I saw this posted on NewsNet5.com earlier.

 

 

Barons To Leave Cleveland After Season

Minor League Team Moving To Mass.

 

POSTED: 11:54 am EST January 9, 2006

 

CLEVELAND -- There is some bad news for Cleveland hockey fans -- the Barons are heading out of town.

 

The president of Cleveland's minor league hockey team plans to move the team to Worcester, Mass., after this season, NewsChannel5 reported.

 

The team's five-year lease at Quicken Loans Arena is set to expire.

 

The Barons are the top minor league affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and play in the American Hockey League.

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/5951867/detail.html

well........wouldn't be the first time..........

A story was on 33 WYTV in Youngstown how now the Youngstown Steelhounds will be the only pro team in NE Ohio and on weekends they can grab a couple hundred of the 1,000 Baron ticket holders.....

 

We were partners now I do not know anymore.....

 

The PD seemed to suggest that it would be easy to grab another minor league hockey team for next year. 

 

 

A story was on 33 WYTV in Youngstown how now the Youngstown Steelhounds will be the only pro team in NE Ohio and on weekends they can grab a couple hundred of the 1,000 Baron ticket holders.....

 

We were partners now I do not know anymore.....

 

 

and by pro, you mean semi-pro

I wonder why the Barons couldn't get any support.  From what my friend told me, the Lumberjacks games used to be packed.  But we would go to see the Barons and walk up 15 minutes before the game and buy glass seats.  It's too bad, as I was really starting to enjoy the games.  Now I won't have cable so I can watch hockey on TV or the Barons to go see in person.

 

I've heard that the NHL would never put a team in The "Q" for some reason.  Anyone know more about that?

^

Columbus BlueJackets. Plus, I don't know if the city could support the Cavaliers and an NHL franchise.

Cleveland did have NHL hockey for a few years in the mid to late 70's. The Oakland Seals were moved to Cleveland when Gordon Gund became the majority owner and became the Barons. The Barons of the NHL played at Richfield and always struggled attendance wise.  The best they ever did was 13,000. They had such a bad lease, the Gund family tried to buy the Coliseum.  That was the last hope for the franchise but they couldn't make a deal. The Barons then merged with Minnesota which was also struggling financially. The Gunds took control of the Minnesota team in a deal worked out with the NHL and the Barons folded.

 

Before that in the early 70's, there were the Crusaders of the WHA (the NHL's rival) When the Barons came, the Crusaders left. Ironically the Crusaders moved to Minnesota.  The original AHL Barons were very successful back from the 30's through the 70s. A very loyal following which allowed a WHA team to enter the market. They left when the Crusaders came.  The WHA was an upgrade from the AHL at the time. 

 

The Lumberjacks were very successful.  They even sold out the Gund a few times although that was boosted by giveaways.  It's a shame that when the IHL folded, the franchise didn't move to the AHL.  This gap without hockey in Cleveland killed the market.  Thus, in a way, the Barons were forgotten.

 

I also think the Barons struggle so badly because of very poor marketing and the fact they are affiliated with a team so far away.  This is where the hope for a new team begins.  The Blue Jackets AHL affiliation is expected to change from Syracuse after this year and Cleveland and Cincy are battling for the team.  Cleveland is believed to be the front runner with Dan Gilbert owning the team. 

 

When Gund (yes, the same Gund family that had the Barons and Minnesota NHL franchises, the Gunds have owned 3 different NHL teams all at different times) sold the Sharks, it was only a matter of time before the Barons picked up and left town.  The only reason the Barons even came to Cleveland from Kentucky was the Gund connection. 

barons were in cleveland from 76-78

It'd be good to get the Bluejacket's AHL affiliate, but I'd love to have an NHL hockey team.  I had heard that their was a problem with the physical configuration of Gund Arena.  It didn't meet some standards for sightlines or something like that.

 

I don't buy the "Cleveland won't get a team because Columbus has a team" argument.  I don't see many people heading to Columbus to see Blue Jackets games, or wearing Blue Jackets merchandise around town.  It just doesn't work that way.  We are seperate markets, and we don't root for other city's teams.  We've always been big enough to have our own.

 

But there probably is some truth to the statement that we can't support and NHL and NBA team at the same time.  Maybe if our economy was doing better.

trivia question: what is the smallest four sport city?

 

 

trivia question: what is the smallest four sport city?

 

I'll say Miami

Denver.

colday wins!

I hope they get an ECHL team so the Wheeling Nailers can play Cleveland.

How did the people of Columbus react to the name 'Blue Jackets.'?  It is one of the worst names in all of professional sports.

