tickets were way cheaper than usual OHL games elsewhere. Even playoffs. Make no mistake, the only reason they lasted as long as they did was because they were subsidized by Karmanos ownership.

Rangers played the Whalers one year in the playoffs, second or third round, and the parents of Plymouth players were given handfuls of tickets to give away to anybody that would take them. We went to one of the playoff games that year. We knew the Aleardi family from their time in Kitchener. Was talking to Alex‘s dad at the game and he showed me a stack of tickets to the next game. He asked me if I needed tickets. I could’ve had as many as I wanted from him for free. He said all the parents were given stacks of tickets to give away to try to get fans in the building.

So a lot of those in attendance didn’t even have to pay for tickets.

 

[Otto]

And tickets were way cheaper than usual OHL games elsewhere. Even playoffs. Make no mistake, the only reason they lasted as long as they did was because they were subsidized by Karmanos ownership.

Rangers played the Whalers one year in the playoffs, second or third round, and the parents of Plymouth players were given handfuls of tickets to give away to anybody that would take them. We went to one of the playoff games that year. We knew the Aleardi family from their time in Kitchener. Was talking to Alex‘s dad at the game and he showed me a stack of tickets to the next game. He asked me if I needed tickets. I could’ve had as many as I wanted from him for free. He said all the parents were given stacks of tickets to give away to try to get fans in the building.

So a lot of those in attendance didn’t even have to pay for tickets.

Knights sent 6 bus loads of fans one season.

 

[MJ5]

If it was I, I would add Muskegon and Youngstown from the USHL and Markham and Newmarket next year.

In years to come possibly Cornwall and Chatham if there was massive investment in their rinks (that’s a tough sell for those municipalities).

I would build a purpose built rink in Milton and move the steelheads to a permanent home in 3-5 years.

I think there could be room to add either Plymouth and Lansing if the USNDP moves to Iowa (it wouldn’t make sense to keep the team in Plymouth if their is no USHL teams around them).

So that could be 6 teams within 3 years:

Muskegon
Youngstown
Markham
Newmarket
Plymouth
Milton

Later:
Lansing
Cornwall
Chatham

USNDP in Iowa? Where have you seen that?

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

USNDP in Iowa? Where have you seen that?

Just saying that it makes absolutely zero sense to keep it in Plymouth if Muskegon and Youngstown jump to the OHL.

Should be somewhere in the Midwest is all I’m saying

 

[ohloutsider]

Knights sent 6 bus loads of fans one season.

Plymouth was a second home ice arena for Windsor. There was always more Windsor fans there then Plymouth. Only maybe 45 minutes from the border. Nice restaurant there as well, ate there before most games.

 

[Savard18]

And tickets were way cheaper than usual OHL games elsewhere. Even playoffs. Make no mistake, the only reason they lasted as long as they did was because they were subsidized by Karmanos ownership.

Rangers played the Whalers one year in the playoffs, second or third round, and the parents of Plymouth players were given handfuls of tickets to give away to anybody that would take them. We went to one of the playoff games that year. We knew the Aleardi family from their time in Kitchener. Was talking to Alex‘s dad at the game and he showed me a stack of tickets to the next game. He asked me if I needed tickets. I could’ve had as many as I wanted from him for free. He said all the parents were given stacks of tickets to give away to try to get fans in the building.

So a lot of those in attendance didn’t even have to pay for tickets.

….and it’s absolutely barren now even with the NTDP there. When it first opened we would go down there and pay to play drop-in and get a free ticket for that night’s game or vice-versa, I forget. Even with the ownership issues and frequent sub-par teams Flint has much better attendance unlike the predictions of the few Plymouth faithful.

 

[Otto]

 

[Matthew L Wilson]

Youngstown has a nice arena, and could be a natural rival for the Otters. I'm scratching my head over Muskegon. Their arena holds 3,000 for hockey, which would be smaller than Owen Sound. Maybe it would be based upon a new arena there?

 

[Kingpin794]

Youngstown has a nice arena, and could be a natural rival for the Otters. I'm scratching my head over Muskegon. Their arena holds 3,000 for hockey, which would be smaller than Owen Sound. Maybe it would be based upon a new arena there?

I believe it’s closer to 4000 for hockey. Which is fine. Most communities don’t need arenas that are bigger than 4500. They just put in a few million dollars in renovations. They aren’t building a new arena any time soon there.

 

[JoeSchmo]

This all but confirms it I’m going to assume…

 

[OMEGARAZER]

This all but confirms it I’m going to assume…

I would not be surprised if that was more of a welcome to the reps than anything else but then again they took the time to do it in the first place so they're not exactly blowing it off.

 

[Savard18]

I believe it’s closer to 4000 for hockey. Which is fine. Most communities don’t need arenas that are bigger than 4500. They just put in a few million dollars in renovations. They aren’t building a new arena any time soon there.

When I took a look at hockeydb awhile back Muskegon was averaging like 2500 and Youngstown was 900 something. I’m not sure what their arenas hold but It’s better to have a financially viable 3,500 seat arena than a 6,000 seat arena that’s only drawing 1,000 and losing money.

 

[Kingpin794]

When I took a look at hockeydb awhile back Muskegon was averaging like 2500 and Youngstown was 900 something. I’m not sure what their arenas hold but It’s better to have a financially viable 3,500 seat arena than a 6,000 seat arena that’s only drawing 1,000 and losing money.

Yep. Which is why I like Flint’s arena. Perfect size. Low ceiling makes the place loud for how many people are in it.

 

[frontsfan67]

Would love an expansion and a relocation of Brampton back to Belleville

 

[OMG67]

Would love an expansion and a relocation of Brampton back to Belleville

@ScoutLife4 has suggested that something like that may happen once the lease is up for the Baby Sens. It is probably more just a matter of time.

 

[ScoutLife4]

@ScoutLife4 has suggested that something like that may happen once the lease is up for the Baby Sens. It is probably more just a matter of time.

Belleville more likely to be expansion.
I doubt Brampton is moving anytime soon.

 

[OMG67]

Belleville more likely to be expansion.
I doubt Brampton is moving anytime soon.

If free rent ends up working for them then I agree. I’m not sure what the impact of rent payments are for teams in the overall costs structure.

 

[ScoutLife4]

Brampton has 10 years free rent from what I understand so the timeline doesn’t line up for the Belleville relocation.

 

[frontsfan67]

Belleville more likely to be expansion.
I doubt Brampton is moving anytime soon.

That would take league to 23 teams. Any idea of a 24th?