Club Afflitation

Greetings All,

Saw this article on a message board for the Oklahoma City Blazers, and wondered if anyone has any news or opinions on this article


By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman


Long-time National Hockey League executive Brian Burke toured the Ford Center this week, talking with the Oklahoma City Blazers about an affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks but also as a scout for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

The Ducks are not considering relocation, Burke said. "We're not going anywhere."

If the NBA leaves Oklahoma City, city officials say they would be interested in the NHL.

Burke said the Ducks are looking for a primary minor-league affiliate. The Ducks' agreement with Portland, Maine, of the American Hockey League has one year remaining. The Ducks also supply some players to the Augusta Lynx of the East Coast Hockey League.

Several NHL franchises have been mentioned for relocation: Atlanta, Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay and Phoenix. But other cities have been mentioned as possible NHL destinations: Portland or Seattle, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Houston.

Desjardins said Burke "was impressed with the Hornets. How far Oklahoma City has come since the last time he was here (1989).

http://www.newsok.com/article/2843213/

Sorry I had to edit due to copyright laws.

:amazed: :eek: :yo: :handclap: :clap: :)

Please god let an NHL team come to OKC. I live just north of Tulsa, and that would be a dream come true. Especially since I plan on attending OU in a year or 2. I would be thrilled with the possibility of OKC becoming the Ducks farm team. I have been to the Ford Center, but I went when it was new, and it's a very nice arena.

Don't get me wrong I love NHL hockey, but I don't think it would do well here in OKC. But I would like to see the affiliation of with the Ducks though. And wouldn't mind seeing a exhibition game here in OKC

May I ask what makes you believe the Ducks have 1 year remaining in Portland, Maine when the Samueli's selected Portland and signed a 5 year development agreement last season w/ the Pirates?????

May I ask what makes you believe the Ducks have 1 year remaining in Portland, Maine when the Samueli's selected Portland and signed a 5 year development agreement last season w/ the Pirates?????

By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman

ask him...

I am not sure what to make of the article other than the writer sounding like he works for city's chamber of commerce......

The Pirates and Ducks lease does expired after this season....The lease was for two-years with options for the final three years....In those three years both the Pirates and Ducks had walk-away rights.

I am sure facility-wise....Oklahoma is better in fact I know it is, but the whole reason why the Ducks left Cincinnati to come to Portland was because of travel...if they move to Oklahoma travel will increase 10 fold.

San Antonio, Houston, Omaha and Iowa as there closest competitors now......That's a little different than Manchester, Lowell, Worcester, Springfield, Hartford and Providence.

Plus Omaha and San Antonio aren't guarantees beyond this year because of poor attendance

Also the other 2 California teams are in New England. (Worcester, Manchester)


Another thing to add would be that there are no franchises available right now.... Oklahoma City owns a CHL franchise...for them to enter the AHL they need to buy an AHL franchise and that is unlikely anytime soon.

There were three....Utah(now Cleveland) Edmonton(they will eventually relocated for there own farm club) and Cincinnati which would be available at some point, but not yet......rumors have them moving to other another market such as Toledo, Ohio or Windsor, Ontario.

I'm not concerned yet as I think the article was more of smoke 'n mirrors than substance.:shakehead

I know that we had a goalie come back and forth between the Blazers and the Moose. I know OKC has had a loyal fan for over 15 yrs in the current CHL league. And we do have really good crowds attend every home game. I don't know how travel would increase 10 fold if an affiliation were to happen between the Ducks and the Blazers.

I know that we had a goalie come back and forth between the Blazers and the Moose. I know OKC has had a loyal fan for over 15 yrs in the current CHL league. And we do have really good crowds attend every home game. I don't know how travel would increase 10 fold if an affiliation were to happen between the Ducks and the Blazers.

First...An affiliation won't happen between the Blazers and Ducks, not as an AHL affiliation because the Blazers aren't an AHL team.....In order for an affiliation to happen...somebody would have to purchase an AHL franchise and move it to OKC and then they could call them the Blazers, but it would be a different team.....As of now there is only one franchise available and it is sort of spoken for.....So no franchises are available.

Second...Its not the travel between the Ducks and Blazers which wouldn't be the problem....It is the travel in the AHL between teams that they compete with.....Anaheim left Cincinnati for the sole purpose of being closer to other teams.....Many people who don't follow the AHL fail to realize that it is largely a regional league and while it continues to grow it finds itself going back to its roots.....Worcester for example.....SJ opted to leave Cleveland because of attendance and proximity to other teams, therefore reducing travel cost (there was other factors but they won't admit that).

