Any news on the Thunder returning or any OHL club back to the Falls. Also what does the arena capacity need to be for a new OHL club to bid? Thanks
Bring back the THUNDER
I don't think there is anything on the immediate horizon for expansion in the league. If I remember correctly, the minimum seating capacity is 4,000. I'd love to see Niagara Falls get a team again, but unless another team is sold and moved, I don't see it happening in the near future.
I haven't heard anything about the Falls, but I know Gerry Meehan is still interested in bringing an OHL team to the area.
Who is Gerry Meehan is he a local businessman? The only person I heard that was intrested in bring a team back to the Falls was Ricci but I have heard nothing since.
Who is Gerry Meehan is he a local businessman? The only person I heard that was intrested in bring a team back to the Falls was Ricci but I have heard nothing since.
Mr. Meehan is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 1982. With over 35 years of experience in hockey at all levels, Mr. Meehan brings invaluable knowledge to Cardinal Sports.
Prior to beginning a legal career Mr. Meehan played 12 seasons of professional hockey, including four as a member of the Buffalo Sabres. Thereafter, Mr. Meehan practiced sports, corporate and immigration law with a private U.S. law firm. In 1984 Mr. Meehan rejoined the Sabres as Assistant General Manager/Associate Counsel, rising to the position of Vice President/General Manger in 1986. He held this position until 1993 when he became Executive Vice President - Sports Operations.
Mr. Meehan provides legal consultations to Cardinal Sports' clients with respect to NCAA regulations and eligibility issues. He is also a trusted advisor and source of experience to all Cardinal Sports' athletes.
Meehan is based in the Buffalo area and Cardinal Sports is located in Toronto. They managed the St Michael Majors and have done arena studies in Buffalo and Niagara Falls for a possible OHL team. A few years ago Meehan put together an investment group to purchase a team.
Niagara Falls is also rumored to want the Windsor Spitfires. Our city council wont build a new arena that has been promised to Spitfires owner Steve Riolo for years on end. He might just be fed up enough to actually sell the club and who could blame him. I would miss hockey in Windsor but the team is in best interest.
There isn't a sufficient OHL-calibre arena in Niagara Falls; the old Memorial would work as a temporary home, though. They'd probably need to have shovels in the ground, or at least promised, if any team was going to move there.
There isn't a sufficient OHL-calibre arena in Niagara Falls; the old Memorial would work as a temporary home, though. They'd probably need to have shovels in the ground, or at least promised, if any team was going to move there.
What about Fort Erie? Is that arena up to calibre?
Even though in Fort Erie there probably won't be alot of fan support.
What about Fort Erie? Is that arena up to calibre?
Even though in Fort Erie there probably won't be alot of fan support.
St. Catharines is in the process of building a 4-plex areana.......i cant remember how much the seating capacity is for the largest rink but i didnt think st.mikes has a huge arena.
There isn't a sufficient OHL-calibre arena in Niagara Falls; the old Memorial would work as a temporary home, though. They'd probably need to have shovels in the ground, or at least promised, if any team was going to move there.
There was talk of a new arena/convention centre being built (for the past few years), and I believe it was Nick Ricci that was behind the latest "bid" to get an OHL team back to the area....
I don't know if money was the reason this arena hasn't been built or not, but I heard one idea that part of the overbilled money for sewage treatment could be put towards getting that arena/convention centre built.
The team will still have problems getting fans in the seats, though....
The team will still have problems getting fans in the seats, though....
Marketed properly (at the whole peninsula) there's not any reason why they can't succeed. There's over 300000 people in Niagara region these days, no reason why 4000 of them wouldn't want to go to hockey.
Marketed properly (at the whole peninsula) there's not any reason why they can't succeed. There's over 300000 people in Niagara region these days, no reason why 4000 of them wouldn't want to go to hockey.
You'd think. They have to get a new arena complex first...then market the team, then make sure the team is a winner or atleast competitive or else you will lose half of the 4000 that you estimate will want to go, and we'll be back to the days of the Thunder where there is 1,000+ people in the stands.
