That's what I was talking about there, JM. That's why I believe... shoot, I know for a fact, that whomever would have to raise ticket prices for an AHL team to even have a chance. BUT Fort Wayne sports history has shown again and again any time you get to where your average ticket price is more than $10-$12, you're dead. You may be breathing, but you're on borrowed time.
Tim Hoke
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 9:24pm
Blake your last point is sooooo correct. I often ask people whar they think the limit is on what they would pay for Komets games and about 14 dollars is the most common price. Fourteen is not going to be an AHL price unless u are in upper 600 sections. I liked the previous post of three leagues divided as far as common sense travel is concerned. Hey i will be in Florida so i quess a NHL game "once in a while" will be hockey for me.
JR1
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 4:54am
Tim, thats what they would pay for AA Komets games... I have talked to several people around the water cooler and have asked numerous times if they would pay more for AHL hockey and 9 out of 10 say yes. The reason most give is that we would be watching a handfull of guys that are on the cusp of making it to the NHL... Talk to anybody who has or has had a primary NHL affiliate and they start to rattle off all the NHLers they have seen come thru thier city... Heck ask any Wizards/Tin Caps fans about baseball and they start to rattle off all the MLBers who have come thru town... I think you all under estimate what people would pay fopr around here... The best restaurants in town have waiting lines most nights, not the fast food joints....
Tim Hoke
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:21am
I guess i should not talk to the homeless people then.
Tim Hoke
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:22am
Up kinda early there jr1, lol.
Greg
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:25am
I don't see the AHL being here in the short term for a lot of reasons. The most important to me seems to be logistics. I don't believe there a AHL franchise available. They already have 30 teams and do not want to expand.
JR1
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:27am
Thats a good group to talk to about ticket prices....lol
And yes, sadly my shift starts at 6am and goes til 6pm.....usually here by 5:30 to do the turnover... Besides, I'm a morning person...lol
Greg
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:28am
Jr, I think the arguement you need to make is getting a stronger affiliation then. The Wizards/TinCaps are "single A". Far away from making the bigs. By that argurment, Fort Wayne should go for Triple A baseball. I just don't see it happening.
JR1
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:31am
Greg, they would never expand past the current amount of NHL teams which is at 30.... They would/could always relocate a franchise... That's why specualtion has come up again with the Komets and Columbus... Thier contract is up with Springfield after this season and I would guess there are a few more contracts complete after this season for other AHL teams that need to be renewed...
I do agree though that the AHL will not be here anytime soon; but for other reasons... :)
JR1
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:38am
Parkview Field was built to AA level ballpark specifications, so they could only move up to that level in the minors from what I have been told. Baseball does it right, though. They are regionalized and seldom go outside of thier footprint... I only brought up the topic of the Wizards/Tin Caps because of how what comes up during conversations with the local baseball crowd... They love to reminisce about all of the current MLB players who have come thru Ft Wayne, both due to thier affiliation and players whho have come thru for other teams... They may only be "A" ball; but ALOT of future big leaguers have played in Fort Wayne...
JungleMonkey
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 6:55am
Look at Rockford's first year AHL roster....
Kris Versteeg
Troy Brouwer
Bryan Bickell
Jack Skille
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Dave Bolland
Dustin Byfuglien
Corey Crawford
I think that they made a fast connection with fans and made it understood that legit hockey was in Rockford. Could you imagine a group like that playing in Fort Wayne?
JR1
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 7:13am
That would suck! LOL
Blake Sebring
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 9:33am
And I would counter that by saying look at the Indianapolis Ice through the 1990s. They DID suck, and they were the Blackhawks' top farm club.
Blake Sebring
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 9:34am
Springfield-Columbus agreement goes through next season with an option for the season after that.
Comments
That's what I was talking about there, JM. That's why I believe... shoot, I know for a fact, that whomever would have to raise ticket prices for an AHL team to even have a chance. BUT Fort Wayne sports history has shown again and again any time you get to where your average ticket price is more than $10-$12, you're dead. You may be breathing, but you're on borrowed time.
Blake your last point is sooooo correct. I often ask people whar they think the limit is on what they would pay for Komets games and about 14 dollars is the most common price. Fourteen is not going to be an AHL price unless u are in upper 600 sections. I liked the previous post of three leagues divided as far as common sense travel is concerned. Hey i will be in Florida so i quess a NHL game "once in a while" will be hockey for me.
Tim, thats what they would pay for AA Komets games... I have talked to several people around the water cooler and have asked numerous times if they would pay more for AHL hockey and 9 out of 10 say yes. The reason most give is that we would be watching a handfull of guys that are on the cusp of making it to the NHL... Talk to anybody who has or has had a primary NHL affiliate and they start to rattle off all the NHLers they have seen come thru thier city... Heck ask any Wizards/Tin Caps fans about baseball and they start to rattle off all the MLBers who have come thru town... I think you all under estimate what people would pay fopr around here... The best restaurants in town have waiting lines most nights, not the fast food joints....
I guess i should not talk to the homeless people then.
Up kinda early there jr1, lol.
I don't see the AHL being here in the short term for a lot of reasons. The most important to me seems to be logistics. I don't believe there a AHL franchise available. They already have 30 teams and do not want to expand.
Thats a good group to talk to about ticket prices....lol
And yes, sadly my shift starts at 6am and goes til 6pm.....usually here by 5:30 to do the turnover... Besides, I'm a morning person...lol
Jr, I think the arguement you need to make is getting a stronger affiliation then. The Wizards/TinCaps are "single A". Far away from making the bigs. By that argurment, Fort Wayne should go for Triple A baseball. I just don't see it happening.
Greg, they would never expand past the current amount of NHL teams which is at 30.... They would/could always relocate a franchise... That's why specualtion has come up again with the Komets and Columbus... Thier contract is up with Springfield after this season and I would guess there are a few more contracts complete after this season for other AHL teams that need to be renewed...
I do agree though that the AHL will not be here anytime soon; but for other reasons... :)
Parkview Field was built to AA level ballpark specifications, so they could only move up to that level in the minors from what I have been told. Baseball does it right, though. They are regionalized and seldom go outside of thier footprint... I only brought up the topic of the Wizards/Tin Caps because of how what comes up during conversations with the local baseball crowd... They love to reminisce about all of the current MLB players who have come thru Ft Wayne, both due to thier affiliation and players whho have come thru for other teams... They may only be "A" ball; but ALOT of future big leaguers have played in Fort Wayne...
Look at Rockford's first year AHL roster....
Kris Versteeg
Troy Brouwer
Bryan Bickell
Jack Skille
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Dave Bolland
Dustin Byfuglien
Corey Crawford
I think that they made a fast connection with fans and made it understood that legit hockey was in Rockford. Could you imagine a group like that playing in Fort Wayne?
That would suck! LOL
And I would counter that by saying look at the Indianapolis Ice through the 1990s. They DID suck, and they were the Blackhawks' top farm club.
Springfield-Columbus agreement goes through next season with an option for the season after that.