OHL Expansion

[OMG67]

Niagara IceDogs. But given their attendance decline from 4800/game to 3200/game, 18 million may be too much to ask. I doubt he sells unless he gets close to his asking price.

I think a capable owner can easily recapture disillusioned fans. $18mil for that franchise, in OHL terms, is probably a steal depending on the status of the current lease.

 

[bigsportsfan]

I know he approached two different wealthy individuals in Niagara to ask if they had any interest in buying the IceDogs. One said they were not interested but I don’t know the outcome of the other discussion.

Icedogs fans are cautiously optimistic.

 

[the dog]

With right ownership this franchise is top 5 in ohl

 

[dogs777]

I think a capable owner can easily recapture disillusioned fans. $18mil for that franchise, in OHL terms, is probably a steal depending on the status of the current lease.

The status of the lease is I believe 10 more years

 

[OMG67]

The status of the lease is I believe 10 more years

Yeah. I was thinking more about the cost

 

[HockeyPops]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/cornwall-absolutely-ready-to-welcome-ohl-back-says-mayor-1.7419143

 

[OMG67]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/cornwall-absolutely-ready-to-welcome-ohl-back-says-mayor-1.7419143

Would love it for Cornwall to get a team. It would make the East Division a little easier to navigate with all teams East of the GTA. Then when the Baby senators leave Belleville, add another team to Belleville and the East Division would be healthy with six teams east of the GTA in a 24 team league.

The one good thing about that rink is I think they can raise the roof and add private boxes above the south side stands. I think the seating is adequate enough for the rest of the rink. IT does have a reasonable number of seats and that can support the team for sure. IT is more a matter of whether renovations can happen at a reasonable cost.

 

[Roadhog]

Nobody has mentioned Newmarket. 3700 seats at Ray Twinney, but the same age as FOC in Hamilton so likely needs a few upgrades.

 

[backwoods]

The OHL needs to address playing the same teams 8 times a year.. it's a joke. Change it up.. play the west more then twice a year or vice versa.

 

[Otto]

Nobody has mentioned Newmarket. 3700 seats at Ray Twinney, but the same age as FOC in Hamilton so likely needs a few upgrades.

3,700 isn't a permanent solution for an OHL franchise these days

The OHL needs to address playing the same teams 8 times a year.. it's a joke. Change it up.. play the west more then twice a year or vice versa.

It's done to limit travel costs

 

[backwoods]

I get that.. but if Ottawa is riding to niagra or Brampton. A few more kms to Guelph or kitchener is no big deal. The teams in the Gta could play west teams closer then then east teams.

 

[backwoods]

Why is the Sault in the west when both teams in the north Sudbury and northbay in the east.. lots of arguments on this subject in my eyes.

 

[Otto]

Why is the Sault in the west when both teams in the north Sudbury and northbay in the east.. lots of arguments on this subject in my eyes.

This has been beaten to death. Takes just as long to go to Sudbury from the Soo as it does to go to Saginaw. Flint is 30 minutes closer to the Soo than North Bay is. Windsor and Sarnia are closer to the Soo than any other team not mentioned

I get that.. but if Ottawa is riding to niagra or Brampton. A few more kms to Guelph or kitchener is no big deal. The teams in the Gta could play west teams closer then then east teams.

Except it is a big deal.. it's another night in a hotel + meals for 35+ people.

 

[Logosarejusttargets]

The OHL needs to address playing the same teams 8 times a year.. it's a joke. Change it up.. play the west more then twice a year or vice versa.

You have to remember that more than half the kids are still in high school too. And while many are doing things virtually, there are still expected / required to attend a certain amount of classes. More long trips mean likely more missed Monday or Thursday/Friday classes.

 

[shenmue16]

Majority of OHL players are not going to have professional careers, it's best to get them prepared for their adult lives and not let hockey interfere in school. I really don't mind the same teams playing all the time when the bus ride alone can get up to nearly 10 hours. These are kids, mind you.

Now with regards to expansion... seems to be a serious lack of news on this front. I would prefer a city like Cornwall over a city like Youngstown or Muskegon. I don't know how Friedman could just drop that during a hockey night in canada segment, have neither league address the issue, and not go any further on the topic. Neither of those cities are viable OHL teams in my eyes, Youngstown has averaged about 1,200 in attendance a game, Muskegon is averaging about 2,300. Muskegon seems to be slightly above Brampton, but Brampton are dead last in attendance and Youngstown is averaging a fraction of any OHL team. I don't think the OHL is going to be benefited by adding either of these franchises. They should probably figure out what the hell is going on with their established teams before trying to add more teams into the mix.

 

[OSA]

I remember looking at the WHL schedule a few months back….I noticed that Wenatchee played a 7pm home game on Friday against Kelowna. The next night, the Wild travelled to Kamloops (500+km, 5.75 hrs with a border crossing) for a game starting at 6pm. That was a pretty long haul I thought. Incredibly, to complete the weekend, the Wild had to travel back home after that game (again, 500+km, 5.75 hrs with a border crossing) to play a 4pm home game on Sunday against Vancouver (which the Wild won in OT, amazingly enough).

To put some of this in perspective, this would be similar to:

London playing Flint at home on Friday, travelling to Sudbury for a 6pm game on Saturday, then back home for a Sunday afternoon game against the Soo.

Or

Ottawa playing Brantford at home on Friday, travelling to Owen Sound on the back grounds through Bancroft (only 30 mins longer than Wenatchee had to travel) for a 6pm on Saturday against the Attack, then making their way back to Ottawa for an afternoon game against North Bay on Sunday afternoon.

Similar travel time/distance:

Sarnia <~> Kingston
Saginaw <-> Peterborough
Windsor <-> Belleville
Niagara <-> Cornwall
Kitchener <-> Muskegon
Barrie <-> Rouyn-Noranda
Guelph <-> Gatineau
Oshawa <-> Pittsburgh

Now, I’m not suggesting that the OHL should simply increase travel just because. But the fact is OHL franchises have, by far, the most favourable travel schedules in the CHL and, really, reasonable increases in travel should not be used to argue against most potential expansion markets or even against a more balanced schedule (if it makes sense and is desired by fanbases) IMO.