Mississauga is probably the toughest market in the OHL
Will be interesting to see how the mayor and councillors respond, even if Zulich is bluffing
Sudbury Wolves 2022-23 Season Thread
- Thread starter EON
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
- Status
jrwhopper
Registered User
- May 28, 2015
- 358
- 382
Councillors have already gone on the record to say that they believe a new ohl team would come here if Zulich moved the team. But our council is pretty useless and delusional.
I think we all knew this moment would come when the city screwed the arena plans. Guy holds the keys to all of Sudbury's sports teams. Could all be gone like that.
Where would Zullich take his franchise; Coniston or NY? There is not better place in Ontario available than Sudbury for a team. If there was, Mississauga and NB would not have teams in their city.
cub
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2012
- 4,954
- 4,061
I have heard rumours in the past Zulch has been approached to bring team to their city, I think I heard Markam with plans for a new arena.
Let's be honest we call our city a hockey town, but the support for the Wolves since Zulich has bought it hasn't been great. Many variables, like the KED debate, Burgess ownership pissing off season ticket holders they never came back, quality of the team, ticket prices, inflation, Covid, internet etc. Minor hockey kids limited attachment to the Wolves I believe. My feelings is the Wolves are not a draw it used to be. This appears to be true with most OHL teams, attendance have gone down prior to Covid.
Can't blame Zulich if he moves team, he's a businessman can't keep losing money.
Let's be honest we call our city a hockey town, but the support for the Wolves since Zulich has bought it hasn't been great. Many variables, like the KED debate, Burgess ownership pissing off season ticket holders they never came back, quality of the team, ticket prices, inflation, Covid, internet etc. Minor hockey kids limited attachment to the Wolves I believe. My feelings is the Wolves are not a draw it used to be. This appears to be true with most OHL teams, attendance have gone down prior to Covid.
Can't blame Zulich if he moves team, he's a businessman can't keep losing money.
As soon as the wolves start to contend attendance will go up and a new city council will be in place. Sudbury is still considered down south as a bilingual mining town and city council has done nothing to improve this image. Sudbury Saturday night is still our poster child.
jrwhopper
Registered User
- May 28, 2015
- 358
- 382
I've heard Markham aswell. I strongly believe if this team dressed a winning product, the fans will come back. It's hard in these economic times to invest in a team that has made the playoffs a handful of times since the Wolves 07 run.
If the Wolves were moved (very unlikely) the OHL would not allow another team to come here without some sort of plan for an arena. City council is aware of this, that’s why they planned for a new arena and had a vote in the first place.
Wolf on a Wire
Registered User
- Sep 18, 2022
- 1,155
- 1,579
With our connection with Ron Francis and Goyette being future teammates with Shane Wright could this be a possible trade? Doesn’t want to return to KTown
Lycanthrope
Registered User
- Dec 3, 2011
- 5,885
- 2,669
Zulich might as well leave town if he ever “tried” to move the team, especially after vowing never to. I better not run into him Or I’d sure have a lot to say. All owners or most lose money to a varying degree, these franchises are not cash cows. As far as support, a team that actually wins would do wonders, I don’t care if a team is playing in an arena with golden seats, if they don’t win only the diehards will turn out.
Right that’s a good one.
I Loveallsports
I'm a optimist not a optometrist
- Apr 13, 2010
- 5,519
- 4,411
Lycanthrope
Registered User
- Dec 3, 2011
- 5,885
- 2,669
Zulich showed me some business card from Markham a few years back as a kind of threat if he didn’t get his new arena. I could have slugged him. What a colossal joke. You guys have been to Markham right? A few years ago we had to argue to get the waiter to put the world juniors on over the Raptors. I remember thinking what other city in Canada let alone Ontario would this happen in. Junior hockey has never really worked in the GTA and it sure as hell wouldn’t in Markham. If Zulich wants to break records for all time lowest attendance Markham would be a great choice.
Wolf on a Wire
Registered User
- Sep 18, 2022
- 1,155
- 1,579
Getting the rights to Hage is a great starting point. Wouldn’t happen till new year so 1st rounders can be included
Get out and vote next month for new council's. Out with old. In with new
Shane Wright is overrated, won't be worth the price he goes for.
What I don't understand, is why there is not more opposition to 90 million spent for a library/stc/multicultural centre.Libraries are basically dinosaurs and anybody who has a cell phone can find the information they need.That centre will take even more parking .The current arena is over 70 years old and is rated as one of the leagues worst.We deserve better for Wolves games and concerts.This new council should make it a priority to happen.
