I live in one of the cities currently in the USHL (Lincoln, NE - although I'm a bigger fan of Des Moines having grown up there), and can tell you that from what I've gathered from several people in the both towns, not many are real happy that you're joining the league. What do you offer to the league except another 5,000 + seat arena that will be 20% full on a good night. From what I've read on some message boards that broke the news about this a few weeks ago, that seems to be the consesus of most in Youngstown. No one wants the USHL in town. Trust me, you're not wanted by other teams in the league either.
I feel bad for your players as well. They are going to travel more than any other team in the league, which means the 3-12 high school players that will be on their roster will miss a ton of school. I'm sure that will help get them into college.
The USHL currently is a quality league that's been around for 30 years, but it has a new commissioner that wants to take it in a new direction that obviously includes blind expansion into bad markets.
I hope Mr. Zoldan has deep pockets and needs a good tax write-off as this is guarenteed to fail.
USHL awards team to Zoldan
I live in one of the cities currently in the USHL (Lincoln, NE - although I'm a bigger fan of Des Moines having grown up there), and can tell you that from what I've gathered from several people in the both towns, not many are real happy that you're joining the league. What do you offer to the league except another 5,000 + seat arena that will be 20% full on a good night. From what I've read on some message boards that broke the news about this a few weeks ago, that seems to be the consesus of most in Youngstown. No one wants the USHL in town. Trust me, you're not wanted by other teams in the league either.
I feel bad for your players as well. They are going to travel more than any other team in the league, which means the 3-12 high school players that will be on their roster will miss a ton of school. I'm sure that will help get them into college.
The USHL currently is a quality league that's been around for 30 years, but it has a new commissioner that wants to take it in a new direction that obviously includes blind expansion into bad markets.
I hope Mr. Zoldan has deep pockets and needs a good tax write-off as this is guarenteed to fail.
April 28, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. permalink suggest removal