When the AHL Oklahoma City Barons' season ends, it will be "the end of professional hockey" in the area "for the foreseeable future," according to Michael Baldwin of the OKLAHOMAN. Prodigal CEO Bob Funk, Jr. on Thursday announced the club operator will be "ceasing operations" after its five-year contract with the Oilers expires. Funk: “At this particular point the market isn't as accepting (of hockey) as we’d like. But maybe at some point in the future it will be more accepting which is why we’ll always keep the door open.” Facing a Dec. 31 deadline to notify city officials whether they planned to play next season in the Cox Convention Center, Funk said that a three-year contract extension "wasn't feasible considering costs the Oilers needed Prodigal to absorb." Baldwin notes the club has "ranked in the bottom five" of AHL in attendance the past four seasons, and the Barons "failed to gain a stronghold in a highly competitive market." Oilers officials "will now be looking for a new Triple-A partner, possibly a one-year deal since there have been persistent rumors they’re one of six NHL teams exploring forming an AHL West Coast division" (OKLAHOMAN, 12/19). Baldwin noted despite low attendance figures, the club's 2,000 ticket holders, including sponsors, "ranked as one of the strongest season ticket bases in the AHL." Funk also "stressed Oklahoma City officials bent over backward trying to help hockey succeed," spending $4.5M for "renovations like new locker rooms and weight facilities" (NEWSOK.com, 12/18). When asked how the success of Prodigal-owned USL Pro club OKC Energy FC played in the decision, Funk said, "The Barons were evaluated on their own financial model. ... It simply came down to the two parties couldn't come together from a business standpoint. The gap was too large for us to bridge" (NEWSOK.com, 12/18).
ON THE MOVE? TSN.ca reported the ECHL Bakersfield Condors, another Oilers affiliate, "could be transformed into the team's new AHL home." The Flames also reportedly "have interest in relocating" the Adirondack Flames (TSN.ca, 12/18). Condors President Matt Riley said that he "wasn't ready to say how the announcement in Oklahoma City would change his operation in Bakersfield." Riley: "It's not our deal. It's between Oklahoma City and Edmonton. Right now, we're focused on winning games and selling tickets, and what happens in the future is yet to be determined" (BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN, 12/19). Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, Bill Ballou reports employees of the AHL Worcester Sharks "have not been told the team is moving." DCU Center GM Sandy Dunn also said that club VP/Business Operation Jon Gustafson has not notified her that the franchise is relocating (Worcester TELEGRAM & GAZETTE, 4/11).
