CubsFanBudMan

Key Arena is likely good enough for the NHL. Perhaps they hoped an NBA team would arrive within the three-year window and with it, a new place. Or perhaps not.

There was a time when two empty Pepsi cans and 5 bucks would get you in.

My guess is the discounts have only gotten deeper. This won't end well.

I had faith in their survival until about a year or so ago. There is just too much smoke now.

If this is meant to appeal to their core fans, they will find out just how small that core is.

We're two weeks away from seasons starting. A merger/CeHL absorption is logisitcally impossible for the 2014-15 season.

A true merger is, but not one in which the CHL is simply a division that gets a couple seats at the ECHL playoff table.

The Wild are with the Quad City Mallards of the CHL, FWIW.

One suggestion is to have the CHL be a division in the ECHL this year and realign geographically next year.

On that note, R.I.P. to the Tampa Bay portion of FAQ No. 14.

"This is either smoke and mirrors, or they're on crack."

Love that quote, as well as the one in denial about demolition because "we still owe $180 million dollars on this stadium."

Also, never seen the movie, but the trailers left enough of a scar that the sight of Mark Davis conjures the image of Bucky Larson:

From Field of Schemes today:

...everyone has good reason to be behaving like morons, because there's no easy resolution to the A's situation that will benefit Wolff, Davis, Oakland, and MLB. Or as I put it in SoE, this is an insanely complicated multilateral game of chicken, so don't hold your breath waiting for everyone to figure out who's holding who hostage.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers wore a current brewers inspired jersey for today's game

Black jersey with T-Rats across the front above an enlarged snake head from their logo.

The back has no names. Instead, they have the TR from their logo over the right "wing."

All in gray. No maroon that I could make out. So nothing but black and gray on the jerseys.

Some of the strangest professional baseball jerseys I've seen recently.

EDIT: Some good pictures of them here: http://mwltraveler.com/2013/05/30/timber-rattlers-beat-snappers-9-5-in-early-game/

Looks like they had them in 2013 as well. The TR is harder to see than I remember.

The latest on the Panthers' Glendaling attempts:

Sun Sentinel: Arena profit-sharing a sticking point in Panthers deal

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-03-17/news/fl-panthers-nitty-gritty-20140315_1_florida-panthers-profit-sharing-threshold-club-red

NBC: County officials balk at Panthers requests (with can't-miss Powerpoint screenshots)

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/18/county-officials-balk-at-panthers-requests/

Deadspin: Six Ways The Florida Panthers Want To Screw Broward County

http://deadspin.com/six-ways-the-florida-panthers-want-to-screw-broward-cou-1546460803

Also, where is the admiral?

The Boston Bruins used to clog the rafters of the old Boston Garden with Adams Division and Wales Conference Championship banners (they were envious of all the banners the Celtics had). Now, only the Stanley Cups get their own banner and everything else is consolidated.

In 2011, they re-did the Stanley Cup banners with period correct logos.

I noticed the Blackhawks started consolidating division banners after making room for the fifth Cup banner.

They tacked on years below two existing division banners.

The only similar treatment in the United Center is the 72 that hangs from the Bulls' 1995-96 division banner.

I'm not really understanding this "throw everything at the wall" trend in MiLB.

So many colors and so many logos ...

American discount...

You had me at "scammy idiots," then I realized you weren't talking about the Panthers ownership...

But yeah, the PHX Coyotes guy has no case.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-02-05/news/fl-panthers-money-request-20140205_1_ceo-michael-yormark-florida-panthers-panthers-request

The team is losing millions, and is receiving revenue sharing from the National Hockey League because of its under-average revenues. Though county records show the arena makes money with its concerts and other non-hockey events, when the financial failure of the hockey team is factored in, Yormark said, the operation is losing $20 million to $30 million a year.

Even a recent sold-out Billy Joel concert at the Panthers' BB&T Center in Sunrise - a two-night affair that broke arena event records - was a money loser, he said, since he had to pay the artist a competitive $4 million.

So, about the Panthers maxing out their cap next year...

One of the best things about the vinyl patch is that the counterfeiters will obviously make them embroidered, and then we'll see about a million more fakes that are even easier to spot than before... not that they were all that hard before.