Portland has a premium schedule as they play Manchester (1 1/2 hrs), Lowell (1 1/2 hrs), Worcester (2 hrs), Springfield (3 hrs), Hartford (4 hrs) and Providence(4 hrs) for the majority of there schedule and likewise they travel very little.....Most road trip are within 4 hours at most and the Pirates will only have 7 to 12 hotel days all year.....That leaves more time for practice developing prospects and less time on the road.

If the Ducks farm team were to move to OKC then there closet competitor would be Omaha which is roughly 5 hours away.....Iowa, San Antonio, Houston and Peoria are well over 500 miles away and would all require hotel stays....which increase travel cost.

Omaha is failing as it was last in attendance last year, San Antonio has one year left in there deal...There is talk they may join another league.

I agree that the current Blazers are successful ,but to make it in the AHL would very difficult.

First...An affiliation won't happen between the Blazers and Ducks, not as an AHL affiliation because the Blazers aren't an AHL team.....In order for an affiliation to happen...somebody would have to purchase an AHL franchise and move it to OKC and then they could call them the Blazers, but it would be a different team.....As of now there is only one franchise available and it is sort of spoken for.....So no franchises are available.

Second...Its not the travel between the Ducks and Blazers which wouldn't be the problem....It is the travel in the AHL between teams that they compete with.....Anaheim left Cincinnati for the sole purpose of being closer to other teams.....Many people who don't follow the AHL fail to realize that it is largely a regional league and while it continues to grow it finds itself going back to its roots.....Worcester for example.....SJ opted to leave Cleveland because of attendance and proximity to other teams, therefore reducing travel cost (there was other factors but they won't admit that).

Portland has a premium schedule as they play Manchester (1 1/2 hrs), Lowell (1 1/2 hrs), Worcester (2 hrs), Springfield (3 hrs), Hartford (4 hrs) and Providence(4 hrs) for the majority of there schedule and likewise they travel very little.....Most road trip are within 4 hours at most and the Pirates will only have 7 to 12 hotel days all year.....That leaves more time for practice developing prospects and less time on the road.

If the Ducks farm team were to move to OKC then there closet competitor would be Omaha which is roughly 5 hours away.....Iowa, San Antonio, Houston and Peoria are well over 500 miles away and would all require hotel stays....which increase travel cost.

Omaha is failing as it was last in attendance last year, San Antonio has one year left in there deal...There is talk they may join another league.

I agree that the current Blazers are successful ,but to make it in the AHL would very difficult.


Omaha is failing based on attendance and why base a future of a franchise on one factor.... Omaha has no hockey history to base itself off of as the majority of these franchises such as San Antonio, Houston and Peoria have years of experience to base their franchises off of??????

I'm sure a lot of them said the same thing about Portland back in 1977, Wildcat48, going from an unknown expansion team to a league championship in back to back seasons or in 1992 when the Pirates came from Baltimore. If Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington and now Anaheim did not believe hockey would survive in Portland, would there be a franchise in Manchester or would San Jose have selected Worcester once the Ice Cats were relocated.

The one point I disagree is why base the future of an AHL Franchise after only 1 year, that's unfair to that market or that organization (in that case Calgary) If the Flames organization didn't believe that Omaha was a viable hockey market, why sign a contract to go there??????

First...An affiliation won't happen between the Blazers and Ducks, not as an AHL affiliation because the Blazers aren't an AHL team.....In order for an affiliation to happen...somebody would have to purchase an AHL franchise and move it to OKC and then they could call them the Blazers, but it would be a different team.....As of now there is only one franchise available and it is sort of spoken for.....So no franchises are available.



But there are other CHL teams that have NHL and AHL affiliations.

New Mexico Scropions - Nashville
Arizona Sundogs - Colorado
Austin Ice Bats- Minnesota
BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS - Buffalo
Laredo Bucks - Phoenix
Memphis Riverkings - NY Rangers
Odessa Jackalopes - Edmonton

Have to say your first point is wrong

But there are other CHL teams that have NHL and AHL affiliations.