How did the people of Columbus react to the name 'Blue Jackets.'?  It is one of the worst names in all of professional sports.

 

We all griped about it for two months then decided we have a major league team, support it!

How did the people of Columbus react to the name 'Blue Jackets.'?  It is one of the worst names in all of professional sports.

 

The same way as Cleveland will/has reacted towards Quicken Loans Arena.  We got over it.  And, for the record, I like the name Blue Jackets (as it also has a historical meaning, in terms of Ohio Native American history).

or is it a referrence to the navy?

^QUIET, FOOL!

http://www.bluejacket.com/

Columbus has a proud naval tradition.

Columbus has a proud naval tradition.

 

Now that you got me singing In the Navy... Thank goodness the Village People were based in NYC instead of Columbus.

I still call it Gund Arena. Screw the "Q."

Same here Wheeling. The Q sucks. Quicken Loans Arena sucks... Makes Youngstown's Chevrolet Centre sound better since its one of the most well know US Businesses throughout the World!

Actually, I don't think Quicken Arena would sound that bad.  Quicken Loans Arena sounds way too corporate, and The "Q" sounds as ridiculously contrived as it is.

There is nothing out there that can sound worse than Value City Arena!  Why OSU couldn't just keep it as the Shottenstein Center I'll never understand.

There is nothing out there that can sound worse than Value City Arena!  Why OSU couldn't just keep it as the Shottenstein Center I'll never understand.

 

it is schottenstein nowadays.

^But OSU's basketball court still has a large "V" on it and says Value City Arena.  Its embarrassing to have that represent Ohio.  What's next,  Dollar General Field?

 

I don't think that anyone is a fan of Quicken Loans Arena. Say what you want about the Gund, at least it stood out as one of the few non-corporate-sounding names out there.

 

I don't think that anyone is a fan of Quicken Loans Arena. Say what you want about the Gund, at least it stood out as one of the few non-corporate-sounding names out there.

 

^ That was one thing that made me proud of Cleveland, none of sports venues had yet to plastered with bland corporate names.  Oh well, knew it would happen eventually.

I'm not so sure the Barons leaving town had much to do with their support.  Cleveland should be able to land another team--if not in 2006, then definitely in 2007.  The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks got great support, but left town because Anaheim wanted to change their affiliation to the team in Portland, ME.  Then the Ducks had no NHL affilliate and folded the franchise.  They're hoping to get another AHL franchise next year.

I'd have to say it had at least a little to do with their support.  I used to go to 10-20 games a year when I was 18-20 years old... back in the Lumberjacks days.  I think there was a misrepresentation above; there was no gap in time between the departure of the Lumberjacks in 2001 (concurrent with the folding of the IHL) and the arrival of the AHL Barons, who came from Kentucky for the start of the 01-02 season.

 

The Lumberjacks had already started a mild decline in support due to what I think was a suferring product in the IHL (most true prospects were with AHL affiliates) and a series of affiliation changes (from Tampa to Chicago to Minnesota in a span of 4-5 years) that ruined team continuity, even for a minor league team which will always have player turnover.  The team also never had chapionship-contending success and that is what gets fans interested.  The Barons finished last in their division the first two years and that probably killed any real chance they had to catch on, which was slim to begin with given the overall lack of hockey coverage and support from ownership.

 

I had not heard that the Columbus affiliate would move but I have always been an advocate of Cleveland getting the Blue Jackets' affiliate.  While that would probably grate on many Clevelanders' brains, the idea of CLEVELAND being the minor league feeder for Columbus, the fact is that a good deal of hockey fans in Cleveland do root for the Blue Jackets.  The Jackets get a good amount of games on cable TV here as well and it would be a coup for a new minor league team to get some games on television.  Mr. Gilbert would have a tough battle marketing the team successfully and he does not seem like someone to do something half-assed the way so many previous owners did.  But there is a prevailing attitude amongst mainstream folks that the Barons and hockey in Cleveland in general were/is a joke and it will take quite an effort to get rid of that.

 

 

Also, I always thought that the name "Blue Jackets" came from the Civil War.  Ohio having something like the highest percentage of citizens who elisted for the north during the Civil War or something?  I remember thinking "Blue Jackets" was the dumbest team name this side of "Mighty Ducks" until I heard that.  Also note the civil-war era looking hat that is the shoulder patch on the uniforms.

How many people in Cleveland follow the NHL?  I am a huge sports fan, but I only glance at the NHL standings every 4 weeks or so. Additionally, its not that much fun to watch on tv.--too hard to follow the puck.

^oh, so you were one of those people who actually enjoyed fox's glowing puck of the late 90s?

