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Tailing the Komets

Interesting article

From Mike DeDonker of the Rockford Register Star on the proposed movement of an AHL team to Rockford. I especially thought and agree with Steve Martinson's sentiments. He's right on 100 percent with this.

You can read it here.

It's amazing to me how stupid some business people are, wanting to jump leagues and such without taking the time to really check out the numbers and how once again the NHL folks are concerned only about themselves. If I'm a Rockford taxpayer, or a Fort Wayne taxpayer looking at a downtown baseball stadium, I want to see hardcore numbers before anybody makes any move at all on these things with any of my money. And then I want to be able to check those numbers out as well.

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Hoss
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 5:18pm

I can't get over the difference in the numbers getting thrown around. QC sold for 1.6 but they offer the Hogs for $500,000? I know we have gone over this, but how can any team make it in the AHL if they all lose over a million every year? I'm happy in the U!

Bob
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 6:21pm

I have not been to Rockford to see a game there yet.....but it seems that putting an AHL team in a market like Rockford is not a wise business decision. I would also like to hear the thoughts that the Chicago Wolves have regarding this possibility.
If moving to the AHL is so great, then the Frankes would have done so years ago.....Oh, I forgot....the Frankes make better business decisions and would like to actually MAKE MONEY, not flush it down the commode!
If Rockford wants to renovate the MetroCentre, maybe add some premium seating, etc. that would be a better investment w/o having to pay $25-$50 bucks to watch an AHL team that would likely end up having to relocate after losing money faster than it can be printed!
I cannot see a city the size of Rockford being able to support an AHL team.....anyone know what the population of Rockford is?............

Shutterbug
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 6:54pm

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population in 2000 for Rockford was 150,115 with the median household income in 1999 at $37,667.
Fort Wayne's population in 2000 was 205,727 and the median household income in 1999 was $36,518.

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

chuckitt
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 8:28pm

sounds like brosal should contact some of his gumba pals from the east coast and send somebody out and talk some sense into some people!

Bob
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 8:38pm

Thanks for the info, Shutterbug. So someone wants to put an AHL team in a market that is smaller than Fort Wayne, plays in an arena with less seating capacity.... Do they plan on making up the difference with the $1,149 higher median income?
Is this going to be an expansion club, or an existing team that wants/needs to be relocated?

JungleMonkey
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 8:44pm

It's not like the UHL is going to make it much longer at this rate.

Burgee
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 8:52pm

I can't wait to see how this all unfurls, it appears the Clayton or Sherman Act could come into play here for the current Icehogs owners.

So does this mean we will get a AAA baseball team if we build a stadium downtown

nicko
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 5:38am

I went to Rockford's home opener this year, and when I was down there, I remember hearing some ridicilous number for the population within a 50 Mile radius of Rockford. I dont remember the number, but it was certainly more than 150,000. I really think they have the population down there to support this move, but it is a question of if that population will pay the elevated prices.
As for their arena, I personally didnt see anything wrong with it outside of no luxary suites. Sure, it looks like crap from the outside, and the parking isn't the greatest, but it was kind of a neat place to watch a hockey game. I'd hate to lose Rockford to the AHL if we expect to keep the UHL going.

Greg
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 6:45am

Looks like Tommy Lawson is getting a try out with a club in Finland.

Jungle Monkey
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 6:48am

The ticket prices are going to stay the same. It seems that when you remove ownership greed there are less mouths to feed from the same pool of money.

Greg
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 6:54am

Does this even matter to us. We're not in Rockford. I could care less what they decide to do. It's not like NHL teams were beating down the Frankes door asking them to sell their team so a AHL franchise can go in.

Yes a UHL team may leave, well doesn't that tend to happen every year anyway. So what's the big deal.

Jungle Monkey
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 7:36am

As I see it, the big deal is there are only about 5 stable UHL franchises... FW, KZ, MUSK, ROCK, QC.... you take away 20% of them by removing the Hogs from the fold. What will they be replaced by? The West Unity Icebandits?

Greg
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 8:04am

Teams come and teams go, happens all the time. You're right in that Rockford is one of the more stable franchises, does that mean the UHL can survive as a 5 team league? Could it survive as a 4 team league? The Frankes will find somewhere for the Komets to play if the UHL goes under.

