ECHL Approves Expansion Membership For Evansville IceMen

[chilly666]

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL on Thursday announced that the Board of Governors has approved the Expansion Membership application of the Evansville IceMen for admission to the ECHL.

Evansville will begin play in October when the Premier "˜AA' Hockey League celebrates its 25th season, making it the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

Evansville plays its home games at the Ford Center, an 11,000-seat building which opened in November in downtown Evansville. The IceMen have been members of the Central Hockey League for the previous two seasons, and were fourth in the league in attendance in 2011-12 with an average of 4,882 per game.

"The ECHL is pleased to welcome the Evansville IceMen to the League," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. "Under the leadership of Ron Geary, the team has developed a strong base of fans. This loyal following, combined with a terrific new arena, make Evansville a strong addition to the ECHL as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary. The IceMen are a welcome addition to our Midwest footprint."

"The IceMen organization is delighted to become a part of such an outstanding league as the ECHL," said IceMen Owner/President Ron Geary. "Through their great support and enthusiasm, our growing numbers of loyal and devoted fans have demonstrated how much they want to see a top-flight, quality product. Our step today is another move in that direction. We have come a long way in a short period of time. This is a true testament and tribute to our fans and the Evansville/Tri-State community. We are looking forward to being a member of the ECHL beginning in the league's 25th Anniversary season."

[Humpzilla]

If this is true, I really hope Fort Wayne makes the jump too. Especially being how it seems relations between league office, the Komets organization, and the fans are at this point. Most think the CHL is looking to marginalize them, cut them down (via suspensions), and overall hinder their success.

Now of course, from a standpoint of a league jump, all of this depends on whether the business model for a REAL AA hockey level jump is something the Komets want to adopt (travel, players, costs, ticket prices, ect). They've been pretty reluctant in the past, but I would think losing a major rival in the way of E-Ville could really go to motivate them to make the leap.

Side note -- For two teams which had great attendance figures all throughout the year, overall attendance REALLY dropped once playoff time hit. The FTW Komets, especially, have seen support fall off by about 2-3 thousand. (6-9 thousand during the season, 5 thousand+ in the post-season). As a hockey team, that's got to suck!

[chilly666]

fort wayne is all but confirmed it seems as well...just playing the game like the eagles played last season with waiting til after their season is over to announce it officially.

im sure the echl will announce both at the same time.

as for the attendance comment, most teams have less attendance during the playoffs due to so little time to promote and also the inability to have knowledge sometimes that a game will take place a week in advance (if necessary games).

[BobNystromOwnsU]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

If this is true, I really hope Fort Wayne makes the jump too. Especially being how it seems relations between league office, the Komets organization, and the fans are at this point. Most think the CHL is looking to marginalize them, cut them down (via suspensions), and overall hinder their success.

Now of course, from a standpoint of a league jump, all of this depends on whether the business model for a REAL AA hockey level jump is something the Komets want to adopt (travel, players, costs, ticket prices, ect). They've been pretty reluctant in the past, but I would think losing a major rival in the way of E-Ville could really go to motivate them to make the leap.

Side note -- For two teams which had great attendance figures all throughout the year, overall attendance REALLY dropped once playoff time hit. The FTW Komets, especially, have seen support fall off by about 2-3 thousand. (6-9 thousand during the season, 5 thousand+ in the post-season). As a hockey team, that's got to suck!

Not sure about the CHL, but the SPHl doesn't give playoff tickets with their season tickets, so the gams are missing all those people who were given tickets by corporate sponsors and other season ticket holders.

Pensacola is giving away 2 playoff tickets to all people who buy season tickets next season, so hopefully that changes.

[chilly666]

most teams don't do that...i know fort wayne has a contract with the coliseum to host 36 games each season. but most teams don't have that deal. hence why last season evansville hosted 30 games and fort wayne hosted 36.

[dg33garcia]

Originally Posted by chilly666

fort wayne is all but confirmed it seems as well...just playing the game like the eagles played last season with waiting til after their season is over to announce it officially.

im sure the echl will announce both at the same time.

as for the attendance comment, most teams have less attendance during the playoffs due to so little time to promote and also the inability to have knowledge sometimes that a game will take place a week in advance (if necessary games).

That and also Chilly, I've talked to the THUNDER brass about this very thing. They also mentioned that,(atleast in Stockton) Mini-plan holders, people with weekend only packages and so on, don't get playoff tix's, also they don't sell the group package(10 or more) for playoff's. We also have a family Sunday, which you can buy 4 tix, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas and get 2 game pucks for the low price of $33,,, but not for playoffs. As a season Tix's holder I get the 1st 2 round in my STH booklet. I've asked why they don't give playoff tix's to all those people that buy half a season, I got a "that's just how we do it". IMO, they really need to look at this, really there are only about 2500-3000 full STH'ers, you are losing out on a lot of people when you don't give deals. to me no reason that a half season STH shouldn't atleast get the 1st rd. But what can you do.... I got my tix's for next season,,, that's all I know.

[caps05]

THE EVANSVILLE ICEMEN WILL HOLD A MAJOR PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY, MAY 17TH AT 11:00 AM IN THE FIFTH / THIRD HOSPITALITY ROOM AT THEIR HOME OF THE FORD CENTER.

http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/3886...he-ford-center

The worst kept secret in the 2012 "Silly season".

[chilly666]

the icemen are gonna have two good vets coming with in todd robinson and phillipe plane

[3blindmice]

Congratulations to the IceMen. Very cool to see a team make the jumps they have from the AAHL all the way to the E.