New Mexico Scropions - Nashville
Arizona Sundogs - Colorado
Austin Ice Bats- Minnesota
BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS - Buffalo
Laredo Bucks - Phoenix
Memphis Riverkings - NY Rangers
Odessa Jackalopes - Edmonton

Have to say your first point is wrong

No, You have just illustrated my first point for me.....Those teams which you have mentioned above are not AHL affiliates, but rather affiliates of both NHL AND THE AHL CLUB....They are not AHL affiliations....You are correct in the fact that they are CHL teams with affiliations with the NHL and AHL club......but the article was implying that Anaheim could move it's primary affiliate to OKC......Which won't happen unless the issues that I listed in my previous post could be met and right now it is unlikely.

Omaha is failing based on attendance and why base a future of a franchise on one factor.... Omaha has no hockey history to base itself off of as the majority of these franchises such as San Antonio, Houston and Peoria have years of experience to base their franchises off of??????

I'm sure a lot of them said the same thing about Portland back in 1977, Wildcat48, going from an unknown expansion team to a league championship in back to back seasons or in 1992 when the Pirates came from Baltimore. If Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington and now Anaheim did not believe hockey would survive in Portland, would there be a franchise in Manchester or would San Jose have selected Worcester once the Ice Cats were relocated.

The one point I disagree is why base the future of an AHL Franchise after only 1 year, that's unfair to that market or that organization (in that case Calgary) If the Flames organization didn't believe that Omaha was a viable hockey market, why sign a contract to go there??????

Attendance isn't the only factor why Omaha may leave after this season....Attendence is the most glaring issue right now.

I would have to disagree that Omaha has no hockey heritage as they have the University of Nebraska @ Omaha team and the Omaha Lancers of the USHL....Both have been around for a long time and draw very good crowds in a brand new building (Qwest Center/Arena) while the Knights play in the older Civic Auditorium. If the Flames were to leave it may not have to do with the Flames pulling out but Ak-Sar-Ben, who owns 50% of the wanting out......They almost didn't come back this year...There was talk that they may move to Windsor if the city could promise a new building to be built by 2010.

To compare the Maine Mariners to today is like apples to oranges....The league back in 1977 was barely staying afloat and came close on more than one occasion to folding and also look at where the teams were located and the size of the markets......Portland was considered a large market back in 1977.....Even when the Pirates moved from Baltimore to Portland...It was considered a must for the AHL as it was still a top-market.....Today Portland in the middle to low end in market size and the building is in need a replacement....A reason why the Ducks may want to leave but to compare this situation to the Mariners is not realistic.

I really don't think you have to be a AHL team, just to get an afiliation with a NHL team. There are a couple CHL teams that just have a NHL afiliation, and the others who have both. And there are a few teams(i.e. Oklahoma City and Colorado) who don't have either. And Oklahoma City does have 2 arenas in which the team uses during the season, usually they play at the Ford Center. Which has undergone some improvments over the years, and just recently when the Horents came to town.

I really don't think you have to be a AHL team, just to get an affiliation with a NHL team. There are a couple CHL teams that just have a NHL affiliation, and the others who have both. And there are a few teams(i.e. Oklahoma City and Colorado) who don't have either.

Anaheim is not going to leave the AHL for the CHL and put it top prospects in the CHL.....That is just plain stupid.....:shakehead

First off the level of the two leagues are incomparable. The AHL is the AAA level of hockey while the CHL is compared to the AA or A level....I am not saying a team couldn't have an affiliation with a CHL team, but not at the expense of an AHL team...

For example.....Anaheim has Portland as its primary affiliate and Augusta is the affiliate of Anaheim and Portland....If a team is an affiliate of the NHL club most likely they are the affiliate of the AHL too.

Anyways, it doesn't matter...I am looking for announcement to be made within the next 10 to 14 days that Anaheim and Portland are extending there deal.

I really don't think you have to be a AHL team, just to get an afiliation with a NHL team. There are a couple CHL teams that just have a NHL afiliation, and the others who have both. And there are a few teams(i.e. Oklahoma City and Colorado) who don't have either. And Oklahoma City does have 2 arenas in which the team uses during the season, usually they play at the Ford Center. Which has undergone some improvments over the years, and just recently when the Horents came to town.

Ellis05:

The Hornets are temporary tenants in OK City @ the Ford Center and then there are rumblings that the Seattle Sonics & Storm are relocating to the Oklahoma market, what will that bode for the future of the Blazers in Oklahoma City??????

