The Milwaukee Admirals last season averaged 5,000 attendees per gameGETTY IMAGES
The Milwaukee Admirals are one of three teams "opting out of the AHL season," according to Dave Kallmann of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. The Charlotte Checkers and Springfield Thunderbirds also will sit out the season. All three teams are independently owned instead of being owned by a parent NHL club that "might more easily absorb a revenue loss." Admirals Owner Harris Turner citing "operating losses that would have been 'just huge' during a time of attendance limits imposed during the coronavirus pandemic." The team "will return in the fall" for the '21-22 season. A lack of ticket revenue "would be a serious financial setback for a team that averaged 5,000 attendees per game last season." Turner said that he "committed in the spring to paying all of the organization's 19 full-time employees personally and will continue to do so throughout the Admirals' hiatus" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/5). Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa "acknowledged the necessity to maintain financial stability over an extended period of time" as one of 11 independently owned AHL franchises. That stability is "difficult to accomplish without the consistent revenue brought in by fans on gamedays" (MASSLIVE.com, 1/4).
FLOCKING TOGETHER: In San Diego, Jay Posner reports the AHL San Diego Gulls will play home games in Irvine this year, but the franchise is hoping the move "is only for one season, or even less if fans are allowed back into sporting events this spring." Playing in Irvine ensures all players within the Ducks organization "are in one location under the same health protocols." Gulls President of Business Operations Matt Savant: "We're going to keep our players safe. ... We don't want anyone to think this temporary move is any more than that. The goal is to get back to Pechanga Arena -- we just signed an extension to keep us there for several years and our goal is to be in San Diego for the long term." Posner notes the Gulls "will not be the only AHL team temporarily relocating." The Ontario Reign (El Segundo, Calif.), Binghamton Devils (Newark) and Providence Bruins (Marlborough, Mass.) also will relocate this season (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/5).
TO THE NORTH: In Toronto, Lance Hornby notes AHL intentd to proceed with a "four-team Canadian Division" made up of the Toronto Marlies, Belleville Senators, Laval Rocket and Manitoba Moose. Those teams "can at least play in empty buildings" subject to local COVID-19 approval. However, they clubs "can't travel for games across the border" (TORONTO SUN, 1/5).
