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Tailing the Komets

Komets respond to Quad City

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Mr. Snufflupugus
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 12:25pm

He is right that this town will quickly lose interest in a team where the players change week to week. That is one reason the Wizards were such a tough sell.

I thought and still do think that a team in Quad City will be present in a midwest regional league that will form in the next few years.
I have to laugh now at all of the noise about how committed the Mallards supposedly were to the CHL. As I pointed out at the start of the year that there is no such thing as committed in minor league sports and the teams will do what is in their best interest from season to season. Right now it is in Quad Cities best interest to go dark until such time as the idiots running the CHL and ECHL into the ground pull their heads out of the sand and reorganize based on region.

JungleMonkey
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 1:24pm

" Franke said it's still the right decision. He said the ECHL is basically two leagues spread across the country."

Allen, Texas
Rapid City, South Dakota
Prescott, Arizona
Dayton, Ohio

I see Mr. Franke's point.

ggeiselman
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 1:24pm

Bloomington has new owners.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/hockey/professional/minor/prairiethunder/article_eb74e3a8-7cbe-11e0-a24f-001cc4c03286.html

Frodawg
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 1:29pm

Hey Junglemonkey I'm still here awaiting your next move.

Alan
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 2:41pm

Pretty interesting stuff.

Gee....I almost forgot the old standby "seven to ten day" time period. If history is any judge then that means some info will come out in about two months.

Sorry for the sarcasm.

Funny how the names of hockey leagues fail to describe their members.

"East Coast" Hockey League with members so far from the East Coast that it had to change to the ECHL ( Gee, I wonder how they came up with that?).
"International" Hockey League hadn't had a member from outside the U.S. in over forty years and was still renamed "International" when revived.

"United" Hockey League was far from "United" with Owners cheating and one even being indicted.

"Central" Hockey League with with at least five teams not in the Central time zone...and right now would do just about anything to add more.

I won't even go into the AHL or the NHL for that matter. While typing this I realized I must have too much time on my hands.

hockeypalooza
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 2:58pm

If QC stays dark too long, the USHL may move in. In fact, the USHL was already starting to hover last Fall: http://tinyurl.com/29ykb7r

Sgriffith
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:02pm

Honestly the worry that a changing roster would create a lack of interest to me is a cop out, not a valid reason when the ECHL from a geographical standpoint is the right fit. I do not think for one minute that the komets would suffer at the ticket gate they will still draw. While the Komets are a healthy organization, the landscape around them is not. The CHL as a whole is in a lot of trouble with the parent company in dire straits. If the entry fee to the ECHL is too step for the Komets, then they are at the mercy of what can be done with the CHL no matter what the make up of the league is. I have seen that there is a great possibility that the CHL schedule could include games against the SPHL which is a lower level league.

Blake Sebring
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:13pm

I think the situation with the ECHL is who is going to step up and pay the expansion fee. They are not just going to accept teams for free. I think that's the biggest thing holding all this ``reform'' up, that one side or the other figures if the other side dies, the remaining teams will have to pay their expansion fees to play. Again, a business decision.

Also not totally convinced it's better geographically. Sure there's Cincy, Kazoo and Toledo, but are the rest of the teams any closer than what CHL has? In both situations, you are going to have to go out and spend a week or so playing a series of games on the road, which is very expensive.

CHL would kill SPHL teams.

I also keep hearing hints there's a couple of expansion teams coming in the CHL.

Sgriffith
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:50pm

If that is the reason why the Komets will not entertain the ECHL because the entry fee I can buy that reasoning, but to pin it on an ever changing roster changes due to call ups that I can not buy. They will continue to draw as long as there competitive product on the ice. Does it make it harder, most certainly, but they would draw the talent to play here. The ECHL is, at this point, the top dog at the AA level and they do not have to compromise their standard for entry into their league, unfortunately the Komets may not have the option of holding out until some type of compromise can be worked out by the leagues. If you want hockey to continue they may just have to except the fact the ECHL may be the best alternative for hockey to continue. Here is hoping that a solution can be found.

GameMisconduct
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:51pm

Not sure its better geograpically? Really? KZoo, Toledo, Cincy, Wheeling, and Chicago would all be close for the Komets if they join the ECHL as it currently stands for next season. That doesn't even include any current CHL teams that could end up in the ECHL.

Currently the Komets have Dayton, Evansville, and Bloomington within a 5 hour radius

I also agree 100% about

GameMisconduct
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:52pm

Errr stupid touchscreen...

I also agree 100% about the roster turnover excuse being nothing more than a copout...a bad one at that.

Hit Somebody!!!
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 7:28pm

Alan beat me to the punch.

