Wild moving their AHL team to Des Moines

[BOSSMANPC]

I posted this in the AHL thread and not sure if it's been posted anywhere else.

The Minnesota Wild are reportedly set to move their AHL affiliate from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2013-14 season, leaving America's fourth most-populous city without professional hockey for the first time in 20 years.

Link. http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/4/9/4204792/houston-aeros-relocation-ahl-des-moines-wild

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Seems like a strange move...

There's no lack of support for hockey in Houston, a city that's been discussed in the past as a potential option for NHL expansion or relocation -- although not as loudly as Seattle, Kansas City and any number of Canadian cities. The Aeros rank seventh in AHL attendance this season, averaging 6,750 fans per game, well over the league-wide average of 5,643 per game.

Wild fans over at Hockey Wilderness have more to say about the impending move, noting that among other things, moving their affiliate from a major airline hub in Houston to Des Moines could make calling up AHL players on short notice a tougher process.

 

[forty_three]

setting the stage for NHL expansion or a move of an east NHL team?

Putting Florida there would balance the conferences again...

 

[BOSSMANPC]

setting the stage for NHL expansion or a move of an east NHL team?

Putting Florida there would balance the conferences again...

Hmmmmm maybe 43.

 

[IndyAndy]

Not welcome news for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL I'm guessing.

 

[forty_three]

Just found this.

Oddly fitting, IMO

 

[DevilishWon]

I posted this in the AHL thread and not sure if it's been posted anywhere else.

The Minnesota Wild are reportedly set to move their AHL affiliate from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2013-14 season, leaving America's fourth most-populous city without professional hockey for the first time in 20 years.

Link. Houston Aeros no more? Wild reportedly set to move AHL affiliate to Des Moines - SBNation.com

Smart move by the wild. This will give their AHL guys more motivation to play well and move up....

 

[puckhead]

can't help but think of this song every time Des Moines is mentioned.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

setting the stage for NHL expansion or a move of an east NHL team?

Putting Florida there would balance the conferences again...

Since when did you start making so much sense?

Seriously though, I never considered Houston a prime spot for a relocation but it makes sense on some levels. Florida is a joke too.

 

[forty_three]

Since when did you start making so much sense?

Seriously though, I never considered Houston a prime spot for a relocation but it makes sense on some levels. Florida is a joke too.

I'm not making sense, I am using Bettman logic.

4th largest US market. No hockey team. = Brilliant! Whatever terrible school he fumbled out of taught him that sound business model of a smaller percentage of a bigger pie is just as good as a bigger percentage of a smaller pie. And he only thinks that, and can't go any further.

Obviously *cough*PHOENIX*cough* there are some flaws to that thinking.

 

[dash]

How far is Des Moines from Ames?

/Automattic, feel free to give us an update anytime

 

[tabascojet]

florida isnt going anywhere. stadium is solid and attendance is decent.

 

[esls79]

florida isnt going anywhere. stadium is solid and attendance is decent.

Arena is solid, attendance isn't that great (and it's rumored they fudge those numbers to begin with) and they have the lowest regional tv ratings in the league.

 

[forty_three]

Arena is solid, attendance isn't that great (and it's rumored they fudge those numbers to begin with) and they have the lowest regional tv ratings in the league.

Attendance and citizens buying tickets are not always one in the same as well.

You get tickets for filling your car up with gas.

Florida was only an example of an east team with money troubles that could move to a Bettmantopia in the south. Isles could be in the same boat.

 

[tabascojet]

Arena is solid, attendance isn't that great (and it's rumored they fudge those numbers to begin with) and they have the lowest regional tv ratings in the league.

yeah tv ratings are low, not enough transplants watch them. they just show up at the gate when their teams are in town. But they are pulling enough to stay profitable. they certainly arent investing in any big money contracts. 99.1 capacity based on sales. 2012-2013 NHL Attendance - National Hockey League - ESPN

Attendance and citizens buying tickets are not always one in the same as well.

You get tickets for filling your car up with gas.

Florida was only an example of an east team with money troubles that could move to a Bettmantopia in the south. Isles could be in the same boat.

i thought the isles solved their problems when they announced a future move to brooklyn?

 

[forty_three]

i thought the isles solved their problems when they announced a future move to brooklyn?

It solved their inferior arena problem, but time will tell if it solves the money and fan apathy problem.

NOTHING in Brooklyn will fix the mismanagement.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

florida isnt going anywhere. stadium is solid and attendance is decent.

Arena is solid, attendance isn't that great (and it's rumored they fudge those numbers to begin with) and they have the lowest regional tv ratings in the league.

I posted this in the GDT the day after the Sabres played in Florida...

From today's Buffalo News...

SUNRISE, Fla. — This is the conundrum that is Buffalo Sabres hockey, circa 2013.

They are good enough to have five wins over the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, the top two clubs in the Northeast Division. They are bad enough to have nine losses against the paper-thin Southeast and, by most accounts, are headed for a roster flushing at next Wednesday’s trade deadline.

And they can drive you mad within a game, too.

Take Thursday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, witnessed by far fewer in BB&T Center than the ridiculous announced crowd of 17,044.


There were nowhere near 17,000 fans in that place, more like 10,000 and it seemed that half of them were Sabres fans.

Look at the other posters comments..
Post #69 http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/...hers-3-28-13-7-30pm-just-lose-baby-gnt-5.html

 

[tabascojet]

arent announced crowds based on sales? A lot of transplants buy packages and dont use all games. And im sure they fudge the numbers too by "selling" some bulk sections to underprivileged kids groups and such. Some crdit union has a huge block that they probably count as completely sold for every game and it is always less than full.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

How far is Des Moines from Ames?

/Automattic, feel free to give us an update anytime

Distance between Des Moines, Iowa (IA) and Ames, Iowa (IA)

How many miles? 36 Miles / 58 Km

 

[BOSSMANPC]

arent announced crowds based on sales? A lot of transplants buy packages and dont use all games. And im sure they fudge the numbers too by "selling" some bulk sections to underprivileged kids groups and such. Some crdit union has a huge block that they probably count as completely sold for every game and it is always less than full.

I know some teams fudge their numbers but I would think "announced crowd" is the number of fannies in the seats. Florida is not at the bottom but 23rd.

2012-2013 NHL Attendance - National Hockey League - ESPN