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Post by kingpin794 on Jan 13, 2015 17:28:53 GMT -5
This is flat out too good to be true--not only to keep our instate rival but have them move an hour away. I wasn't around for all of the IHL Flint-Saginaw legendary stuff, so this would be more than I could hope for--BRING IT!!!!!!!! Let the battle of I-75 begin!!!
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Post by ricardo on Jan 13, 2015 18:19:08 GMT -5
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Post by kidowsley on Jan 13, 2015 18:47:01 GMT -5
But the larger issue here is whether this means the Raincheck Lounge will now re-open ?
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Post by aj0512 on Jan 13, 2015 18:49:26 GMT -5
WDIV Ch. 4 in Detroit says it's a done deal pending league approval. Planned renovations include a new, large marquee outside the arena visible from I-69 and heavy work on the exterior of the arena, estimated at around $2 million.
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twinsdad
2nd Liner
Rocky Hockey
Posts: 165
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Post by twinsdad on Jan 13, 2015 21:04:33 GMT -5
Dang, just when I got thought I was done traveling to all the arenas...
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Post by hatethewhalers on Jan 14, 2015 8:21:54 GMT -5
One condition of the move should be the arena announcer has to stay behind in Plymouth.
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Post by USAhockey on Jan 14, 2015 10:25:43 GMT -5
If it's true the "whalers" name will not stay with the team. The owners will keep it. I'm sure there will hold a naming contest.
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Post by donjohnson on Jan 14, 2015 10:35:39 GMT -5
If it's true the "whalers" name will not stay with the team. The owners will keep it. I'm sure there will hold a naming contest. It won't be Whalers and it won't be Generals. The only other name with Flint ties is Spirit and we've already got dibs on that one. I agree with the naming contest...isn't that how we picked Spirit? My vote is for the Flint Flames because it could be a cool flaming "F" logo, it's alliterative, and Flint has one of the highest arson rates in the country: www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/03/burning_flint_10_cities_with_t_1.html
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Post by aj0512 on Jan 14, 2015 11:30:02 GMT -5
From various Twitter sources, Karmanos has sold the franchise to the IMS Hockey Corporation and the team will head to Flint. The move will (likely) be approved at the February 2nd OHL Board of Governors meeting.
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Post by SaginawGensFan on Jan 14, 2015 12:09:50 GMT -5
This is awesome!!! I fondly remember the Gears-Generals rivalries!!! As for a name, they were also the Bulldogs for a season or two in the old - ugh - Colonial league. Honestly, I'd love if they were given the ok to use the Generals name... There is precedent- there are two "Admirals" in the AHL!
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Post by USAhockey on Jan 14, 2015 12:25:54 GMT -5
I'm pretty excited. This will be good for Saginaw as well. I know the spirit aim to sell out so many gms per year. Now, hopefully they can sell out the Saginaw/flint gms as well.
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Post by aj0512 on Jan 14, 2015 12:42:12 GMT -5
A few other notes courtesy of Jim Parker of the Windsor Star. Karmanos was strongly pushing for the team to move to Chatham, but local government officials did not seem too interested in building a new arena with their struggling economy, which ultimately killed the deal. Had the team went to Chatham and got a new arena, Karmanos says he would have remained the owner of the team. But in the end, he is happy the franchise will remain in the United States.
Very much looking forward to the return of the I-75 Rivalry. I went to a Kalamazoo Wings game (now in the ECHL) over Christmas break and noticed a few Colonial Cup championship banners hanging on the wall. Definitely brought back some memories (as did Josh Shalla of the Cincinnati Cyclones scoring a couple of goals).
Will admit though, part of me is skeptical of Flint supporting the OHL. I think a lot of fans there struggled with the news the Generals were folding, and it left a bad taste in their mouths. Hopefully the "new" Whalers (or whatever their name will be) don't alienate their fan base like the Michigan Warriors have done.
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Post by kidowsley on Jan 14, 2015 13:10:16 GMT -5
This is awesome!!! I fondly remember the Gears-Generals rivalries!!! As for a name, they were also the Bulldogs for a season or two in the old - ugh - Colonial league. Honestly, I'd love if they were given the ok to use the Generals name... There is precedent- there are two "Admirals" in the AHL! Don't know why Generals would be an issue. How many 'Tigers' in SEC?
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Post by kingpin794 on Jan 14, 2015 13:20:26 GMT -5
This is awesome!!! I fondly remember the Gears-Generals rivalries!!! As for a name, they were also the Bulldogs for a season or two in the old - ugh - Colonial league. Honestly, I'd love if they were given the ok to use the Generals name... There is precedent- there are two "Admirals" in the AHL! Don't know why Generals would be an issue. How many 'Tigers' in SEC? Was spitballing some ideas with some other fans from various OHL teams and two names we liked we firebirds or Phoenix.
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Post by IGive1 on Jan 14, 2015 13:30:24 GMT -5
This is really really good news for the Spirit and let's be honest, this franchise needs a jolt of some excitement. A rivalry will be great for fan interest. The IMA is a great place to watch a game. It is older than the Dow and has some issues; the press box is small, real small, the parking lot was like the surface of the moon (but I have not been there in about 6 - 7 years) need new scoreboard, etc.
Plymouth had a HUGE recruiting and scouting advantage over the Spirit since the best minor hockey players in the country came through that building every week. The players and parents were familiar with the building, area and Whalers. The Whalers have also sent so many players to the NHL via Carolina so I'm sure that was a key selling point in recruiting. Now, these two advantages will be gone.
This is ALL good news for the Spirit.
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