SEVEN TO TEN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are killing me Mr. Franke.......LOL

Dick Brosal needs to reform the UHL and threaten the cities of K-Zoo, Toledo, Chicago, Cincy, FWA, Eville, Dayton, Musky, Flint Huron, Bloomy, QC, and give me one more.....with a Danbury Trasher style of Threatening......to pull heads out of arses and play in a league that could provide Minor Hockey Entertainment that is cost effective, fun, competitive, fun, cost effective, and fun.

Come on Dicky Boy Brosal.....you CAN DO IT!!!

JR1
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 7:37pm

Travel times per Mapquest:

Some CHL teams (not counting Dayton):

Bloomy = 4:37
E-ville = 5:20
Missouri = 9:37
Wichita = 12:45
Mississippi = 9:34
Rapid City = 16:52

Some potential ECHL teams (not counting K-zoo, Chicago, Cincy, Toledo)

Wheeling = 4:55
Elmira = 8:22
Reading = 9:22
Trenton = 10:44
Gwinnett = 10:37
Greenville = 10:19
South Carolina = 13:13
Florida = 19:20

Hit Somebody!!!
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 8:01pm

This is a mess.

When is my season ticket money due?

How many times do we play Eville this year?

Not happy.

Anyone happy?

This one will make happier for sure:

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/may/05/company-left-a-trail-of-trouble-developer-of/

Some company that owns the CHL and half of the CHL arenas it built in those cities.

As Bobby McFarren said:

Don't Worry, Be Happy!!!!!

Or was it Mike and Dave Franke that said it.

Anyone feel that smoke being blown up your arses?

Blake Sebring
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 8:25pm

Hit, when are you ever happy?

Mr. Snufflupugus
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 8:28pm

I don't believe it is a cop out at all.
Fans in this town want to see the same names year after year even when they are past their prime.
A revolving door of "who are these guys" month to month will not fly here. And the mouthy STH group who like to threaten non renewal on a weekly basis will moan and groan when the teams best players get called up costing the team a chance at a championship.

GameMisconduct
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 8:36pm

They don't care who is on the ice as long as there's a winning product.

Hit Somebody!!!
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 8:45pm

Super Fan.....errrrr.....Mr. Sebring......how would you know?

I am 95% happy all the time.

It is just when I come here and read the soa opera and mis-handlings of things in the IHL/CHL that makes me cringe.

You have to admit this thing is a joke right now.

Have you read the news out of Bloomy about the new ownership group......same lady who had an AAHL team that mis-managed that franchise and moves her team 3 times in what??? A years time?

OH, and has Mr. Leighton even announced his team is not coming back? His IHL franchise under the CHL Moniker.....you know the Prairie Thunder that the Frankes invested in at one time or another......

The CHL awards a franchise to this AAHL owner that sneaks into the US Cellular Coliseum right out from under our IHL Buddy Mr. Leighton.

Ummmmm......don't you think this thing is getting pretty deep and ridiculous?

If we could only find some Pizza Buffet owners to start an IHL franchise under the CHL Moniker in Motor City.....or some others dopes to start a frachise under the Moniker in Flint......or Some dopes to start a franchise under the Moniker in Battle Creek. Or some dopes to start a Franchise under the Moniker in St Charles.

It isn't that I am not happy.

I pay good money.....hard earned money. Most everyone here who gives a rats arse about the Komets do and feel just as I do.....or I would hope they do.....why are the Komets always in these situations??? Aren't we better than this crap? Honestly??? Aren't we?

I know Minor Hockey is a crap shoot...it is not perfect.....it has many flaws.

But can we for once make a good decision about where we play that has less BS than what we have seen over the last 4 years?

I apologize Blake.

Maybe I shouldn't care. Maybe I should bury my passion for this team and love for the Komets.

Maybe I should give up and shut up.

Sorry.

GameMisconduct
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 8:52pm

Hit, if you apologize 1 more time I'll punch you in the face...NEVER apologize for having an opinion and actually GETTING information instead of just going off of what is told by you by a local rag who will be "everything is fine, nothing to see here" 100% of the time.

Burgee
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 9:05pm

I know these things will happen next year:

There will be Komet Hockey in Fort Wayne

Schebigs feet will still stink

Hit will never be happy

Komets will win the championship

we'll be having this same discussion after next season

Hit Somebody!!!
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 9:26pm

I am plenty happy.

When it comes to this constant Komet in the a Crap league of crap owners and crap teams when we could be in a league like the ECHL or AHL where this kind of garbage isn't as likely to happen all the time.....it makes me unhappy.

GM is right.

I do have an opinion.

This is as good a place as any to voice it.

I think those in charge probably read here.

