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Posts tagged 'Affiliation'

Posts Tagged ‘Affiliation’

More Amerks-Sabres Fuel, Pirates-Panthers Affiliation a Possibility

June 2, 2011 - By
More Amerks-Sabres Fuel, Pirates-Panthers Affiliation a Possibility

The silly season (AHL affiliation changes) continues with this latest story that the Kennebec Journal wrote discussing the realistic possibility of the Florida Panthers and Portland Pirates affiliating.  The Panthers just hired Kevin Dineen as head coach for the Florida Panthers, Dineen had spent the previous five seasons as coach of the Portland Pirates.

For Dineen to even discuss this as a possibility just adds to the all but officially confirmed Sabres purchase of the Rochester Americans.  Dineen knows what’s going on in Portland and with his recommendation of the Panthers it could help sell Panthers hockey there.

You know what us Amerks fans say?  You can have them!  Even if they become extremely successful we’ve had enough.

“I have a place that I certainly prefer where they’ll be,” said Dineen. “I’ve worked in Portland. I know the quality of life there for the players is great for them to develop as players. I know (the Panthers) haven’t had a strong fan base there, but (the fans) are passionate about hockey.”

Also from the article:

The problem is the Pirates and Sabres agreed to an extension of their affiliation agreement last spring. It now runs through the 2013-14 season.

Still, Dineen [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom Between Amerks and Panthers

1
June 3, 2010 - By

Depending on who you talk to or what you read you would think that the divorce is all but finalized between the Rochester Americans and Florida Panthers, but that’s not entirely true.  It’s not over because the Amerks and Panthers new General Manager have not even had a chance to meet yet to discuss how they envision the partnership developing.

When it was announced in the news papers on Monday that Benoit Groulx had handed in his resignation to the Florida Panthers we learned that the Panthers did not call anyone within the Amerks organization to let them know.  The Amerks also did not try to contact anyone within the Florida Panthers organization.

Lewis Staats was called by Bill Torrey the day that Dale Tallon was going to be announced as the new Panthers GM and advised it would be a few weeks before Tallon would be available.  Tallon has been busy with his travels to Germany for the World Championships, the NHL Combine in Toronto and the GM Meetings this week.  That’s the same time frame I was given when I inquired about an interview with Tallon.  That all makes sense, but if time was found to talk to [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Amerks Schedule, Affiliations and Conference Layouts

June 2, 2010 - By

The NHL and AHL seasons have not ended yet but that doesn’t mean we can start looking towards the Rochester Americans 2010/2011 season that will start in just over four months.  It’ll be here before we know it.

I’ll get right into the news that Lewis Staats shared with me on Wednesday…

Schedule

* The American Hockey League will open their 75th season the weekend of October 8-10th.  The final details of the opening weekend are being worked out and could be announced as early as the end of this week.  Because it’s the 75th season the hope is to have the Rochester Americans and Hershey Bears, two of the leagues oldest franchises, to play a home and home series.  Both sides are trying to work out arena conflicts to make this happen.

Hopefully the Amerks home opener is not October 8th, the same night as the Roger Waters concert in Buffalo (I say that only because I have tickets).

* The Amerks only had to get on a plane once during the 09/10 season but will likely be taking two plane trips this upcoming season.  A trip out West to play the Moose and Heat for one trip and [...]Read More

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Divorce is Mentioned, A Year of Distractions ahead for the Amerks

May 20, 2010 - By

It was only a matter of time before this topic came up, the affiliation between the Rochester Americans and the Florida Panthers.  The divorce word has been mentioned and we’re now looking at a year of distractions as this affiliation comes to a close.

Over at Hockey O-Zone the blog post by Kevin titled “An Amerk-Panthers divorce could be in the works” is getting it all started.  Take a few minutes to read it through.

Here’s my thoughts, just say this is the last season of the affiliation and let it end.  Curt Styres and Lewis Staats had no choice but to sign an agreement with the Panthers when they bought the Amerks.  I think it’s been pretty clear that very few people like the Florida Panthers and enough people have probably put it in their heads that the Panthers are the problem for low ticket sales.  I have no idea what else at this time will be available, but with the way things work in the AHL it seems like nothing is ever set in stone no matter what is reported.

The Amerks have not even met with the Dale Tallon yet, the Panthers new GM.  It seems [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Oklahoma City, Charlotte and Other Possible AHL Affiliation Changes

February 9, 2010 - By

The next six months are going to be for the American Hockey League with teams being sold, teams being moved, and affiliation changes taking place.  This post could become confusing with all of the changes and possibilities that could take place.

One thing is for certain is that the affiliation between the Rochester Americans and Florida Panthers will last through the 2010/2011 season.  Talks have not yet started about a possible extension but it was recently reported in the Democrat and Chronicle that both parties have until November 2010 to work something out.

