Hockey in Baltimore
Check out, in my Blackbirds posting below, a comment from a reader about the East Coast Hockey League being a loser proposition in Baltimore because minor-league hockey failed here before. If you go way back and look at the record, the Clippers and Skipjacks had pretty good runs in Baltimore, and while the attendance was never cracker-jack for the 'Jacks, they had some respectable (though not always respectful) crowds at the Arena many times. As for the Baltimore Bandits -- give me a break. They had Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons at the Arena. Sunday afternoons in an NFL town was crazy! The Blast always had better dates at the Arena. You can look it up.
I think Ed Hale is the man who needs to be convinced to open up some dates to make another sports franchise work here. He wouldn't have to own a hockey team, just support it with a decent chance of success.
Maybe I'm among the few who is hockey-starved around here, but look at the towns that support the ECHL. Don't tell me Baltimore can't do the same. And don't tell me people are afraid to go to the Arena. Thousands go there all the time; you can look that up, too. If they didn't, the place would have closed long ago.
Comments
Dan, you are absolutely right, and I'm glad to hear a fellow hockey fan toot this horn. Baltimore has a proud hockey tradition, and I think that if the arena really worked hard, we could again have a great hockey tradition. Keep on this - all 5 hockey fans in Baltimore are counting on you!
Posted by: Sam | April 2, 2007 10:27 AM
Dan,
I stand corrected on my earlier post about Baltimore having lost three AHL teams. If a downtrodden city such as Wheeling, WV can support an ECHL franchise, then I don’t see why Baltimore can’t host a franchise as well. However, I still wish the city would seriously look into replacing the First Mariner Arena- it’s an embarrassment to our city. If we got serious about building a top-notch facility, not only could we attract a minor league hockey team, but we could also attract an NBA team that has arena issues of its own (Sonics).
Posted by: MCG | April 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Dan,
As a long time resident of Baltimore and 4 year resident of Las Vegas I've gotten the chance to see two cities headed in opposite directions. I was an avid supporter of both the Blast and Skipjacks back in the 80s and 90s. Here in Las Vegas I am a season ticket holder for our ECHL team. There are two major differences between minor league sports here vs. Baltimore. Here, the arena is only 4 years old and is new and shiny. Our team draws about 5,500 a night for hockey and we're in the middle of the desert. Also the convenience factor plays into it as well. Our arena is convenient to two major interstates which makes it easy access from most of the city. Baltimore fans who are not ardent supporters of their sport do not feel like venturing into downtown, and especially not to a downtrodden arena like First Mariner. Until either the city or state gets serious about building a state of the art arena either on the fringe of the city or in Baltimore county, it's not worth trying to pursue another franchise just to watch it fail or stay barely financially solvent. Thank god the Ravens and Orioles don't have to worry about a substandard facility.
Posted by: Charlie | April 2, 2007 5:08 PM
Dan,
As a long time resident of Baltimore and 4 year resident of Las Vegas I've gotten the chance to see two cities headed in opposite directions. I was an avid supporter of both the Blast and Skipjacks back in the 80s and 90s. Here in Las Vegas I am a season ticket holder for our ECHL team. There are two major differences between minor league sports here vs. Baltimore. Here, the arena is only 4 years old and is new and shiny. Our team draws about 5,500 a night for hockey and we're in the middle of the desert. Also the convenience factor plays into it as well. Our arena is convenient to two major interstates which makes it easy access from most of the city. Baltimore fans who are not ardent supporters of their sport do not feel like venturing into downtown, and especially not to a downtrodden arena like First Mariner. Until either the city or state gets serious about building a state of the art arena either on the fringe of the city or in Baltimore county, it's not worth trying to pursue another franchise just to watch it fail or stay barely financially solvent. Thank god the Ravens and Orioles don't have to worry about a substandard facility.
Posted by: Charlie | April 2, 2007 5:08 PM
If Baltimore had a hockey team, I would absolutely be a season ticket holder. There is no other sport like it.
Posted by: Eric | April 14, 2007 12:58 AM
As a fan of hockey, and not any particular league, I have seen pro hockey in 33 cities from Portland, ME to Austin, TX. There is NO reason hockey can't work in Baltimore. I was not here during the days of the previous teams, and don't know what went wrong. But I know the keys to success are arena management working with the tenants, and the teams marketing themselves. As a member of a fan/resident committee that convinced a new team to move to my previous city, I know it can be done and am willing to put my time/money/muscle where my mouth is. If Baltimore were to get a new team and or arena I'd be the first person in line to buy season tickets.
Posted by: Tim | April 14, 2007 11:18 AM
A new arena at lexington market is a good spot by the development company at Accent was set to build a 16,000 seat arena but by that location its enough to seat a at least 19,000 for pro-sport teams.
Posted by: MJ | July 19, 2008 2:34 PM