If you had the money to spend, where would you put an expansion team? It can be in any league, but of course we're particularly interested in the UHL. Take into consideration the city's history with minor league sports, facilities, proximity, etc. Because you are the ones putting up the money, we'll assume that you all have an extra $3 million to lose. LOL.
Any ideas?
And I still haven't heard a compelling reason why the league offices should have to move. Give me some sound financial reasons.
Comments
Findlay could be interesting, but I'm afraid South Bend might be too close to Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Chicago to have its own identity and survive - maybe - you also have to consider Notre Dame has a college hockey team.
This is an interesting topic! Does anybody remember (I wasn't there, I just looked through the old yearbooks) that the IHL once had teams in Muncie, Akron, Louisville, Huntington (WV, not Indiana), Omaha and Des Moines? Muncie, Akron and Huntington only lasted about 1 year each (Huntington used old Komet uniforms, just like Fort Wayne used old Chatham uniforms their first year).
When the Komets played in Des Moines (I'm assuming other teams did this too), they usually played at least two games out there, sometimes three, before playing somewhere else.
You're probably only going to be able to have four teams in Michigan - unless Grand Rapids comes back to this level - Saginaw would be a great addition, but I'm not sure they will support it - three teams have failed there in the past. Milwaukee or Minneapolis-St. Paul would be reasonably close. The latter might not support two teams in one city though.
Saginaw will not support it because right now it is a dead and depressed city. Flint is fast heading in that direction. These cities based 90% of their business base and infrastructure on the auto industry and when it pulled out or cut back, things imploded.
Having spent the past 11 years in the South Bend/Elkhart area, I'm not sure SB could support a team. Notre Dame is the only place to play, and it is a very small arena that might seat 2500. I believe it is a small ice surface, as well (not positive). Des Moines could be a very viable location. I also wondered about HUntington, WV. Blake, jump in here!
West Virginia is tough. The Nailers have a decent following but struggle to make ends meet. I wonder too about Des Moines. I believe the are teams in Cedar Rapids and Sioux City in other leagues. The town of Des Moines is a great city, very clean and friendly. I know they support baseball pretty well.
Des Moines has the Iowa AHL team.
Truthfully, I'm not sure there is any other logical locations, which is why I posted this question. I think you have to stay away from college towns. I always wondered about Merrillville or someone in that area.
Da Region could be a very strong location due to the population and pride in the area. The question is where to play? Do you know of an arena there, Blake?
Any opinions, thoughts on having Memphis leave the CHL and join the UHL? I also like the idea of Louisville....Of course, Indy would be nice...just don't hold your breath waiting on that one.
No, I don't know of an arena in Da Region as we called it at school.
Bob, I'm not sure they want to consider going South at all. That just opens the door to more troubles.