An interesting article regarding the locker rooms and the Coliseum. You never know what things can weigh heavily to tilt a player's decision when everything else is equal.
Just joking, but I couldn't help but think that as the locker room will be new, all we will need is players to use it!
757 Heavy
Thu, 07/16/2015 - 10:17pm
"The goal was to provide the Komets the style and type of locker room that might help them recruit players and could serve them well in any league they could possibly play in. American Hockey League teams have unlimited rosters and would need extra space for practices."
Does anyone think there is a chance Fort Wayne will end up in the AHL someday..? I dont know any of the politics of the different leagues and am not saying we should or should not, but I have always wondered why we don't have an AHL team with the great history, fan base, etc. In Fort Wayne.
orange_koolaid
Thu, 07/16/2015 - 11:33pm
The only thing keeping fort Wayne from AHL is owner confidence.
757 Heavy
Fri, 07/17/2015 - 9:29pm
You had my curiosity...Now you have my attention.
Alan
Sat, 07/18/2015 - 10:21am
My guess is the "AAA" IHL probably scared the Franke's to death. The most important thing is always the bottom line and I doubt any one of us ever saw the hemorrhaging going on. You gotta give them credit. They stepped up and found a way to bring hockey back to Fort Wayne. I don't remember any other group knocking themselves out.
When the Franke family decides it has had enough (and I'm worried about one of them right now), maybe an NHL team will come in and buy the franchise. If that happens someday, maybe they would place an AHL team here (but remember, even then, that doesn't guarantee anything as there are a handful of NHL teams that currently operate ECHL franchises).
As for the Coliseum, it just makes great business sense to modernize the facility to higher standards when remodeling is being performed.
Blake Sebring
Sun, 07/19/2015 - 11:11am
They'd also have to pay a new expansion fee after just paying the ECHL one, and their budget would likely double, including paying $1-$1.5 million per year for the affiliation. Then they'd have to go out and sign another 6-8 free agents at higher costs as well, plus travel. Frankes are unwilling to gamble Fort Wayne would pay for the higher ticket prices which would be required.
Looking at the city's history, don't blame them.
Anonymous
Sun, 07/19/2015 - 1:32pm
I have to chuckle every time the subject of Fort Wayne going to the AHL is discussed. A large percentage of current Komet fans gripe loudly any time there is a $1 or $2 increase in ticket prices. They also complain loudly when there is an increase in parking fees and/or concession prices, neither of which have anything to do with the Komets. This is not new. It has been this way forever with the Fort Wayne fans. Obviously, ticket prices would have to increase if the Komets were an AHL team.
RG2
Mon, 07/20/2015 - 7:48am
scenario- The existing franchise would be purchased by an NHL team.( the existing franchise fee would be part of the selling price) That NHL team would then keep team here as their AA operation or re-locate it to another city and bring their AHL team here. There would be no new franchise fee paid to anyone.
You would never see an independantly owned AHL team here or probably anywhere else. Not cost effective. We may still see some independantly owned ECHL franchises far into the future but eventually most will be owned by NHL parent team.
RG2
Mon, 07/20/2015 - 10:41am
I might add I love the product we have, blessed to have it here and hope its here for many many years to come. No real complaints
orange_koolaid
Mon, 07/20/2015 - 6:03pm
I have no real complaints either. Having an AHL vs ECHL team is comparable to choosing between a regular truck and a luxury truck. Both give you what you love however the luxury truck is more cost to maintain doing the same thing. Lets keep what we have.
who/suz
Mon, 07/20/2015 - 8:21pm
As stated before we for our money would be happy 2 pay more 2 c an AHL team. .love 2 c guys that might be sent down 4 rehab that play in the NHL..while ewe love the AA league would love 2 move up
Comments
An interesting article regarding the locker rooms and the Coliseum. You never know what things can weigh heavily to tilt a player's decision when everything else is equal.
Just joking, but I couldn't help but think that as the locker room will be new, all we will need is players to use it!
"The goal was to provide the Komets the style and type of locker room that might help them recruit players and could serve them well in any league they could possibly play in. American Hockey League teams have unlimited rosters and would need extra space for practices."
Does anyone think there is a chance Fort Wayne will end up in the AHL someday..? I dont know any of the politics of the different leagues and am not saying we should or should not, but I have always wondered why we don't have an AHL team with the great history, fan base, etc. In Fort Wayne.
The only thing keeping fort Wayne from AHL is owner confidence.
You had my curiosity...Now you have my attention.
My guess is the "AAA" IHL probably scared the Franke's to death. The most important thing is always the bottom line and I doubt any one of us ever saw the hemorrhaging going on. You gotta give them credit. They stepped up and found a way to bring hockey back to Fort Wayne. I don't remember any other group knocking themselves out.
When the Franke family decides it has had enough (and I'm worried about one of them right now), maybe an NHL team will come in and buy the franchise. If that happens someday, maybe they would place an AHL team here (but remember, even then, that doesn't guarantee anything as there are a handful of NHL teams that currently operate ECHL franchises).
As for the Coliseum, it just makes great business sense to modernize the facility to higher standards when remodeling is being performed.
They'd also have to pay a new expansion fee after just paying the ECHL one, and their budget would likely double, including paying $1-$1.5 million per year for the affiliation. Then they'd have to go out and sign another 6-8 free agents at higher costs as well, plus travel. Frankes are unwilling to gamble Fort Wayne would pay for the higher ticket prices which would be required.
Looking at the city's history, don't blame them.
I have to chuckle every time the subject of Fort Wayne going to the AHL is discussed. A large percentage of current Komet fans gripe loudly any time there is a $1 or $2 increase in ticket prices. They also complain loudly when there is an increase in parking fees and/or concession prices, neither of which have anything to do with the Komets. This is not new. It has been this way forever with the Fort Wayne fans. Obviously, ticket prices would have to increase if the Komets were an AHL team.
scenario- The existing franchise would be purchased by an NHL team.( the existing franchise fee would be part of the selling price) That NHL team would then keep team here as their AA operation or re-locate it to another city and bring their AHL team here. There would be no new franchise fee paid to anyone.
You would never see an independantly owned AHL team here or probably anywhere else. Not cost effective. We may still see some independantly owned ECHL franchises far into the future but eventually most will be owned by NHL parent team.
I might add I love the product we have, blessed to have it here and hope its here for many many years to come. No real complaints
I have no real complaints either. Having an AHL vs ECHL team is comparable to choosing between a regular truck and a luxury truck. Both give you what you love however the luxury truck is more cost to maintain doing the same thing. Lets keep what we have.
As stated before we for our money would be happy 2 pay more 2 c an AHL team. .love 2 c guys that might be sent down 4 rehab that play in the NHL..while ewe love the AA league would love 2 move up