River Rats Sold, Will Relocate To Charlotte
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 10, 2010 11:43 AM EST
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From the Albany River Rats:
CAPITAL DISTRICT SPORTS ANNOUNCES RIVER RATS SALE AHL Franchise Sold To MAK Hockey, LLC Albany N.Y. – Capital District Sports, Inc. announced today that its subsidiary, the Albany River Rats, has sold its American Hockey League franchise to MAK Hockey, LLC located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The sale will not affect the remainder of the 2009-10 season, with regular season games concluding on April 10 followed by the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs.
"My intention throughout this process has been to have an AHL franchise playing in the Capital District," said Owner Walter L. Robb. "I still believe that can occur and remain optimistic AHL hockey will be in Albany next season. There have been constant negotiations with local officials, arena and county personnel, along with potential investors, a process we expect to continue beyond today’s announcement."
Michael Kahn is the principle owner of MAK Hockey, LLC, which owns and operates the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise will move to North Carolina to begin play as an AHL member club at Time Warner Cable Arena (6,800 with additional seating available to be opened upstairs) for the 2010-11 regular season.
"I would like to first thank all of our season ticket holders for their unwavering support through not only the first place finishes, but through the tough times as well. The team would also like to acknowledge all the parents of our youth hockey skaters, our group leaders, corporate sponsors, and fans in general that have supported the River Rats for nearly two decades," Robb added. "We have had great partners in Albany County, SMG and Aramark that have provided a better quality of life for many Capital Region residents through our community events and home games."
"The River Rats have become part of the fabric of the Capital Region from our 1995 Calder Cup Championship, to the countless "Rowdy" appearances and I am proud to have provided consistent local ownership," commented Robb. "My goal, and the goal of all interested parties, is to keep AHL Hockey at the Times Union Center and in the Capital District. That process remains ongoing with options being pursued at all levels of management."
"We are proud to have entertained over 2,000,000 hockey fans in the region at our games and look forward to completing what has proven to be a very successful 2009-10 season on the ice," he concluded. "The players have put together the best record Albany has seen in a decade and we have the support of the Carolina Hurricanes, who are optimistic that we will remain well-stocked with quality players as the Calder Cup Playoffs approach."
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So will there be a new name coming also?
Staal + Jussi = GOAL
by canescup on Feb 10, 2010 11:51 AM EST via mobile reply actions
dear God I hope so. Maybe they will get rid of the front office, the in house host, and that stupid mascot as well.
I thought the same things about the name and mascot at first, but then a friend from Charlotte told me hold long they’ve been around. That’s too much history to disturb, IMO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Checkers
We’ll likely see some uniform color changes, though.
Well it won’t be their old colors of blue, orange and white.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 10, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Nope they’re keeping it. Glad they are, too much history there.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 10, 2010 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
WOOOOT!!!!!!
I honestly never thought this day would come. What’s the over/under on trips to AHL games next year? I’m going with 6.
Greensboro was a black hole.
Chip Alexander has quotes from the “Rat Pack” here in Raleigh on their reaction to the announcement.
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 10, 2010 11:59 AM EST reply actions
Thanks for that link. Good to see acknowledgement from the guys of the fan support they receive back in Albany. I am sure this is really difficult for the folks there.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Feb 10, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
It looks like the announcement has been taken down. When is the press conference in Charlotte?
Greensboro was a black hole.
I assume he will have to sell the team for relocaton. Some one suggested on these boards that the he could possiably suspend the team for a season in order to find the right buyer/situation etc.
by CarolinaCanes on Feb 10, 2010 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
Canes Country Owned...
We can chip in and locate in G’boro…
ECHL relocate?
The person who told me about the AHL relocate last year told me the ECHL team would go to Greenville, SC. I didn’t know if I believed him about the AHL team then, but now . . .
but should you need a consultant
I would be willing to offer my services at a very VERY reasonable price. (normally beer)
It’d be really difficult to find an entire team’s worth of hockey players all with the surname “Peters” though…
by Raccoon Fink on Feb 10, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
e-mail them to me and I can host them for you … corylav@nc.rr.com
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 10, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
It will be sold and relocated…the Checkers are currently (last I checked) affiliated with the New York Rangers. That means there is no guarantee that an ECHL affiliate for the Canes in the Carolinas will happen.
It’s possible that the franchise will become dormant until a new buyer comes along.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 10, 2010 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
I contacted Canes PR and a release is forthcoming — we’ll get it up as soon as it’s released.
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 10, 2010 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
I am curious how the Bobcats and the arena will work around the AHL.
The old Independence Arena no longer has ice making capabilities. The past few seasons, when the Checkers have had playoff games, they have actually played the playoff games at their practive facilities because of a lack of availability at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Hopefully, that’s been addressed….it would be kind of embarrassing for an AHL playoff game to be at the local community rink.
I sure hope Chubby has been overhauled, or at least bathed, over the years. He was pretty gnarly back in the days when I lived in Charlotte.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
How long ago was that? When they did a logo change in 2003ish, they did overhaul chubby.
I miss the old Independence Arena days…boo’ing chubby when he kept hitting the old scoreboard during the T-Shirt toss, sitting behind the goal in the elevated seats, and of course chuck-a-puck (it never failed that people would throw their pucks after they were told not to!)
I’ve go back about once or twice a year to watch the Checkers…the new arena is awesome and they draw much better since the move uptown, but the character of that old barn on Independence is something I do miss.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 10, 2010 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
Loooooong time ago, back when Independence Arena was still called the Charlotte Coliseum as the “new” one was being built over on Tyvola. I moved in 1996, right about the time that the city was bringing the Panthers in and trying to kick George Shinn out.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Feb 10, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
You’ll certainly like some of the different camera angles at the TWC Arena…te lower bowl seem to be on a less severe slope, so you have a slightly more intimate feel.
This set was with my old camera so they aren’t the best…but for those who haven’t gone to a Checkers game and will next year…here’s an idea what it’s like.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15530177@N05/sets/72157609320671907/
by Adam's Journey on Feb 11, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
thx … it’s now linked in the latest press release post.
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 10, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
They need to become the Charlotte Tropical Depressions...
One day with time and effort (providing the conditions are right) they will evolve into Hurricanes.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Thanks to Albany
While I’m very excited to have our AHL affiliate in Charlotte, I just wanted to take a moment to say THANKS to the folks in Albany. From all reports, they are a great fan base and treated our boys incredibly well.
Here’s hoping another team finds a home in Albany soon.
-martin
I’m hoping the same for them. From all reports, a great geographic location (short bus trips to rival teams) and a good fan base.
I’ve already seen speculations of the Islanders or perhaps the Rangers relocating their AHL team in-state for the same reason we made a move, with Albany the rumored target market for both of them.
Here’s hoping there’s an announcement soon!
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