Inuendo from Zuluch, how unbecoming. LET THE DUST settle already. IF we the tax payer choose to renovate the COMMUNITY arena i.e. like Kitchener the draft plans from the LOCAL architecture firm were fabulous and saved millions of $ (if someone has the link please post). The Ked was going to have less available parking then what is currently available downtown and less accessible for the community as a whole (walking, public transortation? I have been going to the arena for over 30 years and have NEVER NOT found a parking spot. If you want to show up 5 minutes before the game yes you will need to park a little further like any other event space in the world. Most traffic is dispursed from the area within 20 minutes post game unlike the Ked that would have been 45 minutes to 1.5 hours with the one entrance and exit I've been to Sarnia and experienced it first hand. At the price to build new is far beyond what MOST tax payers wish to spend then renovation seems to be the way to go. Does Mr. Zulich just want it all his own way a new arena, his company to build it, his company to run it and his property for it to be built on to enhance his development and line his pockets. So Mr. Zulich please refrain from issuing threats a nd inuendos if you want to build new, in the location of your choice, run it and own it have at it with your dollars if you choose to move or sell the team that is your option as well, but I believe that would require league approval and I'm pretty confident that local buyer(s) would step forth. Is the really about a new arena? or a new arena on a Zulich prefered site? I am pretty sure those people wanting a new arena just want a new arena regardless of location.
Wiserbud
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2014
- 389
- 433
Excuse my ignorance on this one, but did I miss the quote where he threatened to move the team? Does someone have it? I did hear a brief sound bite where he said something like 'whatever location we end up playing at' ... if that is what is being referred to, my interpretation was wherever the new arena is built in Sudbury. I must have missed something?
Everyone is interpreting (or misinterpreting) his comments in that sound bite as his future ambiguous plans for the team
Wiserbud
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2014
- 389
- 433
I found the article, and the Zulich quote. Must say I can see why some people are concerned, as he certainly was not clear in his intentions:
"This is very exciting, I just want everyone in Sudbury to experience hockey like they've never experienced before, especially these last few years while we're in this barn. We won't be here much longer and I can just tell you this, very soon we will be playing in a brand new arena, somewhere," he said to loud cheers from the audience.
The team immediately went into displaying the new video board after his speech.
Zulich was asked to explain his comments about somewhere in a scrum with the media and whether that somewhere was still in Sudbury.
"I'm not sure, there's going to be a new arena somewhere and I'm looking forward to that," he said.
In terms of how soon, he added, that's not up to him so 'we'll have to see.'
His comments come after a council meeting earlier this week that put an official end to the city's involvement with the Kingsway Entertainment District.
Council appears to be focused now on rebuilding at the former site but that will depend on who is elected in the fall race.
"It's still all settling down, it was finalized at the beginning of this week," he said.
"At the end of the day, we're digesting. We'll see what the future brings but I'm excited about the future."
"This is very exciting, I just want everyone in Sudbury to experience hockey like they've never experienced before, especially these last few years while we're in this barn. We won't be here much longer and I can just tell you this, very soon we will be playing in a brand new arena, somewhere," he said to loud cheers from the audience.
The team immediately went into displaying the new video board after his speech.
Zulich was asked to explain his comments about somewhere in a scrum with the media and whether that somewhere was still in Sudbury.
"I'm not sure, there's going to be a new arena somewhere and I'm looking forward to that," he said.
In terms of how soon, he added, that's not up to him so 'we'll have to see.'
His comments come after a council meeting earlier this week that put an official end to the city's involvement with the Kingsway Entertainment District.
Council appears to be focused now on rebuilding at the former site but that will depend on who is elected in the fall race.
"It's still all settling down, it was finalized at the beginning of this week," he said.
"At the end of the day, we're digesting. We'll see what the future brings but I'm excited about the future."
Timmins would get the Wolves before Chatham I think to avoid a realigned of the divisionsWind bag
The OHL board of governors would first allow Mississauga to re-locate and/or take expansion $ from Chatham before allowing the wolves to leave Sudbury.
howlman
Registered User
- Mar 9, 2004
- 1,846
- 2,202
Kirwan: The KED may not be dead after all
The man running for re-election in Ward 5 says there’s no question the city needs a new event centre, but how long can Sudbury Wolves owner Dario Zulich wait for that to happen — new council must be seriously ready to tackle the arena question after the Oct. 24 municipal election
www.sudbury.com
HockeyPops
Registered User
- Aug 20, 2018
- 7,934
- 7,075
Timmins would immediately overtake SSM for the most travel of any OHL team. I think if the OHL did that, they would choose a new market (Ohio? New York? Indiana?) Is Timmins even large enough population to support a team? The Rock are good but don't draw nearly enough to indicate the support would be there for an OHL team. And moving the Wolves to Timmins makes zero sense, the only thing that might make a bit of sense would be moving a different franchise there so both Sudbury and Timmins had one.
- Status
Ad
Upcoming events
-
-
PICK ONLY ONE TEAM - 4 Nations Face-Off - ChampionWagers: 18Staked: $19,090.00Event closes- Updated:
-
-
-
Finland vs Sweden - Centre Bell, MontréalWagers: 3Staked: $387.00Event closes - 4 days from now
- Updated: