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Post by Ric O. on May 6, 2014 19:45:01 GMT -6
They should have put their AHL team in Saskatoon... Yes, Saskatchewan is an under-served hockey market, at least in terms of Pro hockey. I think one day Sask could have an NHL team, but AHL is a good start.
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Post by Bruinsfan on May 6, 2014 21:02:20 GMT -6
Id start looking in the united states if i was the Jets. Fargo, Grand Forks, Minnesota, Maybe even look to Lincoln Nebraska they have brand new arena there. Neither Fargo or Grand Forks could support a AHL team, With UND no one would ever bring a AHL team there. I'd think with Thunder Bay delayed, the Jets would try and get a 2 year extension through 2016-17 with St. Johns providing they don't already have a tentative deal with another team. I think the Jets would rather relocate the team temporarily to Winnipeg rather then a unproven new location. I have to think shelving the WHL for now is due to the possibility the AHL team will play out of the MTS Centre for a year or two. you guys make ahl a way bigger deal in canada than it is in the tates. Fargo has a population of 223k It could support AHL. especially if its a temporary thing. I would look at Billings montana though 116k. how big of a population fo you need for minor league hockey honestly? We have like 4 teams in a small area (worcester, hartford, providence, Manchester) Hartford and providence are good sized cities. Manchester ? ha! 110k, and competes with UNH
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Post by Bruinsfan on May 6, 2014 21:03:54 GMT -6
you could look at sioux falls south dakota as well
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Post by donwood on May 7, 2014 10:43:44 GMT -6
Neither Fargo or Grand Forks could support a AHL team, With UND no one would ever bring a AHL team there. I'd think with Thunder Bay delayed, the Jets would try and get a 2 year extension through 2016-17 with St. Johns providing they don't already have a tentative deal with another team. I think the Jets would rather relocate the team temporarily to Winnipeg rather then a unproven new location. I have to think shelving the WHL for now is due to the possibility the AHL team will play out of the MTS Centre for a year or two. you guys make ahl a way bigger deal in canada than it is in the tates. Fargo has a population of 223k It could support AHL. especially if its a temporary thing. I would look at Billings montana though 116k. how big of a population fo you need for minor league hockey honestly? We have like 4 teams in a small area (worcester, hartford, providence, Manchester) Hartford and providence are good sized cities. Manchester ? ha! 110k, and competes with UNH My brother lives in Fargo, works at NDSU, there is ZERO chance AHL could work in Fargo,The Fargo Force averaged 3,209 fans per game in the USHL with a lot lower ticket prices then a AHL team would need. Grand Forks is a great hockey area but another college town, AHL could never compete with UND.
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Post by donwood on May 7, 2014 10:48:05 GMT -6
To make a go of it in the AHL you need an average of 6,000 or so at reasonable AHL prices, These small midwest towns in most case don't have the facilities and if they do they won't draw whats needed. True North is not going to put the AHL team in some unproven place while they wait for TB. If they can't get and extension with St, Johns, then the options are another AHL city with an expiring NHL affiliation or bring it back to Winnipeg. Having the team in Winnipeg is miles ahead of going to an unproven midwest small city.
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Post by fa18hockey on May 7, 2014 11:22:49 GMT -6
Maybe a dumb question but the whole AHL farm team stuff doesnt get through to me, only started getting into hockey a couple years ago, So first question, does this mean we are loosing The IceCaps? And if yes what about all the prospects there? Or am i misunderstanding everything? .... :/ bear with me people.... Noob alert
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Post by wolfmannick on May 7, 2014 11:47:07 GMT -6
^ Team will relocate and be named something else probobly moose. Team is moving to Thunder Bay its just a matter of when they build an arena and if they have to play somewhere temporarily until then. Has Thunder Bay broken ground on the new rink yet what's the development there?
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Post by Bruinsfan on May 7, 2014 13:38:56 GMT -6
To make a go of it in the AHL you need an average of 6,000 or so at reasonable AHL prices, These small midwest towns in most case don't have the facilities and if they do they won't draw whats needed. True North is not going to put the AHL team in some unproven place while they wait for TB. If they can't get and extension with St, Johns, then the options are another AHL city with an expiring NHL affiliation or bring it back to Winnipeg. Having the team in Winnipeg is miles ahead of going to an unproven midwest small city. ushl isnt AHL donwood. You know that. USHL is pretty much high level high school hockey. Pro level could draw pretty decent in a hockey area. I think you overestimate what ahl requires. plenty of these midwest towns could handle the AHL especially if these small new england cities handle it fine.
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Post by donwood on May 7, 2014 16:16:40 GMT -6
Fargo or any city that can't draw 3,000 for the USHL isn't going to draw 5-6,000 for the AHL, there is a reason the AHL hasn't ventured into some of these places because they can't support AHL hockey.
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Post by Bruinsfan on May 7, 2014 18:19:11 GMT -6
Fargo or any city that can't draw 3,000 for the USHL isn't going to draw 5-6,000 for the AHL, there is a reason the AHL hasn't ventured into some of these places because they can't support AHL hockey. dumb comparison. USHL isnt a draw. Anywhere. Its not popular. Junior hockey isnt like it is in canada. People think of it as high school AAU.
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Post by Bruinsfan on May 7, 2014 19:30:16 GMT -6
we can agree to disagree on this...imo there are cities in the midwest are untapped that would be just as convenient for the jets as thunder bay.
ANd you could get a temp lease in a midwestern city even if its going to eat a loss for true north for a year until they solve thunder bay
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Post by JETStender on May 7, 2014 21:47:49 GMT -6
Any news on the IceCaps relocation yet? Any word in Thunder Bay? Rally of Support for Waterfront Event Centre Saturday - Saturday Come Hell or High Water! THUNDER BAY - Supporters for a Downtown Multiplex are set to party. It sounds like a party…and that is what the Citizens for a Waterfront Event Centre hope Thunder Bay Lives: A Rally of Support for the Waterfront Event Centre will feature activities for young and old. Boot Hockey Games! Music! Food! Clowns! Balloon Animals! Prizes! Guest Speakers! Family Fun Activities! Information Booths! Photo sessions! The event is being held rain or shine this Saturday, May 10th, 2014, beginning at 1PM EDT in the P.U.C. Parking lot at the corner of Cumberland and Van Norman, the site of the proposed event centre. Organizers from the Citizens for a Waterfront Event Centre Committee say this ‘celebration’ is meant to draw supporters together to show City Council and other residents that a majority of the public supports this project and Thunder Bay City Council’s due diligence in this matter. The committee is encouraging members of the Facebook site Citizens for a The Downtown North Core Multiplex as well as other supporters to join in the fun. Saturday’s activities begin at 1 p.m. with a boot hockey tournament. The formal part of the Rally will begin at 2PM with guest speakers Mayor Keith Hobbs, Jim Comuzzi of the Waterfront District BIA, Thunder Bay Lawyer Dave Shannon, Royal Canadian Legion representative Ron Cutbush, along with Jason L. Susin and Rod Bosch of the Citizens for a Waterfront Event Centre Committee. The highlight of the day happens at 3PM when all participants will gather to form a huge YES for an aerial photograph.
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Post by wolfmannick on May 8, 2014 11:58:21 GMT -6
^ Looks like it might go through soon then if it has that support.
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