Av-merican wrote:
The NHL/AHL has always been weird like that. I think part of it has to do with the fact that #1, if you have the AHL affilliate too close it runs into regional rivalries and what not (Ex: Toronto Roadrunners/Oilers, Quebec Citadelles/Canadiens). Not sure it requires quite as much distance as they put between affiliate and NHL team though.
The Avs actually have a CHL affiliate in Denver, the Cutthroats, but I hear attendance figures are terrible. Guess there is also the risk of an apathetic local fanbase that wants to see the real thing. Hopefully I can catch a game or two at Denver Coliseum before they move or fold. The other local CO minor league hockey team, the Eagles (ECHL), who have enjoyed great success in Loveland, were actually an affiliate of the Ice Caps/Jets until 2012-13. I don't believe they have ever been affiliated with the Avs, even though they wore uniforms based on COL's jerseys.
The really weird thing about this is that St. John's attendance figures have been good. Why have they now lost 2 AHL teams though?
Traditionally and I suspect it's still true flights there are really expensive, it used to always be cheaper to fly to Europe than St. John's and every road trip will be flying, nothing close enough that they would ever be able to bus so all that adds up.
When you tack on how difficult it is to bring a player in for emergency call up teams are going to go unless the city ponies up a really lucrative deal like Abbottsford did.