Is This A Fad?

No sooner than I get done the New Dance Partners article about NHL teams and their AHL affiliates, someone has to go and move their affiliate. The Calgary Flames announced today that they are removing their AHL team from Omaha, Nebraska and relocating them to Moline, Illinois. This is, of course, Quad City Mallard territory. Or, rather, was Mallard territory. According to the Mallards website, the Quad City Flames are moving in.

This is from the Calgary Flames website:

"Omaha, Neb.- Calgary Flames President & CEO Ken King announced today the relocation of the organization’s American Hockey League franchise from Omaha, Nebraska to the Quad Cities (Moline, IL). The move remains subject to AHL Board of Governor approval at a meeting scheduled for Friday, May 25, 2007 and is also subject to ratification by the Illinois Quad City Civic Center Authority.

'There was a great number of relocation opportunities presented to our team in recent months and while consideration of these was not our priority given our level of involvement in Omaha, in recent discussions it became evident to us that the Quad Cities market, The MARK of the Quad Cities venue, the enthusiastic local ownership group and their existing fan base are ideally suited for our AHL franchise,' noted Calgary Flames President & CEO Ken King.

'We would like to thank the fans in Omaha who supported our AHL team for the past two seasons and are especially appreciative of the tireless efforts of our staff in Omaha and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation for their efforts to make the AHL a successful operation and valuable asset to the Omaha community.'

Ren Smith, President of Omaha Hockey Partnership and Ak-Sar-Ben Calgary Hockey Inc. added: 'although our objective was to make AHL hockey viable in the Omaha market, it became evident in the face of mounting losses that it would be extremely difficult to move forward.' Smith added, 'on behalf of all hockey fans in Omaha, we are disappointed with this outcome.'

The Quad Cities of Moline and Rock Island of Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf of Iowa are a vibrant community located on the banks of the Mississippi River and on the Illinois/Iowa border - within 250 miles of five of their AHL rivals (the Rockford Ice Hogs, Peoria Rivermen, Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Admirals and Iowa Stars).

The team will play their home games in Moline, Illinois at The MARK of the Quad Cities, one of the premier arenas found in the mid-west. Quad Cities was most recently home to the United Hockey League’s Quad City Mallards for the last 12 seasons; the Mallards led the UHL in attendance seven times during this period. During their tenure in the UHL, over 3 million hockey fans attended games at The MARK of the Quad Cities.

'We are very excited to welcome the Flames organization to the Quad Cities,' said QC Sports Ventures Inc. president Tim Taylor.

'The Calgary Flames organization has a tremendous track record and the American Hockey League represents a strong fit for this market. Our fans have been very loyal to our organization and we are honored to bring to them the American Hockey League.'

During the 2006-07 season, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights were ranked best in the regular season in the AHL’s Western Division and Western Conference with a record of 49 wins, 25 losses, 5 overtime losses and 1 shoot-out loss.

And from the former Mallards website:

"Moline, IL- Dennis Voss, President of QC Sports Ventures Inc., announced today that the Calgary Flames of the NHL will bring their American Hockey League affiliate to the Quad Cities to begin play this fall. The move is subject to AHL Board of Governor approval at a meeting scheduled for Friday, May 25, 2007. The team’s move to the The MARK of the Quad Cities is also subject to ratification by the Illinois Quad City Civic Center Authority.

'We’re very excited to welcome the Flames organization to the Quad Cities,' said team President Tim Taylor. 'The Calgary organization has a tremendous track record, and the American Hockey League is a great fit for this market. Our fans have been very loyal, and we’re honored to bring to them the American Hockey League.'

The American Hockey League is the top professional developmental hockey league in the world; more than 83 percent of players who played in the NHL during the 2006-07 season were graduates of the AHL. NHL stars Miikka Kirpusoff (Calgary Flames), Jason Spezza (Ottawa Senators), Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) and Daniel Briere (Buffalo Sabres) are among hundreds of current NHL players who honed their skills in the AHL. Founded in 1936, the AHL will play its 72nd season in 2007-08 with an all-time high of 29 teams. This season marks the sixth consecutive year in which more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America.

'There was great interest in possible relocation of our team and through recent discussions we became convinced that the Quad Cities market, The MARK of the Quad Cities, the enthusiastic local ownership group and the existing fan base are ideally suited for our AHL franchise,' said Calgary Flames President & CEO Ken King.

'I am thrilled to welcome the Quad Cities to the AHL family and look forward to the rivalries and bringing the excitement of the AHL to the Quad Cities region,' said AHL President & CEO David Andrews.

The Calgary Flames have been a member of the National Hockey League since 1980 and will celebrate their 28th season with the 2007-08 campaign. During their tenure, the Flames played in the Stanley Cup Finals on three occasions, winning the championship in 1989. The Calgary Flames will send their top young talent to the Quad Cities. During the 2006-07 season, the Flames AHL affiliate played in Omaha, Nebraska and recorded the best record in the AHL’s Western Division and Conference. Nine members of the 2006-07 team earned NHL call-ups to Calgary last season.

To make way for the new franchise, the Quad City Mallards will cease operations in the United Hockey League.

'The local ownership group gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the players, coaches and fans of the Mallards in the Quad Cities community over the past 12 years,' said Voss."

To recap: Calgary had no intention of moving their AHL affiliate. The Quad City group approached the team about moving their franchise there. Calgary saw an opportunity to make more money and made the decision to move their franchise from Omaha to Moline. One of the most successful UHL franchises ceases to exist in order to accomodate AHL hockey. The 21-or-so players who played for the Mallards have to find new cities to play in. Omaha, a relatively new AHL city, has no opportunity to grow the game locally.

Yet again, I am disappointed. I understand the business side of the deal here. However, has there ever been a minor-league hockey team that has built a loyal fanbase of 8000 people in a city after being there for only two years? Money talks, I guess. Go get your bags of it, Flames.

I have no doubt the baby Flames will do well in Moline. The fans were rabid for the Mallards, and that bodes well for the AHL. I just fail to see how this helps hockey in general. And I guess that's where my disappointment lies.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice.