Another reason to keep the Booster Club alive. May help keep the fan base energized and "readily available"; plus, it can function as a hockey support group while we sort all this out...someone already suggested I needed therapy anyway!
Professional hockey could return to Augusta as early as next season in the form of a Southern Professional Hockey League team.
"We're going to do our best to put a team in there next year if we can find the right ownership group," SPHL Commissioner Jim Combs said Thursday afternoon.
"Have I talked with a few groups of people about putting a team in Augusta? Yes, but nobody has put their name on a piece of paper saying, 'I want to own a team in Augusta.'
"That takes time. It doesn't move that fast."
Combs said he believes an SPHL team would thrive in Augusta's market.
The SPHL, in its fifth season of operation, is a small league, with only six teams. Combs said he's seen proof that there are enough hockey fans in the area to support a team. He's heard from them already.
"I think I've answered no less than 40 or 50 e-mails," he said. "There's no doubt about the enthusiasm of hockey fans in Augusta."
The Augusta Lynx, who played in the ECHL until team ownership folded the team Tuesday, played at what is considered a Double-A level of hockey, with the American Hockey League considered Triple-A to the top-level NHL.
The SPHL is considered a rung below the ECHL.
"We want to offer good, Single-A hockey," Combs said.
Hockey fan Adam Kleba said he'd enjoy the level of hockey an SPHL team would offer.
"I can speak for all Lynx fans here that we feel hockey, more so the SPHL brand, can really fly here in Augusta," Kleba said in an e-mail. "They play the hockey we used to have at the James Brown Arena. Rock 'em, sock 'em hockey."
SPHL teams have played almost a third of the 52-game schedule this season, with a combined average of 3,027 fans per game. The Fayetteville FireAntz lead the league with an average of 4,362 fans per game.
The Lynx were averaging 2,722 fans per game this season when team co-owner Robert Burch cited lack of consistent attendance as the reason the team eventually ran out of money.
Combs said the teams in the SPHL, at their current attendance, are either breaking even or making money.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
SAME SPORT, DIFFERENT LEAGUE
Augusta's ECHL team folded, but interest has risen in bringing a Southern Professional Hockey League team to town. Here is a comparison of the two professional hockey leagues:
| ECHL | SPHL | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of teams | 22 | 6 |
| Headquarters | Princeton, N.J. | Huntsville, Ala. |
| Years in existence | 21 | 5 |
| Regular-season games | 72 | 52 |
| Avg. division road trip* | 307.3 miles | 326.2 miles |
| Operating budget | $2 million** | $900K-1.2 million *** |
*From Augusta; **Lynx 2008-09 operating budget; ***estimated by SPHL Commissioner Jim Combs
Comments
Another reason to keep the Booster Club alive. May help keep the fan base energized and "readily available"; plus, it can function as a hockey support group while we sort all this out...someone already suggested I needed therapy anyway!
This would be very nice if Augusta could work this out. I hope it happens.
I have seen a few SPHL games and I really think we would enjoy this league. By cutting the operating budget in half we should be able to do well for the long haul in this league. Though the talent level is below what we are used to it's not so much that it can't be considered good hockey. Plus, it seems as if the talent in that league has gotten better over the years. I'm really excited about this, i hope it comes to fruition.
We would still have the Lynx with new Owners if Troutman had agreed to get out of the way as General Manager. However he would not sell the team to anyone unless he could stay in that possition according to reliabel sources
The LYNX tragedy is the same old story of Augusta. You have something good and either the county commission, civic center management ruin it or their is not enough support.
I hope that someone is able to pull this together and also still be able to use the LYNX name (Perfect for Augusta, obviously). Augusta may just be too small for a AA Hockey team. Hopefully everyone will learn their lesson from this and do a better job setting everything up this time.
One other thing. I just checked the SPHL website and apparently the SPHL has a 60 game schedule rather than 52 so that is a mistake. Also, with teams in Columbus, Huntsville & Knoxville and with a possible team in Pensacola this league will really be cost friendly compared to the ECHL. It will also create some fun rivalries! I just hope we can find an ownership group and get this finalized. I want hockey and this league looks to make perfect sense for us here in Augusta.
How is ECHL AA hockey if there is no level below it? IMO, ECHL is low-A hockey, nobody from those teams ever makes it to the NHL, so who cares.
The civic center commission better do something and do it quick. We as citizens have invested thoudands of dollars in a rink with freezer equipment that must be maintained or we are out a huge amount! I really don't understand why they left? With an attendance of almost 3K people you would think they would make a little profit at least! I will say the team did support Augusta and the players were well liked by the community. I wonder if we could take some of our study money and put it in the colliseum, maybe have something none of the other non-profits we fund provide - a free day for citizens of Richmond county?
The Booster club is a bunch of people who think that they have control over things; I have been told that they don't even buy tickets to the games and are allowed a badge and are given tickets to get others in for free. So why not stay energized by supporting local hockey first before we start spending money and traveling out of town. Large fan - you are the man, I also argee with you. Draksig - Augusta isn't to small just like a new kitten it is new in the beginning and when it been around for a while no one wants it anymore. Can't forget people seem to think that it is more dangerous at the JBA than at the Augusta Mall which is not true. Chimpo - YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!! "According to the ECHL's website more than 367 former ECHL players have skated in the NHL." Article: Players Like Jaffray Use ECHL As Stepping Stone 11/28/08; So get your facts straight before posting. IDIOT
Large Fan, your "reliabel"sources are full of sh1t3. The ECHL pulled the plug, plain and simple. I can *guarantee* that my source is more "reliabel" than yours.
Bret Skinner played for the Lynx two years ago and now plays with the New York Islanders. Johnny Chimpo is a jackass.
"The Booster club is a bunch of people who think that they have control over things"
Yes, there are two or three who do; and they keep a lot of others from wanting to participate.
"I have been told that they don't even buy tickets to the games and are allowed a badge and are given tickets to get others in for free"
A bold faced falsehood. The organization extends ZERO benefits to the booster club. Those folks give of their time and MONEY for the love of the team, nothing else.
this season the SPHL played 60 games and will be playing 56 next season. (2009-10)
I believe they are trying to get Pensacola, Roanoke, and Mississippi Seaswolves to come in as well.
That would be 10 teams and two divisions, which would shorten the average divisional road trip distance. Richmond makes everyone's average go up. They are 10+ hours away from Huntsville!!!
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