 

(it should be noted pope is a huge hockey fan, but its kinda hard to watch any games here in cleveland)

nope. no fox hockey for me.  I will pay attention only if the Redwings are on tv.

Which with the games being on OLN, really is never (unless they are playing the bluejackets)

^oh, so you were one of those people who actually enjoyed fox's glowing puck of the late 90s?

 

(it should be noted pope is a huge hockey fan, but its kinda hard to watch any games here in cleveland)

 

I'm the only one in my family who isn't a die-hard hockey fan.  My younger brothers and my dad follow the Red Wings (and to some extent the Canadians as well) with as much passion as I do towards the Philadelphia Eagles & Phillies.

I would say the NHL has a very minimal following in Cleveland.  I know I have had very few conversations about hockey with anyone since I moved here (its been over 6 months) and during the many years I visited before that.  I think a CBJ afflilated team would help keep pro hockey in town though. You could do some marketing things and maybe bring a pre-season game up here at the Q to build some interest for both teams.  At least an Ohio connnection would allow us to keep track of our prospects better, good luck following San Jose from here.  When the players are promoted, we never see them! Unless you have Center Ice of course :) 

I have been getting to like hockey from attending a few Barons games.  I try to follow it beyond that, but since I don't have cable the only time I get to see hockey is when I can get to a Baron's game.  It just isn't fun to read about sports in the news for me, though.

i love hockey. however, the nhl has way over expanded and sucks. good news is the game still thrives on the college level and below. catch some of those if you want to see the enjoyable sport of hockey.

 

ps-- i thought i read somewhere the building is the shottenstein arena and the court is value city? as in it has two names. that sounds silly, but i guess thats why i remembered it -- not sure tho.

ps-- i thought i read somewhere the building is the shottenstein arena and the court is value city? as in it has two names. that sounds silly, but i guess thats why i remembered it -- not sure tho.

That's what I thought as well.  Schottenstein Center=entire building (arena+offices+practice facilities+whatever else is in there), Value City Arena=just the actual arena part of the building

 

Really just a matter of semantics

Sell the naming rights twice?

i think schottenstein is the person behind value city, i could be wrong....

i think schottenstein is the person behind value city, i could be wrong....

 

^ Correct.

 

A new arena came to fruition through Geiger's gentle romancing of the local Schottenstein family, which was seeking to raise the profile of its Value City discount stores. OSU has a rule against naming buildings for corporations, but Geiger figured a way around it; the overall facility would be called the Jerome Schottenstein Center, but the inside would be called Value City Arena. The Schottensteins wrote a check for $12.5 million, a record gift for OSU athletics.

 

 

Looks like Dan Gilbert's trying to replace the Barons.  Today from NewsNet5.com

 

 

AHL To Vote On Hockey Team's Potential Move To Cleveland

Team Likely Would Not Start Playing Until 2007-2008 Season

 

POSTED: 2:08 pm EST March 30, 2006

 

CLEVELAND -- Hockey may soon come back to Cleveland, thanks to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

 

The AHL will vote on Tuesday on whether to approve the sale of the Utah Grizzlies to Gilbert, who would move the currently dormant franchise to the north coast, NewsChannel5 reported.

 

The team would replace the Cleveland Barons, which is moving to Massachusetts after this season. The Barons are affiliated with the San Jose Sharks.

 

If approved, the franchise would likely not start playing until the 2007-2008 season, giving Gilbert a chance to build the team's infrastructure and to sort through affiliation options.

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/8363815/detail.html

With Gilbert's enthusiam for our town and for sports, it should be a quality organization.

How many people in Cleveland follow the NHL?  I am a huge sports fan, but I only glance at the NHL standings every 4 weeks or so. Additionally, its not that much fun to watch on tv.--too hard to follow the puck.

 

 

I think if Clevelanders wanted to follow the Blue Jackets, it'd be pretty tough to catch a broadcast.  I was on the CBJ's web site and found their radio affiliates nearest Cleveland.  There are AM stations in Youngstown, Warren, Massillon, Elyria, and Mansfield; and an FM station from Norwalk.  And I highly doubt any of those stations (with the exception of WEOL in Elyria) could be heard in Cuyahoga County!

I guess they are expecting Clevelanders (and Cincinnatians) to watch the games on Fox Sports (cable) instead of listening on radio.

 

Not that you pick up either flagship radio station for the Blue Jackets outside 20 miles from Nationwide Arena.

Former Baron Bill Needham has passed at age 90.

 

https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/william-needham-obituary?pid=201258452

^ oh geez barons star and the crusaders coach. rip.