Sput
04-01-2005, 12:51 PM
by JIM SWANSON
Citizen Sports Editor
The Western Hockey League's U.S. Division will remain intact - at least for the time being.
The league's board of governors voted down a proposed move for the Tri-City Americans franchise. Owners Darryl Porter, Brian Burke, Glen Sather and general manager Bob Tory had applied to move to Chilliwack, but a meeting held Thursday at the Airport Hilton in Calgary failed to produce the required 14 votes. Any franchise transfer requires two-thirds approval of the 20 teams.
"We're disappointed for the city of Chilliwack and fans in Chilliwack and our partners there," Burke, the former GM of the Vancouver Canucks, told the Vancouver Sun.
"We're not sure what happens next. We'll have to sit down and talk about our options."
Several sources reported that nine of the 20 teams voted against the move. Among those saying 'no' were the four U.S. teams, who had spoken openly about their objections in the days leading to the meeting. It is believed that both the Prince George Cougars, represented by GM Dallas Thompson, and the Saskatoon Blades voted against the transfer.
"If it was just another Canadian team moving to Chilliwack it probably wouldn't have been an issue," Vancouver Giants owner Ron Toigo, the former owner of the Americans, told the Sun. Toigo lost $3 million in nine years of ownership there.
"This was a vote to protect the structure of the U.S. Division, the U.S. teams certainly made their point on how important it was that (Tri-City) be part of that division. They felt that without them it started to break down the survivability of a number of other teams."
Other concerns with moving to Chilliwack, the home of the BCHL's Chiefs, included the lack of a daily newspaper, local television station, and corporate offices. Few companies house their head offices in Chilliwack, choosing instead to operate out of Vancouver.
Citing an unnamed WHL source, the Vancouver Province is reporting in today's edition that the Cougars approached the Chilliwack group about relocating there. Prince George owner Rick Brodsky said a conversation took place, but not with the goal of moving the Cougars to the Fraser Valley.
"We did have a discussion with them, but it was for ammunition in our negotiations," said Brodsky. The current Cougars lease at the Multiplex expires at the end of July.
The Americans moved to Kennewick, Wash., for the 1988-89 season. There have been many unsuccessful owners over those 17 seasons, including Toigo, who is now reaping the benefits of the NHL lockout in the Vancouver market. There was a sentiment at Thursday's meeting that not enough had been done to make the market a success.
The last WHL teams to relocate were the Kootenay Ice (from Edmonton, 1998), the Kelowna Rockets (from Tacoma, 1995), and the Cougars (from Victoria, 1994).
Porter, Burke and Sather, who purchased the franchise from Mark Wagstaff for $2.2 million US three years ago, have the option of working out a new lease at the Tri-City Coliseum or selling to a local group that is believed to be interested. Burke has stated that he does not want out of the business.
The Americans, down three games to none in the best-of-seven series, host the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight.
Citizen Sports Editor
The Western Hockey League's U.S. Division will remain intact - at least for the time being.
The league's board of governors voted down a proposed move for the Tri-City Americans franchise. Owners Darryl Porter, Brian Burke, Glen Sather and general manager Bob Tory had applied to move to Chilliwack, but a meeting held Thursday at the Airport Hilton in Calgary failed to produce the required 14 votes. Any franchise transfer requires two-thirds approval of the 20 teams.
"We're disappointed for the city of Chilliwack and fans in Chilliwack and our partners there," Burke, the former GM of the Vancouver Canucks, told the Vancouver Sun.
"We're not sure what happens next. We'll have to sit down and talk about our options."
Several sources reported that nine of the 20 teams voted against the move. Among those saying 'no' were the four U.S. teams, who had spoken openly about their objections in the days leading to the meeting. It is believed that both the Prince George Cougars, represented by GM Dallas Thompson, and the Saskatoon Blades voted against the transfer.
"If it was just another Canadian team moving to Chilliwack it probably wouldn't have been an issue," Vancouver Giants owner Ron Toigo, the former owner of the Americans, told the Sun. Toigo lost $3 million in nine years of ownership there.
"This was a vote to protect the structure of the U.S. Division, the U.S. teams certainly made their point on how important it was that (Tri-City) be part of that division. They felt that without them it started to break down the survivability of a number of other teams."
Other concerns with moving to Chilliwack, the home of the BCHL's Chiefs, included the lack of a daily newspaper, local television station, and corporate offices. Few companies house their head offices in Chilliwack, choosing instead to operate out of Vancouver.
Citing an unnamed WHL source, the Vancouver Province is reporting in today's edition that the Cougars approached the Chilliwack group about relocating there. Prince George owner Rick Brodsky said a conversation took place, but not with the goal of moving the Cougars to the Fraser Valley.
"We did have a discussion with them, but it was for ammunition in our negotiations," said Brodsky. The current Cougars lease at the Multiplex expires at the end of July.
The Americans moved to Kennewick, Wash., for the 1988-89 season. There have been many unsuccessful owners over those 17 seasons, including Toigo, who is now reaping the benefits of the NHL lockout in the Vancouver market. There was a sentiment at Thursday's meeting that not enough had been done to make the market a success.
The last WHL teams to relocate were the Kootenay Ice (from Edmonton, 1998), the Kelowna Rockets (from Tacoma, 1995), and the Cougars (from Victoria, 1994).
Porter, Burke and Sather, who purchased the franchise from Mark Wagstaff for $2.2 million US three years ago, have the option of working out a new lease at the Tri-City Coliseum or selling to a local group that is believed to be interested. Burke has stated that he does not want out of the business.
The Americans, down three games to none in the best-of-seven series, host the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight.