AHL To Charlotte Closer To Becoming A Reality?
by Cory Lavalette on Jan 22, 2010 4:13 PM EST
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PrintWednesday evening Canes Country reported that the Carolina Hurricanes could be setting the wheels in motion to place their AHL affiliate closer to Raleigh, perhaps even Charlotte. Two days later there is still no official word, but more and more it looks like the Queen City could house the Canes top minor league team.
Chip Alexander wrote in today's News & Observer that Carolina "will have their affiliate in Charlotte next season." Although the N&O has softened its stance today — saying the team is now "expected" to make the move — reports are that Michael Kahn, owner of the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers, would purchase the Albany River Rats and move them to North Carolina's largest city.
River Rats owner Walter Robb has expressed a desire to sell the team, but has said he would want the franchise to remain in Albany. In response to the reports, Rats president and CEO Garen Szablewski called a press conference this afternoon calling the reports "exaggerated." Szablewski said any decision about the future of the Rats is one or two months away.
The Carolina Hurricanes again had no comment about the reports.
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sounds like the Checkers owner will put a bid in, whether or not the Rats owner accepts is another thing altogether.
Curious to know what the AHL board thinks.
I’m a fan of the Flyer’s affiliate Adirondack Phantoms up in NY but I live right between the two teams. There’s been some rumors flying around about the Rangers moving their affiliate up to Albany, among other things. I think that if the Canes bring their team down south, a team will move into Albany. The Upstate NY area has hosted minor league hockey for a while and its done great since the 80’s, so I hope for the sake of hockey in the area another team moves in!
Suggestion that might help everyone involved, regardless of whether this happens or not (and I’m excited about the possibility): Bobcats play a regular season game or two in Raleigh, Canes play a regular season game or two in Charlotte.
by David A. Arnott on Jan 22, 2010 9:31 PM EST reply actions
That would be sweeeeeeet!
"Last season we couldn't win at home and we were losing on the road. My failure was that I couldn't think of any place else to play." - Harry Neale
by hotchipsnsalsa on Jan 22, 2010 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
I really like the idea of having the Canes play a “home” game or two outside of Raleigh. I think they should play one non-division game in Charlotte and one non-division game in Greensboro. I think it would probably work best if they were Saturday games and could be made into an event. I also think the Canes should play the majority of preseason home games around the Carolinas in the smaller arena. Places like Wilmington, Columbia-SC, Greenville-SC, others. I know its just preseason, but would give a taste of the NHL to the smaller cities and also be sort of a fan appreciation for the fans in those areas. I’m in Raleigh and would hate to lose some games, but I think it would help grow the team in the state.
by PackPride17 on Jan 22, 2010 10:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
In the past, when the NHL was a little smaller and the preseason was a little longer, teams would play a handful of their games in different cities, usually in an ECHL or AHL affiliate region, or an area where some of the players on the team were from.
I can recall when I first moved to NC, that the Bruins, Sabres, Blues and a few other teams would play exhibition games in SC, NC and other areas. The Leafs used to play games in Hamilton, Nova Scotia, Thunder Bay … I think as the league went from 21 to 30 teams and the # of preseason games dropped and travel costs were factored in, it’s not happening as often.
If Rutherford was willing to sacrifice a game’s revenue, he could move say 1 game (versus perhaps Washington or Atlanta) to Charlotte. TWC arena could hold a good crowd and it’d be a great opportunity to sell the team outside of the area.
I find it funny the Bobcats don’t try to attract fans from outside of Charlotte with say weekend ticket offers and busses from Greensboro or Charlotte, but maybe I’m no the marketing geniuses they all are ;)
Good!
I’ll give Mo some gas money to drive his butt down there and coach them. Get out of Raleigh.
The Hockey News article
From an article in The Hockey News comes this perspective:
A published report in the (Albany, N.Y.) Times Union stated the Carolina Hurricanes are considering setting up their AHL affiliate in Charlotte, N.C., where an ECHL franchise now plays. The Hurricanes are currently in the fourth season of an affiliation with the Albany River Rats. If the Carolina affiliation did depart Albany, it is unclear which NHL club, if any, would affiliate with the River Rats.
If this article is correct and the Albany River Rats are to remain in place, but with a different affiliaton, then the poster (can’t find the post now) that shared their research about a failing AHL franchise with a bad municipal facility lease being bought and moved is beginning to sound feasible.
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