American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the league’s Board of Governors has approved the relocation of the AHL franchise owned by the Edmonton Oilers from Edmonton, Alta., to Oklahoma City, Okla., to begin play there in the fall of 2010.

No, there is not currently an AHL team in Edmonton.  The Edmonton Oilers are one of many NHL teams that owns the rights to an AHL franchise so in a sense they are relocating what they own but has been dormant from Edmonton to Oklahoma City.  The still unnamed team will play at the Cox Convention Center.

In [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Sitting Down With Steve Donner of the Rochester Americans

August 18, 2008 - By

On Saturday afternoon Steve Donner took some time to sit down with a group fans in the middle of August in the Amerks locker room to discuss the past and future of the team.  It was a great opportunity for everyone, how often does an owner/president/whatever his role is now sit down with fans to discuss hockey.  The discussion was enlightening and brought back a sense of optimism after the worst season in Amerks’ history.

All topics were touched on from the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, the affiliation, new ownership, money, veterans, leadership, coaches, pride, tradition, politics, advertising, marketing, concessions, jerseys, radio, and even the television broadcasts.  I’ll break things down into categories and still hope all of this information is not all over the place.

Affiliation

The discussion of who wanted to be a sole affiliate and who wanted the dual has gone back and forth for some time.  The Buffalo Sabres were right in saying they wanted to be the sole affiliate with the Amerks and even wanted a long term agreement, the catch was that they could then bring in a sub affiliate that they controlled.  So, technically they would have been the sole affiliate.  More on [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks, Headlines

Affiliation and Lease Announcement

June 18, 2008 - By

For the past six months Amerks fans have heard an announcement would be made in “a week to ten days,” or “within the next month,” on Thursday June 19 we’ll finally get a press conference.  The Florida Panthers will be the sole affiliate of the Rochester Americans.  The City of Rochester has reached a lease agreement with the Amerks.  And we’ll finally get the chance to formally meet the new ownership.

The announcement will be made at 3pm Thursday at the arena atrium.  According to the Democrat and Chronicle the following people will be in attendance:

New owner Curt Styres and business partner Lewis Staats, Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy, Florida Panthers scout Jack Birch, American Hockey League vice president of marketing Chris Nikolis, National Lacrosse League commissioner Jim Jennings and arena general manager Jeff Calkins.

It has been a rough six months being an Amerks fan.  We didn’t know if the team would ever be purchased.  We didn’t know if the City of Rochester would ever negotiate a new lease with the team.  Many of us were confident things would work themselves out, but there was that chance we wouldn’t have AHL hockey in Rochester for the coming season.

[...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Sabres Affiliation ‘Days Away’ from Being Over

June 3, 2008 - By

It has been known since December 2007 that the Buffalo Sabres affiliation with the Rochester Americans was near an end after 29 years. Now, Darcy Regier says an announcement is days away. The announcement is the Buffalo Sabres are signing an agreement with the Portland Pirates.

A number of people have questioned whether it was really over, but news of the past few days has made everything all but official.

The Portland Pirates were previously affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have now reached an agreement to be the NHL affiliate of the Iowa Stars.

With that deal official, Regier said Monday he soon will reveal plans about his team’s future.

The Iowa Stars were previously affiliated with the Dallas Stars. A spokesman for the Dallas Stars, who ended their affiliation with the Iowa Stars after two seasons, said last week the team will assign its minor league players to two AHL teams next season. Those two teams being the Portland Pirates and Iowa Stars.

So the Buffalo Sabres will be back to sharing an affiliation with an AHL team.

All of this opens the door for the Florida Panthers to be the sole NHL parent team of the [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Golisano Doubts The 29-year Marriage Can Be Saved

November 28, 2007 - By

“I think it may be too late,” Golisano said on Tuesday afternoon, following his speech to the Rochester branch of the American Marketing Association at the Riverside Convention Center.

A lot can be said regarding the relationship the Rochester Americans and Buffalo Sabres have had in recent years, but we also wonder a lot about what is going on with the current financial situation of the Rochester Americans.

The Buffalo Sabres have shown interest in buying the Amerks and then signing a contract with the city of Rochester to manage Blue Cross Arena, yet Steve Donner has not shown interest in selling the team.  Steve Donner has reported though that he has two potential investors that are interested in purchasing a stake in the Amerks.

A number of questions have been raised that we are yet to have any answers for.

If the Sabres doubt the 29-year marriage between the two teams can be saved, who would the Sabres obtain an affiliation with?

The Florida Panthers have reportedly been looking into establishing an affiliation elsewhere, but with the Sabres out of the picture would the Panthers remain solely with the Amerks?

If neither the Sabres nor Panthers are interested in staying [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks, Headlines