I believe that Anaheim & the Samuelis selected Portland in the first place but no one knew that Anaheim was about to leave Cincinnati after 8 years (not to mention the Ducks were on the selling block by Disney) after just renewing their affiliation for 1 year after the 2003-04 season even Cincinnati's ownership was stonewalled by Anaheim during the transfer of owners from Disney to the Samueli's waiting for the NHL to approve the sale of the Ducks.

The Samueli's first order of business once they took over was to review the development agreement in Cincinnati which had expired which forced Cincinnati to file for a 1 year hiatus and the subsequent ticket drive that attempted to bring the RailRaiders and the AHL back to Cincinnati which failed and then the shocking announcement to resurrect the Cyclones from the Ghosts of hockey past.

As for the Augusta Lynx, I believe that affiliation wasn't formalized until weeks before the 2005-06 season after the Ducks signed the 5 year (as did the Pirates w/ the Cumberland County Civic Center for a 5 year lease) development contract after buying the option of Washington after those two struck an agreement allowing the Capitals an out after a dozen years and the subsequent move to Hershey by WSH.

no CHL FRANCHISE I know of has AN exclusivity developmental AGREEMENT w/ NHL team. It's primarily the NHL-AHL-ECHL setup. Some may have secondary or loose affiliation with other leagues even when the IHL was active.

Thanks to Jennifer1515 for posting the link at ALLDucks

http://sports.mainetoday.com/pirates/stories/060913pirates.shtml


Anaheim Ducks Vice President and General Manager Brian Burke didn't mean to cause a stir when he toured the 20,000-seat Ford Center in Oklahoma City last Thursday.

Ostensibly, Burke was in Oklahoma to scout out a possible site for a future NHL franchise.

In a story in Friday's The Oklahoman, Burke said the Ducks also were looking for a city for their primary minor-league team.

That isn't necessarily so, Burke said in a telephone interview.

"Our primary interest is to get an extension with Portland," he said.

Burke said the Ducks are close to wrapping up negotiations with the owners of the Pirates.



Apparently we have a girlfriend but kinda playing the field you know what I"m saying. Well the girlfriend found out from this noisy b'iatch and said "OH NO YOU DID NOT! You're my baby's daddy!" Then to cover, we said, "Hey baby, that girl meant nothing to me. You're the one I really love." All was good as the gf said, "Oh you so sweet!"

The end
True story of a NHL franchise

Apparently we have a girlfriend but kinda playing the field you know what I"m saying. Well the girlfriend found out from this noisy b'iatch and said "OH NO YOU DID NOT! You're my baby's daddy!" Then to cover, we said, "Hey baby, that girl meant nothing to me. You're the one I really love." All was good as the gf said, "Oh you so sweet!"

The end
True story of a NHL franchise

It doesn't matter where you get your appetite as long as you come back home to eat.

Thanks to Jennifer1515 for posting the link at ALLDucks

http://sports.mainetoday.com/pirates/stories/060913pirates.shtml



Apparently we have a girlfriend but kinda playing the field you know what I"m saying. Well the girlfriend found out from this noisy b'iatch and said "OH NO YOU DID NOT! You're my baby's daddy!" Then to cover, we said, "Hey baby, that girl meant nothing to me. You're the one I really love." All was good as the gf said, "Oh you so sweet!"

The end
True story of a NHL franchise

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks to Jennifer1515 for posting the link at ALLDucks

http://sports.mainetoday.com/pirates/stories/060913pirates.shtml


Does anyone have any info on what the "few bumps in the road" mentioned in the article were?

Does anyone have any info on what the "few bumps in the road" mentioned in the article were?

Yes, Some stuff I can talk about, others I can't but the big issue was the Pirates were penny pinching on really stupid stuff such as they didn't have meals for the players after games and they didn't have crowd control as effective as it should have been (it was good but it could have been better)...Sometimes a person if they knew how the players entered the building could just walk in.....It was also the team transportation.....The team bus broke down several times last year and once the team was forced to walk with their gear along I-95 on the outskirts of Boston about a 1/2 mile to the hotel around 2am...it was for the most part very ticky-tacky stuff, but when you are talking about prospects and the development of players I can understand the Ducks concerns.

Cool, thanks for the info. I was kind of wondering why Burke would be shopping at all, since on the ice the affiliation seemed to work real well. But it sounded like from the article they mostly settled it, so it might be moot. I'm not sure I can imagine walking half a mile with gear. For half a mile, that's totally call a taxi to ship the gear or something.