Not sure what to think of this, but I got this email today saying potential owners are negotiating with the IHL.
If you are really serious, you 1.) do not send out a press release; 2.) do not send it out the week of the finals; 3.) before you have all your ducks lined up; 4.) mention anything at all about maybe playing at Conseco. Please, do you want to go bankrupt?; 5.) do it before talking to anyone officially, in person, from the league, such as say, the president of the Board of Governors who happens to reside in Fort Wayne. The league got the same email
That said, good luck to them.
Here it is:
The Indianapolis Ice is the name of a former hockey team in Indianapolis, Indiana that played in the IHL (International Hockey League) from 1988-99 and then the Central Hockey League from 1999-2004. In 2004, a new team named Indiana Ice came into existence in the United States Hockey League, after the Central Hockey League moved to Topeka. The former Ice won the 1991 Turner Cup, and the Ray Miron Cup in the CHL in 2000. Now it may seem that the IHL is getting Indianapolis back.
The Indy Ice Hockey Group, owned by Richard Bruner and Ryan Yerrick, have initiated talks with the IHL about bringing the team back. During the 1990's, Indianapolis Ices' major rival was 2008 Turner Cup Champions, the Fort Wayne Komets. The Komets have long been one of the oldest teams in minor league hockey since it's conception in 1952, having won 5 championships in the IHL. Bruner and Yerrick, who happen to be avid Komet fans, as well as the Owners of the Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Buddy's Pizza Buffet chain, desire to revive the Indianapolis team to promote the IHL and bring back the spirit of "1990 hockey" with state-wide rivalry, fair competition, and minor league presence.
"The IHL is great minor league hockey ... period." says Bruner, who has also reached out to Chicago Steel, a Tier 1 junior hockey team from the United States Hockey League hoping they will follow suit and join the IHL. Bruner said, "I hope this move will help bring the Chicago Steel to the IHL, increasing the 6 team league, and reviving a Midwestern professional minor league organization that is far superior than any other hockey league out there." He continued with, "The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league around, I don't dispute that, but they are amateur. And cities like Indianapolis and Chicago should have teams represented in professional minor leagues for players who are done with college, or are moving on to the next level. That's what college teams are for."
The "new" Indianapolis Ice, being called Indy Ice, is in talks now with Conseco Fieldhouse and Pepsi Coliseum to find out where they're home may be. Both venues have expressed interest in having professional minor league presence, it's just a matter of what's a better fit for the team, and the contractual side of things with present teams, schedules, and venues.
Indy Ice "Blue & Gold" will launch a new website May 20, 2009 at www.indyicehockey.com.
Comments
Talk is still the cheapest thing around. I suspect they haven't said one word to Paul Picard or they wouldn't be putting out press releases. The IHL is so tight with info the media can not announce a trade a release or a signing until the IHL says so. The only reason we know about Dayton and Quad City is because the Commissioner told us. As much as I would like Indy to comback to the IHL it has to be on very solid financial footing. The very same thing is true with Dayton, Quad City or any other city or group that wants to play in our league. The IHL does not need groups without plenty of funds. We had all the problems one league should have this year in Flint.
Best of luck, hope they can make it work.
Have'nt we heard the talk about Indy before? If Indy does get a team, then great....Like Dschebig said, talk is cheap.
If the city does get a team, I would prefer going to Conseco since it's a far superior facility and in a safer area.
Conseco will cost at least twice or three time the rent at the very least. That will never happen unless the owners have more money than brains. I think that has been said before about people who get a team in any league. I really would like to have Indy back. But, I want them back to stay! The IHL is a bus league and you must be able to pay the players before you pay the City of Indianapolis or the Pacers who manage the building. Think about a building with several thousand people in it and you would think there was no one there. The Pepsi Coliseum is a nice building and really very easy to get to. At this stage it is still all just talk.
Reaction from the IHL Office - "Ummm...what?" But if through some miracle it does come to pass, the Pepsi Coliseum is the obvious choice. Yes, Conseco is nice and shiny, but it doesn't nearly fit the IHL economics. (Plus, we'd still be the nicest barn in the league!!)
Well hopefully these guys run a hockey team better than they run their pizza joints.
I don't know that the Pepsi Coliseum is in any safer area than Conseco. Jamal Tinsley proved you can have a gunfight in even the most advertised, high-profile, public part of Indy. I lived down there for years and never had any troubles any time I went to the Pepsi Coliseum. Besides, Indy's worst parts are far safer than the best parts of Flint ;)
I can tell you the last time I saw the CHL Indy Ice at Pepsi in February of 2004...the ice was so thick that I could barely see the lines or faceoff circles even after the ice was resurfaced during intermissions.
One of the ushers told me the ice was being kept at 5.5 inches thick due to not having adequate climate control.
It did'nt help that the seat I was supposed to have was broken.
If the Pacers can't pay to operate Conseco, there is no way a minor league hockey team is going to do it. Now, I would like to see Indy back in the mix. They gave great rivalry, and it would leave Wings Stadium as the only barn Komets fans take over on a road trip. Poor Kalamazoo fans. Almost felt bad for 'em. Almost.
That should have said Wings staidum would NOT be the only barn K's fans take over. It's late and I've been working video and knocking honey-do items off the list al day so I can go cover the road games in the finals.
Ting, ting.
(totally inside joke to everyone else, but trust me, it's hilarious.)
Although I guess the junior team played a game at Conseco and had 17 thousand in attendance. To me that means Indy wants higher level hockey in town again, or maybe that's just me hoping.
This is even more interesting:
http://indianapolis.nuvo.net/SalesJobs/director_of_sales_and_promotions_indianapolis_ice/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=1233290
Wait... trying to bring in a Chicago franchise to join them?
What, the league needs two Chicago franchises that can't find homes? One isn't enough?
Blake, Have you checked this stuff out about Indy with the IHL (Paul Picard). Mostlikely they have "No Comment". They are very tight lipped.
No, I've been a little tied up with preview stuff. I can't do everything, and this had to drop on the priority list.
I understand! Maybe you can corner a League Official at the game Thursday. I would guess Brad Jones will be here. I am not sure Mr. Picard will be here until it's time to give us back the "Turner Cup" Always positive, always. I really don't like wild hare rumors. I just hope this has some truth to it.