And I know that the Burgees and others of the blog will always be the way they are.....they don't bother me.

It is funny that how so-called rumors over on FYC normally start smoke, and most over here poo poo the smoke while lots of us smell the smoke and recognize there is fire producing the smoke, and once again there is a fire.....while some continue to paint the rosey orange picture with a cigar hanging from their lips and the Kool Breeze of their smoke is being every so gently blown up my money maker.......

Keep on blowing it boys.

You are essentially making me happy.

Even though Blake hates my guts.

LOL

Blake Sebring
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 10:24pm

Sorry to disappoint you, but I guarantee you those in charge don't read this or any other blog. They've heard it all before, and why would you waste time going where everything you've ever done is second-guessed and picked over? It's a waste of time for them, and frankly, they don't care. They get people griping at them enough in the office.

And you guys were so right about Dayton, weren't you? Oops.

Why do you seem to think there are so many great potential owners out there? Seriously. There aren't so you make the best you can with what you've got.

So if they got in the ECHL, you wouldn't be right back here again next year complaining about that? Riiiiiggggghhhtttt.

This situation isn't perfect by any stretch, but nothing in minor league sports is perfect and it never has been and never will. It has always been this way and it always will be. It's an imperfect business.

If you think the ECHL is so much better, look at their attendance numbers. The league is averaging 2,788 for 58 playoff games after averaging 4,339 for the regular season. CHL is 3,714 for the playoffs after 3,784 for the regular season. How is that so much better?

Just where would you like them to pull the expansion fee for the ECHL from? Oh, and they can't raise ticket prices, either, right? There will never be an owner of the hockey team in Fort Wayne that can afford to operate the business at a loss. This isn't the NBDL where the Mad Ants owner would like to eventually own an NBA team. The Komets are just like every other small/famly business trying to make it work in this economy.

Guess I'm not sure what you expect them to do about the problems in the entire industry, and why whatever that answer is would be so much better.

Anyway, I'm done.

Hit Somebody!!!
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 11:04pm

The summer hasn't officially gotten here Mr. Sebring.....

Don't get jiggy with Dayton just yet......LOL

Nothing would surprise me now.

JR1
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 4:32am

Blake, you mean Dayton is making money???

That must be the case, because what most are saying is that Dayton is losing money big time and we cant figure out how they are still around when we are seeing teams that are averaging 3000-3500 folding or dropping a level or two...... They must have Mad Ants money...

RunningKomet
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 5:42am

They shouldn't need to raise ticket prices (we already pay more than most others at this level). How did all these other teams in the ECHL come up with the expansion fee but somehow the Komets who bring in greater numbers can't figure it out? Do all the teams in the ECHL own their own buildings? That's why we're usually told that the poor Frankes aren't making any money, isn't it?

The thing with the ECHL that is more worrisome to me than the ticket prices (that OF COURSE would have to go up if we joined) would be giving up the rights to the Komets name and logo. That'd be part of the deal right, or did I just misread that somewhere?

While I have no answers to any of this stuff and agree with some more than others on here, I am learning a lot from everyone who is posting on all sides of the discussion. Pretty interesting stuff. Sad, but interesting.

JungleMonkey
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 6:18am

How bout they buy a dormant ECHL franchise for 200k and save themselves some dough.. Just spit ballin here..

This whole arguement defies logic, look at a map. Look at the stability of teams in each league. What makes sense is effident.

And I don't believe for a second that the Franke/Sproat machine doesnt read this blog or others.

RunningKomet
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 7:13am

Agreed, JM. It's free market research. They'd be dumb not to, or at least not to have one of their secretaries or interns or something check it out.

JungleMonkey
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 8:12am

I'm not saying they jump to consider blogger input, but they still read it.

GameMisconduct
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 8:22am

It's read by the big wigs, both blogs and message boards are...I know that to be a 100% fact. You'd be surprised who not only reads but also comments

JR1
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 10:18am

I was doing some research into the playoff attendance numbers for the ECHL because, quite frankly, I was surprised by them... I found this to be telling... Of the top 6 teams in attendance during the regular season, ranging from 5117-6683, only 3 of those teams made the post season... Of the 3 who made it in, all had only 2 home games. Stockton and Bakersfield both had weekend games and did well (3962-4648), Florida had games on Tuesday and Wednesday and fell well short of regular season numbers... Add this to the loss of corporate seats for the playoffs and much nicer weather (which affect every postseason...) and you start to see why the ECHL's playoff attendance is down...

Would the CHL's numbers be any better if scenario's were reversed? I dont see how they could...

If your top 6 teams in attendance can only manage 6 home games between them for the playoff's your gonna see a dip in attendance numbers no matter what league your in, IMO...

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