rams80

Well see, the Sharks might have an urgent need for one of their AHL players on the eastern road trip. That said, getting an equal schedule requires the AHL to have a commissioner who isn't a lapdog. That ain't happening. ----------------------------------------------------------- Another thought: Honestly for all we crack on Calgary for being a ty parent to their AHL affiliate(s), Edmonton and San Jose are scarcely any better. The demise of the Pacific pod may come because of this.

Alaska pays for teams to fly out there and play series. The logistics will work.

Apparently, the owner of the Norfolk Admirals was told in no uncertain terms that if he didn't sell his franchise to the Ducks, they'd terminate their affiliation, and no one else would come to replace them. So, that's how. Norfolk was unwilling to pay the full salary and benefits of an entire AHL team, especially because it needs to draw for meal ticket purposes, the Cavs may be, as all they need is a date filler. There's nothing in the AHL bylaws forbidding existing teams from going independent.

May only be a one year thing too if the rumors of the Coyotes, Canucks and Avs bringing their teams west come to fruition next year. The West could survive as a pretty insular division in that case. Where are the Coyotes going to get the money to buy an AHL team, let alone subsidize travel to said team's new locale? Actually, how are the Avs going to get their hands on an AHL team too, because the Cavs aren't selling.

They'll be the D-Fenders in tribute of the Lakers' D-League team which has a similarly stupid arena setup.

It would be weird having a 5-team pseudo-league; is there any chance there are some games played against central teams (Iowa, Texas, Milwaukee, etc.)--or less likely--are there going to be more than 5 teams on the West Coast? What should happen is for Vancouver to move their AHL franchise out of Utica, NY and out to the west. This would create a six-team Western Division for the AHL. Making a schedule would be a piece of cake. Surprised all of the cheap suits in Springfield and NHL HQ didn't think of it. Utica would be more suited to the ECHL and would have closer in-state rivals like Elmira and it looks like Glens Falls. When Vancouver and the Blues conspired to murder the AHL Rivermen the purported plan was move the team to Seattle (which the NHL discouraged) or Abbotsford under similarly generous terms to what the Flames got (which Abbotsford isn't stupid/desperate enough to offer.) So yeah, they stuck the team in a dying upstate New York city because the road trips would be cheap.

We don't know that. No, we don't know that as fact. But... I was basing my post on this quote, from the Sounds owner himself, Frank Ward, in the story that ran on MiLB.com when the balance of the brand identity system was unveiled earlier this week: "We heard loud and clear the strong feedback of our fans after our new logo was unveiled last fall. We have made the decision to return to our traditional red-and-black color scheme to accompany the new Nashville-styled logos." True, that statement does not quantify how many fans weighed in. But human nature is such that naysayers are more prone to speak out negatively than supporters are to sing praises. So I'm going to stand by my assertion. Were they taking pre-orders for merchandise? Maybe those were disappointing as well.

Being that they're now the A's AAA affiliate can't say I'm worry to see the orange and black go. It didn't feel right having their top minor league team wearing their cross town on and off field nemesis' colors. Georgia is also one of Vanderbilt's nemeses. Yet... I wouldn't describe Georgia as a nemesis so much as "it's hilarious when they lose to Vandy".

And also islanded from....everywhere in the league, really. Granted Lord Thomson can afford the subsidy and airfare, but some teams may just have to settle for flying their prospects back home.

Being in SD I get the sense the Gulls name coming back is a must. The old Gulls didn't close down for lack of local support but rather owner indifference. That and it makes sense having one water foul as the minor league team of another. Hopefully they can get the OK from the junior hockey Gulls...then again, they're the Ducks, so they can throw some good money towards them to get that going. As I mentioned on some thread, $100,000 would be more than enough to buy back the rights to the moniker.

*post deleted by LadyStanley* *poster "the admiral" has been banned for life*

They're a Jr. A team. $100,000 in "go away or add a Jr. to your nickname" money will be more money than they've ever seen at once.

Also the AHL is headquartered in Springfield. Springfield's had bad attendance forever and could go down to an attendance of "friends and family" and even noted NHL lickspittle David Andrews would still say "now wait a second..." to a proposed move. EDIT, also Lake Erie is owned by Dan Gilbert, who basically uses the team as a loss leader to fill arena dates. You're going to have difficulty prying that franchise loose.

The Junior Rivermen would die a quick and ugly death. ECHL or bust.

I don't see why the Coyotes need a West Coast team when they won't be in Arizona in a few years.

Huge mistake if they do. All of their success at the FCS level has to do with their ability to recruit guys who'd rather start for YSU than sit on the bench for a Akron or Kent State. That's gone if they become just another Ohio MAC program. Always found it odd how many Ohio schools have football programs. I know it was once a recruiting hotbed and perhaps closer to the geographic center of the game, but it's still odd to me. You don't see nearly the same density in Illinois or Indiana, for example, despite them having pretty much the same attributes as Ohio does (region, population, big cities/small cities, etc) Illinois and Indiana do have some FCS-level programs too. The difference is that the MAC (uniquely) fought back against the NCAA's 1982 purge of the small conference teams from then Division I-A

I would. Youngstown going I-A would be too high of a profile for the Mahoning mafia.

Pelini would park himself in I-AA because it's home and a good way to both head coach and still pocket some money from Nebraska.

Reportedly West Virginia's Athletic Department is sucking wind now to pay for sending non-revenue sports around the Big XII's existing footprint. Stretching it further west is apparently a non-starter. well that's the price you pay when you sign your soul to the devil..... Look Benji, leaving the Big East is what we in the business call a "No Brainer".

Reportedly West Virginia's Athletic Department is sucking wind now to pay for sending non-revenue sports around the Big XII's existing footprint. Stretching it further west is apparently a non-starter.

No need for 12 teams. You can get a waiver to host a conference championship game with 10 teams... the SWAC does a CCG with 10 teams. Why can't the Big 12? Believe me if we can I would love that. There are no two teams that we can add that will bring in enough revenue to keep us getting the money we do now. That money really helps. Teams that are paying Charlie Weis a multi-million dollar buyout don't get to complain about hits to revenue.

No need for 12 teams. You can get a waiver to host a conference championship game with 10 teams... the SWAC does a CCG with 10 teams. Why can't the Big 12? The SWAC gets to have their precious little championship game because they traded playoff participation for it.

That was my thought too. It's red with the polar bear's blood. Or your own, because the now-crippled polar bear is really pissed and just slashed you in two with his other paw. On the plus size, it's just the right size for club to beat whoever thought that element up.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Brandiose comes up with. Thursday will have South Bend Cubs, Daytona Cubs, and the Lake Elsinore Storm revealings. South Bend: Cute anthropomorphic shamrock swinging bat. Daytona: Cute anthropomorphic race car swinging bat.

Personally, I think it's more about location then recruits. C-USA has had UAB in the fold since the league's beginning, so losing a in Alabama creates a gap in the footprint. Adding South Alabama gives them another school in that state, not to mention that it's location (Mobile) can be quite a gem for the conference. You may literally be the first person in history to use Mobile and gem in the same sentence.