Blake
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 10:22am

But this is important Greg because Rockford is a very good, solid UHL franchise and probably the Komets' chief rival. No league can afford to lose franchises like that.

Burgee
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 10:35am

ROCKFORD, Illinois (MB)Reports of whining inside the Rockford Metrocentre appear to be that of head coach Steve Martinson. Apparently the zamboni driver was dressed as an official and the water from the zamboni was not immediately freezing prompting the coach to start whining earlier than usual.

Komets 5 - 3 -- 3 PP goals and 1 SH or empty net goal.

Go Komets, Rockford Stinks, suey, suey suey suey.

Greg
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 10:39am

We can always find other rivals, Rocked is just becoming a rival from the playoffs of a couple years ago, before that the fans could have cared less about them, it was Quad City before that, and when they were in the IHL it was INDY. There will always be some team that fans want to stomp on.

stratocaster718
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 10:46am

Blake's right; this is important (and scary) for the U and the Komets. We need Rockford to stay in the UHL. What I'd love to see is Dayton and Toledo move to the U. No offense to Elmira, but how long can they survive with the U becoming a Midwestern league? They're usually somewhat competitive and exciting, but will the travel expenses do them in? So maybe Elmira goes to the ECHL next year and the U gets the Dayton/Toledo teams.

As challenging as the economics of minor-league sports are, it really makes me wonder how any ECHL team is doing it...

Greg
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 11:04am

I think there's a whole lot of overreacting goin on here. 1) We don't even know if Rockford's owners will take the deal. 2) How long have the Komets been around, Oh yeah, 55 years. You think there hasn't been rivalries come and go. 3) I know I'll catch crap from bloggers here for saying this, it's not up to us or the league to decide what's best for the city of Rockford. If the people there want the AHL franchise then good luck and Godspeed.

Skate
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 12:58pm

The Chicago-AHL thing looks pretty good right now.

Wait until the Blackhawks call up Rockford's top 3 guys and sit them in the pressbox all weekend and send Rockford out to play with 13 skaters, or so.

If you say they won't, that's exact;y what they used to do with Indy and Milwaukee when those cities, close to Chicago had affiliations with Chicago.

The Komets used to just skate them right into the Ice. The games weren't even competitive. And they're saying they'll get more for their money.

I doubt it. Call ups will be just too easy and inexpensive.

Greg
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 1:05pm

Who knows, the Komets are talking about getting an AHL affiliation, maybe the can get with the Rockford AHL team. Just a thought.

Tony E
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 1:21pm

Rockford might be able to beat the Blackhawks right now.

edward
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 2:49pm

maybe they should just make a trade, hogs for hawks.
that sucks to to even think of begging the rockford ice hogs to send us a player.

Komet Fan
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 3:43pm

As much as I dislike the Icehogs, it would be bad for the Komets and the UHL if Rockford left. The UHL is already looking at possibly losing Flint, Port Huron, and Elmira after this year because of bad attendance in Flint and Port Huron and geograhpy for Elmira. That would leave 6 teams in the league, not exactly an ideal number. Minimum number of teams the UHL needs to have any legitimacy at all is 8 teams.

Komet Fan
Wed, 11/15/2006 - 3:43pm

As much as I dislike the Icehogs, it would be bad for the Komets and the UHL if Rockford left. The UHL is already looking at possibly losing Flint, Port Huron, and Elmira after this year because of bad attendance in Flint and Port Huron and geograhpy for Elmira. That would leave 6 teams in the league, not exactly an ideal number. Minimum number of teams the UHL needs to have any legitimacy at all is 8 teams.

Junior
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 4:50am

Tony E, I doubt that Rockford could beat the Hawks. An injury depleted team that has killed off 27 straight power plays. That is just a stupid and offending comment.

Greg
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 6:01am

only 2600 listed for Rockford's mid week game, they'll have to do better than that if they want an AHL franchise because a good deal of games could be during the week.

Tony E
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 7:24am

Junior,
If my previous post which was dripping in sarcasm offends you I will swiftly find the nearest bridge and jump off because I will never be able to live with the shame.........what is this world coming to?

Tony E
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 7:26am

BTW I also IU could beat the Colts. :-0

Tony E
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 7:27am

grrr...also believe

Greg
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 7:45am

Now that's sarcasim. Good one Tony ;-)

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