Filed under: Puck Reports
Cleveland is the city, I was born in, and have lived near my entire life. I have never seen an NHL team play here. But I have done my research and I know Cleveland’s hockey history. It is definitely not a pretty one. It is various teams, various leagues, various names, various players, various owners, various venues. So, yeah it has variety. Ha.
My mother dated a member of the NHL Barons. Forget what his name was but she has told me a lot about them. I know the history, and that’s not what I am trying to write about here. CLICK HERE FOR HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRO HOCKEY
The last NHL game was played at Richfield Coliseum in 1978.
It would be another 22 years until the NHL would come back to Ohio.
By Chill, hello Stinger.
The Blue Jackets come to town in 2000. Good for Columbus, but this will make it harder for Cleveland to get an NHL franchise.
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It’s now 2008 and the NHL is at 30 teams. Expansion will come, be it European or North American. It will happen. I do not see Cleveland getting an NHL franchise anytime soon but I believe it can, and could happen.
1. Youth Hockey is very popular in the Area. There are over 20+ Ice Rinks in the area. They are top quality rinks.
Ice Land USA, Strongsville, OH (The AHL Lake Erie Monster’s practice here)
My personal favorite, Brooklyn Rec Center, Brooklyn, OH
2. The Q Arena
It was made primarily for basketball, but with some aspects devoted to hockey. It is a major league venue.
3. Lake Erie Monsters proves that hockey COULD work
The Monsters treat their AHL team like an NHL team. Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Monsters and The Cleveland Cavaliers, puts a lot of pressure on the team to succeed in attendance. In their first season they were in the top 5 of AHL attendance. They had the 2 biggest crowds in the AHL at their first and last games last season.
4. Realignment would have to happen in the NHL.
Columbus
Detroit
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Hamilton?
Go Jackets for now.
