| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
cMan2KellyCup
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
540 Posts |
 Posted - 07/04/2008 : 12:20:47 PM
|
HRC666 wrote about his casual sources. There is nothing wrong with them. It made me feel better that at least Chad was thinking about coming back.
Minor League hockey is just like college if you are not under an NHL contract. It's a recruiting game. You have to have the best everything to the best players to get them to play for you. Cincinnati is blessed to have a great fan base in a great arena, a first class coach like Chuck, a great ownership and support base who has that desire to win what we possess, the Kelly Cup, not just one year, but every year, and a great league to play in like the ECHL.
The ECHL has been very good to us in all those aspects. If you recall, in the IHL, we had ownership who didnt know what the hell they were doing most of the time (maybe it's just my hatred for Kirchoffer). They didnt bring in the crowd and they thought too large. I ALWAYS thought the IHL was too big for our britches, but we thrived in it too as well. I dunno, I just like the ECHL better.
Look at how many ECHL alumni are in the NHL, AND have their names on the Stanley Cup... that's exactly the kind of league I want to play in.
I will take those bus rides to the unknown places like Elmira and Reading and Johnstown and the other towns I didnt even know of until they were on our schedule for the first time, rather than first class plane rides to Orlando and Chicago and LA and you get the picture. And I would rather see 3,000 people pay $10 to watch an ECHL game, than 1,000 people (if were lucky) paying $15 for thre IHL... and that was in the nosebleeds.
I really think we have the opportunity to thrive for a very long time in the ECHL. The Kelly Cup this year was just the start of it! |
KELLY CUP CHAMPIONS- 2008, 2010
AMERICAN/EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS- 2008, 2010, 2014
DIVISION CHAMPIONS- 1996, 2008, 2009, 2013
2008 BRABHAM CUP CHAMPIONS
Boards + visitors = broken bones! |
|
|
tamg4393
(The Next Level!)
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 2:02:18 PM
|
| Aman, brother! |
2008 Kelly cup champs, the best Cyclones team ever! |
 |
|
|
Biggsy
(Rookie)
22 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 2:53:57 PM
|
| I bag to differ on your feelings regarding Mr. Kirchhofer. I think he was an excellent owner and always put a solid product on the ice but just because they never won a championship doesn't mean he didn't know what he was doing. When they played at the Gardens there was usually excellent crowds and attendance didn't drop until the move to the riverfront and the outrageous parking prices. I loved last years team and Cyclones hockey but these ECHL teams will never compare to the IHL to me. I'm not sure what you have against Mr. Kirchhofer but he's a great guy and every time I go to Gatlinburg and to a Tennessee Smokies game he always has time to come over and talk to me and my family and offer us tickets to another game if we want them. |
"I may be crazy but I ain't stupid" - Chad Johnson |
|
|
|
cMan2KellyCup
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
540 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 12:10:46 AM
|
OK, I will take back the HATE word regarding Kirchofer, but on the condition that I get a chance to explain.
First, I just dont think Kirchofer cared enough about the bottom line. I know he cared about his team, but he could have at least offered incentives or $10 all the time tickets like our current Clones have. In 1996, we had the chance to win the Turner Cup and by then prices were so high no one could go to the games. Twelve years later, If it weren't for $10 seats, I dont think I would have been able to make it to the our Kelly Cup clincher. This was the last version's problem (2001-2004) as well. A ticket to those games cost me $12, and they let the ECHL bump the price up come playoff time. Yet again, in 2003, we had a chance to win the Kelly Cup, and no one showed up because of the rising ticket prices. The current Clones kept tickets at $10 and lower the entire season, and so more people came as we progressed further into our run. This time, we DID win the Kelly Cup, but the arena was sold out. Granted, I dont think that we will ever see crowds like that this coming regular season; I ran into a lot of people who said it was their first ever hockey game. I think that with the popularity we will have good crowds, but not the kind that showed up for the Finals. My point on all this is it was lack of monetary control that made the IHL suffer, and I hold ownership of any team in any sport solely responsible for getting butts in the seats. That was Kirchofer's problem AND Phil Esposito's problem (he was the co-owner of the version before this one). It's like how I hold my 13-year-old nephew accountable for every aspect of his world (his grades, his friends, etc.)
Also, Kirchofer should have kept the team at the Gardens instead of US Bank Arena. That's what I hate him for. His move downtown ultimately doomed the original Cyclones. If he had stayed at the Gardens, the attendance would have stayed up. While the arena was in its identy crisis mode (Crown, Firstar Center, US Bank Arena, so on), the ticket prices kept going up and the attendance decreased.
