Stolen From The Alamo

It was announced today that the Las Vegas Golden Knights, after teasing fans about a possible AHL franchise moving into town, had purchased the San Antonio Rampage franchise with the intention of moving the AHL club to Henderson, Nevada where they would become the new AHL affiliate for the Golden Knights. I have to say that this decision by the Golden Knights and the AHL sucks if it indeed comes to pass, and the people of San Antonio who had come to love their AHL team deserve better than having it ripped away from them with little say in the matter. For eighteen years, the Rampage have called San Antonio home, and they've forged a solid relationship with fans and sponsors that will no longer be a part of the AHL world.

Having gone through a situation where an NHL team was taken from this city, I can assure you that this moving of a franchise sucks. Yes, I understand not everyone is a fan of the Rampage and will share that sentiment, but the nearly-6000 people that attend the Rampage games when they play at home deserve better than "good-bye and good luck". They've been loyal to this franchise who currently ranks 12th in average attendance in the AHL, and they've created an incredible rivalry with the Texas Stars despite the Rampage having been affiliated with a handful of NHL teams in their history.

I look at the AHL every season as they've grown, and they truly have become a league that has spread from mostly-in-the-northeast to spreading throughout North America, yet it seems the state of Texas always is on the wrong end of decisions made by NHL teams when it comes to moving franchises.

The Houston Aeros were a highly-successful franchise that ran into some problems with the Toyota Center when the arena owners opted to raise the rent for the AHL club by a reported 300%, as per a John Royal report in the Houston Press, which the Minnesota Wild, who owned the Aeros franchise, immediately turned down. There was talk of the Aeros possibly moving to NRG Arena in the linked report, but Rodeo Houston's "demands for exclusive facility use for four straight weeks was too much for the AHL". In the end, the Wild opted to relocate the franchise to Des Moines, Iowa where they've played as the Iowa Wild since 2013.

There have been CHL and IHL teams that have called San Antonio home as well, and these teams were short-lived before the Rampage set-up shop in Texas' second-most populous city. We've seen the AHL leave cities where franchises were not only successful, but well-supported by their fans. Those cities include St. John's, Newfoundland, Manchester, New Hampshire, Hamilton, Ontario, and the aforementioned Houston, Texas. The AHL seemingly puts up little argument when an NHL team feels the need to move their AHL affiliate, and it's unfortunate that San Antonio is going to be the next city left in the wake of an NHL team who simply wants to have their AHL Affiliate a little closer to home.

There should be a cautionary paragraph written here about the Golden Knights - who have one of the highest average ticket prices in the NHL - moving their AHL franchise into the same city. The Toronto Maple Leafs - who are consistently at the top of the NHL's average ticket pricing lists - and the Winnipeg jets both have their AHL franchises playing in the same city, and the attendance at games for the Marlies and Moose, respectively, are 13th- and 21st-overall in the AHL - less than what the Rampage are currently averaging in San Antonio.

Why is this important? From 2011-15 when the Jets had their AHL affiliate in St. John's, Newfoundland, the IceCaps were averaging 6162 fans over those four years, some 1100 fans more than the Moose are averaging this season. The Marlies, who have been Toronto's affiliate since 2005, have seen their attendance grow since their inception, but there have been ebbs and flows based on annual performance by the Marlies. As it stands, the Marlies are averaging 5385 fans per season since their founding, but are averaging 300 less fans this season per game than the Rampage and are 600 off the Rampage's total this season when looking at the Marlies' all-time average.

Where the cautionary tale should be held, however, is in San Jose. The Barracuda, who share the California city with the NHL affiliate in the Sharks, average 3531 fans this season, fifth-lowest in the entire AHL. Comparatively, the Worcester Sharks averaged 4130 fans over nine seasons of play in Massachusetts, some 600 fans more than what the Barracuda are averaging this season, and they never dropped below an annual average attendance of 3672. What makes this entire matter in San Jose worse? Tickets to see the Barracuda are just $10 - lowest in the AHL.

If people aren't going to watch San Jose's future stars on the Barracuda play when it costs just $10 to attend a game, is this move a wise decision for the Golden Knights if they cite costs and player availability as the leading factors - the exact same reasons for San Jose to plunk their affiliate in San Jose - for the needed move of the Rampage?

Well, player availability is definitely better as the team will be a short drive away from T-Mobile Arena in the event that a call-up is needed by the Golden Knights. However, if the Golden Knights are looking for their AHL affiliate to be profitable, the loss in ticket sales, merchandise sales, and a dedicated following might reduce any profits that the Rampage currently boast. While it certainly costs less money to run an AHL franchise compared to an NHL franchise, I don't believe that any NHL team is wanting to run an AHL team like a charity where they just keep dumping money into it with no return on investment outside of player development. NHL teams are, ultimately, businesses, and none of them are particularly fond of losing money.

Whatever the results are for the Golden Knights in establishing their hockey foothold in Henderson, Nevada, it seems the purchase of the Rampage franchise and the announcement of moving it makes the future of hockey in San Antonio unclear. While it may be possible to have an ECHL team move into city as we've seen the ECHL do in Manchester, Norfolk, and other former AHL cities, the wound of having the team ripped from their collective hands will remain fresh for the fans of the Rampage.

It sucks, Rampage fans, and I feel your pain. It sucked for us in Winnipeg when the Jets moved to Phoenix, it sucked for fans in Hartford when the Whalers became the Hurricanes in Raleigh, it sucked twice for Flames and Thrashers fans in Atlanta when those teams left that city, and it sucked for the people of Quebec City to watch their beloved Nordiques leave for Denver. The key in all those moves is that none of those cities stopped being awesome, and having visited San Antonio in my time on this planet I can certainly say that your city will remain one of my favorite with or without AHL hockey calling San Antonio home.

Whatever happens in the future if or when a new team moves in, please give that team your support. The new team likely had nothing to do with this decision by the Golden Knights to take your team, so don't hold it against them. Instead, embrace them. Support the new team as well as you supported the Rampage because it's pretty clear to me that San Antonio is a hockey town.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!