View Full Version : Road Runners Now Road Kill
slapshot™
6-07-05, 10:18 AM
The AHL Road Runners are no more.
EDMONTON (CP) - Fears of an NHL fan backlash over the protracted labour dispute have prompted the Edmonton Oilers to put their farm team on the shelf for next season.
Club officials said Monday the Edmonton Road Runners could be a distraction to the Oilers' season-ticket drive next year if the NHL resumes play this fall.
The Oilers have asked the American Hockey League to allow them to suspend operation of the Road Runners for one year while they focus on getting NHL fans back to Rexall Place.
When they resume playing, the Road Runners - who moved from Toronto last year and from Hamilton the year before - will be somewhere else, although the Oilers would like to keep them in Canada.
Oilers President Patrick LaForge said the decision was all about the Edmonton Oilers and had little to do with the Road Runners, who were a big success at the gate and helped bail out the parent club during the NHL lockout.
He said the Oilers have a job to do just to fill their own building when the next NHL season begins.
"I don't think the building will be full right off," LaForge said. "We're used to 99 per cent sellouts here.
"How long will it take to get it back to that? Maybe a full season."
He said more than 60 per cent of Road Runners season ticketholders are Oilers season ticketholders.
Full story -> SportsNet.ca (http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/shownews.jsp?content=h060613A)
KB in Kelowna
6-07-05, 2:08 PM
I am not surprised. All due respect to the people of Edmonton, but I couldn't see that market supporting both AHL and NHL teams.
I am not surprised. All due respect to the people of Edmonton, but I couldn't see that market supporting both AHL and NHL teams.
Fully agree... espeaiclly with the heavy rumours that a WHL team is coming.
I can see a WHL and NHL team.. but AHL and NHL only works in one city in all of North America. I wouldn't even be all that surprised if it fell on it's face in Toronto with the Marlies.
I am disapointed we're not going to have full control.. and I'm very shocked that we're going to develop our prospects with Dallas.
I can see a WHL and NHL team.. but AHL and NHL only works in one city in all of North America. I wouldn't even be all that surprised if it fell on it's face in Toronto with the Marlies.I guess you forgot about the Chicago Wolves and The Philadelphia Phantoms. :conspire: :laughing: :thumb:
I guess you forgot about the Chicago Wolves and The Philadelphia Phantoms. :conspire: :laughing: :thumb: Well done.
Both of which are currently playing in the American Hockey League Championship.
:thumb:
I was referring to the Phantoms.
I'd hardly call it a success in Chicago, based upon their attendance for both teams.
slapshot™
6-09-05, 11:41 PM
As a side-note it pisses me off that the business side of hockey has taken over. Teams constantly relocated all based on market analysis and the owners trying to squeeze every dollar they can from the fan.
Cheer for us...come to our games....buy our merchandise.
Sure, it was good to have hockey in E-town this past winter (at some level) but as quickly as they came, the RoadRunners are gone.
Seeing some hapless fool walking down the street this summer wearing a RoadRunners sweater is going to be as funny as seeing someone wearing a Hartford Whalers sweater.
When the (NHL) season resumes the fans are now jaded and are going to be a very fickle bunch for good reason.
Sheesh talk about jerking around a team, three moves in three years!
Its funny to hear them talk about bringing in a WHL franchise, funny how the last time it didn't last three seasons, and now they want to bring in another one and they close down the AHL team.
And here I always thought that this was a Hockey town, no actually I am always being told how it is such a great hockey town :nod: :thumb: .................
slapshot™
6-10-05, 8:34 AM
And here I always thought that this was a Hockey town, no actually I am always being told how it is such a great hockey town :nod: :thumb: .................
Save it for the trash talk section, Rusty. I'm using the RoadRunners as an example of how hockey is now (more so) a business and the owners don't give a sh!t about the fans other than the money that is in their jeans.
slappy you obviously missed the smilies I used!
It has always and will always be a business, do you really think that the owners have the fans interests in mind when they make a move? if they did Puck wouldn't have sold off Wayner.
Of course they do not give a sh!t about you and I, the only thing they care about is what we have to give them, our hard earned cash, I have to laugh at people who supported these billionaires during the Lockout. Now they are going to do the hard sale to us to get our butts back in the seats, something tells me that there has been a huge amount of damage done with regards to us fans, I have the feeling that there is going to be a qucik honeymoon then after a month or so a good majority of the fans are going to walk away from the game.
Yes we have missed hockey, but there hasn't been very many suicides due to lack of hockey coverage, and really there is a lot of fans who just do not care, period.
It was a smart move by the Oilers.
People would've spent the same amount of money, it just would've been spread out in different ways.
Would you rather have 8,000 people at a RR game and 11,000 at an Oiler, or just 17,000 at an Oiler game?
Hoenstly, did anyone really think they'd want to have 2 pro hockey teams here at the same time?
Yes we have missed hockey, but there hasn't been very many suicides due to lack of hockey coverage, and really there is a lot of fans who just do not care, period.No, there haven't many suicides that I can think of but there are going to be a lot of babies born soon. Ours is due in December :) He/She was concieved on or near what would have been the start of the playoffs ;)
KB in Kelowna
6-10-05, 6:44 PM
No, there haven't many suicides that I can think of but there are going to be a lot of babies born soon. Ours is due in December :) He/She was concieved on or near what would have been the start of the playoffs ;)
Congratulations to you and the missus Amo!
In posting that here, I guess s/he will see the light and become an Oiler fan, eh? :wave:
Congratulations to you and the missus Amo!Thank you, Thank you. Its comforting to know the boys can still swim..... ;)
In posting that here, I guess s/he will see the light and become an Oiler fan, eh? :wave:Growing up to be an Oilist isn't the worst thing one can do with ones life....its close...but not thee worst ;)
Ok enough of me ;) Suspending operations for 2005? That doesn't mean forever? They could pop back up in 06?
Newfie John
6-10-05, 7:14 PM
Too bad for the people in Edmonton who did support this team, but this decision did have to be made. Unlike the stupid leaf move.
Canadian26
6-15-05, 3:52 PM
PDO's right, I dont think the Road runners and the oilers can survive at once. There just isnt enough ppl here to make them both a success. Edmonton, has a very good fan base IMO our areana is usually pretty close to capactiy... but I doubt that we'll be seeing those numbers agian right at the start of the season (whenever it begins).
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