Honestly, I have considered getting business cards printed up that say, "Your jersey is fake/counterfeit" and pass them out at the games & events I go to.

This made me laugh, I think it's a fantastic idea. 'Fake' jerseys look so bad that I lean over to my girlfriend at every sporting event and point out each single one that I see, either because I can't resist or I want her to know what a real jersey looks like in case she buys me one. Can't people tell when the numbers, logos, and/or colors are off like that?? If you buy a jersey, do it right! Even a replica is fine for God's sake

Funny, I do the same exact thing with my friends, brother & my mother... every one of them tells me to shut the hell up. Apparently, I do it so often, it's gotten to the point where I drive them all crazy by just mentioning it. I do it anytime I see one, whether it be at the stadium, out at the store, on the streets, or even just on the television.

Now imagine what a complete stranger with no standards would do.

I like the card idea and often feel the same way, but it might be in your best interests to not point it out to people.

So it seems. In these situations my mind always drifts to Eddie Robinson. Spend wisely, Panthers.

Panthers are asking for $70 million from Broward County at best "just because" and at worst "in order to field a contender." Saw it on Deadspin.

(When I entered the NHL season thread I landed in September, so forgive me if it was already discussed there.)

Besides, this move seems Glendale-inspired.

You would think... yet attendance declines. Spend more money for fewer games to see the champs ... or season tickets for the AHL?

In this case I am the riffraff that can't justify the price of getting in the door anymore for my 300 level ticket.

And I'm close on the Bulls, too.

As well as another Cup for the Blackhawks? Seems like a chunk of the dormant Hawks fanbase spent some time in Rosemont.

Pretty sure Seattle and Vegas have been the frontrunners in this thread for months. Because Bettman. And those pesky divisions. And the NHL's new acceptance of smaller arenas with bad sightlines.

Key? Thomas and Mack? The Orleans? Sure. It's only "temporary."

Off topic, but three weeks ago, a Bulls ticket in the 17th row of the upper deck in the end zone was $186 face. I had to search it again 3 times I was in such disbelief. It was for a Sunday afternoon Heat game a few months from now. (In 2010 you could get 2-for-1 tix in the 2nd row of 300 for every game in January.) No idea if prices went down since "the sequel."

On topic: I said to myself in that moment, "That's worse than the Blackhawks." NHL can gouge with the best of them in prime markets. I used to joke that you couldn't get in the door for less than $100, but that's conservative now I'm sure.

$186 face value? Like the price the team charges at the box office? Near top row on an end? Do they do variable pricing or something? If so then it's understandable that there will be incredible demand for that one.

Sorry, back to hockey. When's the earliest the Coyotes can move? And are the Panthers really candidates for Quebec? It'd leave Tampa Bay on an island in their division, plus it's a foregone conclusion that Seattle and QC are getting expansion teams, right? Right?

Nice. I looked at that game a while back. Didn't see that low, but you said group. How large to get that rate?

Off topic, but three weeks ago, a Bulls ticket in the 17th row of the upper deck in the end zone was $186 face. I had to search it again 3 times I was in such disbelief. It was for a Sunday afternoon Heat game a few months from now. (In 2010 you could get 2-for-1 tix in the 2nd row of 300 for every game in January.) No idea if prices went down since "the sequel."

On topic: I said to myself in that moment, "That's worse than the Blackhawks." NHL can gouge with the best of them in prime markets. I used to joke that you couldn't get in the door for less than $100, but that's conservative now I'm sure.

Thanks for posting those, Brian. Looking at their team shop, the Bandits seem to be going back to black after the tweaks in recent years gravitated toward red. Probably reversed course due to losing the Cardinals affiliation.

They've had some mismatched red, with road jerseys and the 2013 retro cap's bill being standard red while everything else (piping, other caps' bills, road cap's crown) were closer to maroon. This look might fix that.

Unfortunately, they've also added blue to the mix, which IMO is unnecessary. I think they looked their best in 2011 and the tweaks done since are either forced or not needed (except for that retro cap that I'm not sure they ever wore last year).

The paw and ball is fine, but reminds me of the old Grizzlies alt. The new primary tries to make the bridge more recognizable, but I'm not sure anyone will be able to distinguish it anymore than they could before.