Finally, if you remember, the Cincinnati Silverbacks, also owned by him, suffered drastically as well. Their average in the 96-97 season was just over 3,000. After, you were lucky to get a thousand in there with freebie tickets. Fairness states that this was a soccer team, but I am sure all our mexican and latino friends would have loved them at the Gardens, and would have been the Silverback's financial catalyst had he reached out to them. |
KELLY CUP CHAMPIONS- 2008, 2010
AMERICAN/EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS- 2008, 2010, 2014
DIVISION CHAMPIONS- 1996, 2008, 2009, 2013
2008 BRABHAM CUP CHAMPIONS
Boards + visitors = broken bones! |
Edited by - cMan2KellyCup on 07/05/2008 12:29:04 AM |
|
|
|
XcloneiacX
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
869 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 04:09:35 AM
|
I went to almost every silverbacks game during their whole existence.
And I kinda think that last line you wrote there was very inappropriate. |
CYCLONES HOCKEY! |
|
|
|
Biggsy
(Rookie)
22 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 09:51:00 AM
|
First, it sounds like you don't know very much about the entire Cyclones and the Gardens situation. Mr. Kirchhofer and the Robinson's couldn't finalize a new contract mainly because of the Robinson's reluctance to give up some of the revenue they were bringing in. So to put the full blame on him is flat out ridiculous and it shows you're still going off your pure hatred for the man.
Secondly, when the IHL was here it was a step below the NHL and could afford higher ticket prices even though they weren't much more than the current ticket prices are now and drew very well. If the old IHL hadn't tried to rival the NHL and start offering ridiuclous contracts it might still be around. I guess you're gonna blame him for that next too? You can believe what you want but this town will NEVER support a minor league hockey team to what you think it should. Hell, it wouldn't even support an pro basketball team.
Lastly, I enjoyed the Silverbacks but that was the worst financial move he made. Even though the move to the riverfront ended up costing the team I honestly can't blame him for making the move. |
"I may be crazy but I ain't stupid" - Chad Johnson |
|
|
|
sullyfan27
(Rookie)
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 11:10:09 AM
|
| Silverbacks ruled |
|
|
|
Shorty_Rock
(Finally Got A Star!)
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2008 : 09:45:08 AM
|
| The biggest thing that hurt the old Cyclones is all the construction that was going on around the coliseum at the time (i.e. Fort Washington Way). I think it was a risky move to make, but the idea itself was solid. Own the arena and the team to make more money and put a better product on the ice. Unfortunately, it didn't work out under Kirchhofer. The problem was bad timing (even if it was the only oppourtunity to make the move). The idea was good or else our Championship team would have never taken the ice... |
|
|
|
ARSClone
(The Next Level!)
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2008 : 11:19:29 PM
|
| WWWWHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO CARES!!!!! |
|
|
|
elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2008 : 12:39:51 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by ARSClone
WWWWHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO CARES!!!!!
thank you....i've wanted to rant on this topic since it openned but here's the thing...it's over, it's in the past. we have a successful team playing down town right now. they are improving their attendance and winning. who cares about that old crap. |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
|
|
|
BannerLady
(The Next Level!)
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2008 : 07:49:30 AM
|
LET IT GO!!!!!
There is one thing we should ALL be thankfull to Mr. K for..............
HE BROUGHT HOCKEY BACK TO CINCINNATI!!!! |
|
|
|
gravedigger
(Rookie)
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2008 : 11:49:27 PM
|
| I have to agree with Elvis let it go |
|
|
|
elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2008 : 02:48:33 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by gravedigger
I have to agree with Elvis let it go
GET OFF THE ICE CHAD!!!!!!!!
sorry had to do it gravedigger |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
|
|
|
screamin
(The Next Level!)
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2008 : 11:17:51 PM
|
I am going to Sevierville next week to see a Smokies game and plan on talking with Doug. I have always had a great relationship with him. He brought hockey back to Cincinnati, he took a risk and bought the coliseum and made it into a jewel in which the current Clones rule. The luck went against him with many different things. If my memory serves me right (HA HA), he had an option of joining the IHL or the AHL and his thinking was would you rather play against a town like Orlando, Milwaukee ect... (same size as Cincy) or towns like Hershey, Rochester , in the AHL. He chose the "I" and the rest is history. I can't be sad as I saw many up and coming stars in the NHL such as Radek Bonk ect.... Hindsight is always 20/20
I too went to many Silverbacks games and loved every minute of it. |
|
|
|
BannerLady
(The Next Level!)
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2008 : 10:52:03 AM
|
Give a big hello to Mr 'K' from the Banner Lady!
thanks in advance! :-) |
|
|
|
somebeach
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1224 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2008 : 5:08:26 PM
|
| Hey Screamin, we are going to Gatlinburg for our vacation in two weeks (gas prices too high for our annual two weeks on the beaches in Florida) and are planning on catching a game then. |
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
ZINGER!!!!! |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
