Victor Hedman And The Lightning To Play Preseason Game In Loveland

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 7, 2009 9:22 AM MDT in News Comment 42 comments

Victor Hedman is coming to Colorado after all. For reasons I'm not quite sure I understand, the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing an exhibition game on September 23rd in Loveland, Colorado. Why? I have no clue. The Lightning are also playing in Winnipeg, Regina and Everett, Washington. They are only playing one preseason game in Florida.

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Weird

but pretty cool. I know the Colorado Eagles of the CHL have been wildly successful up there. But the arena isn’t all that big. So that is pretty weird.

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 9:27 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

by Pookie on Jul 7, 2009 9:30 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Forget Ice Girls

I think the guys should have to do warm-ups without their shirts on!

Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.

by hockeymom on Jul 7, 2009 10:05 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh snap!

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be going

It’s not often we get to see the lightning. And I pretty much will use any excuse to get drunk and watch hockey.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 7, 2009 9:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

i wouldnt

mind seeing stamkos or hedman playing, since its preseason probably wont see leclavlier which i havent seen play either KC blows!

Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat

by DESTROYER on Jul 7, 2009 9:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know what’s funny, after I saw this, I thought to my self the exact same thing with the exact same wording in my head. Are you the matrix?

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 7, 2009 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry jibbles one, not destroyer. I heart booze.

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 7, 2009 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

Hmm, Alcoholics must all think the same.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 7, 2009 11:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I resemble that remark

Get rid of the loser point

08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?

by TheRed on Jul 7, 2009 12:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another thought

The money grabbers at Av central wouldn’t even think of doing something like this. I’m sure us season ticket holders will once again be given the privilege of paying full price for 3 preseason games in the Can. F’ing aholes.

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 9:39 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

and one more

Come to think of it, this season we’ll be paying full price for 44 preseason games. Cripes.

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

didn’t you say you tried to cancel your season tix after the smytty trade?

by Pookie on Jul 7, 2009 9:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haven't done it yet

Need to send out an email to my whole group and see what they think. I’d hate to lose my priority number if/when the team becomes competitive again. I wonder what their renewal rate was this year?

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 10:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, we’d understand either way. besides, if you keep your primo seats, you can show pierre or dwight all the astute stuff we are posting on GDTs during games, now that sbnation is available on mobile devices. lol.

by Pookie on Jul 7, 2009 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's not true, actually

The first game ever at the Bud Center was played between the Avs and Panthers in 2003.

"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki

by wtnelson on Jul 7, 2009 11:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't know that

but I’m pretty sure the Avs still stuck us for 3 full priced preseason games in the Can that year too. I think they make sure to do that every year.

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

hell yeah, I’m going. this will be awesome!

by thedoctor on Jul 7, 2009 9:49 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

and I bet they’re examining the viability of the market for an AHL team.

by thedoctor on Jul 7, 2009 9:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

you’re probably right. Since there are 2 echl (eagles and rage) it wouldn’t be the end of the world to lose one and get an ahl team.

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 7, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

the rage closed their doors for next season already, and the rage and eagles are CHL, not ECHL, though the level of play is pretty much the same.

While I anticipate they’re evaluating it, I don’t think the market or building is big enough for the AHL either. I could see the remnants of the CHL joining the ECHL, tbh.

by thedoctor on Jul 7, 2009 10:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

well you can tell how on top of that I was. I did have a good time at the one rage game I went too. Beer always helps that out.

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 7, 2009 10:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

How big are AHL arenas?

I guess I don’t know. I know that the Budweiser Events Center holds 5,289, and the Eagles have sold out nearly 300 straight games. I don’t think that the market is the problem. There’s plenty of money in the Ft. Collins/Loveland/Greeley/Windsor area to support the team. It would probably just come down to whether or not A) Eagles management would allow it, and B) the building is big enough.

"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki

by wtnelson on Jul 7, 2009 11:51 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I checked a few...

LEM have a big arena (because its also home to the Cleveland NBA franchise) at 20,100. Several others, including Adirondack (formerly Philly Phantoms) were pretty small, 4800 to 6000. Not sure that the too small argument is, in and of itself, true.

by Hopfenkopf on Jul 7, 2009 12:33 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Rage shut down? Why? Was it as big a cluster-eff as the Blazers closing up shop here in OKC?

2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity

by Mike @ MHH on Jul 7, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Attendance was pretty poor

Not as horrible as it was for their NBADL team, the 14ers, but not good either. I think the whole arena is in trouble. Probably a combination of poor timing, with the economy going south and so many other entertainment options near Denver (the team in Loveland is helped greatly by their distance from Denver, I’m sure), poor marketing of their teams, and poor products in the arena. I went to one Rage game in Broomfield. One thing that struck me as odd was how horrible the food was. I had this semblance of a burrito thing for $6 that was just dreadful.

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 12:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kronke

is looking to buy It I had heard (I think from Tapeleg)

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 7, 2009 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

Maybe he can save it? I wonder if he could arrange for a lower level affiliate for the Avs there? Not sure if the arena is big enough for an AHL team, but sometimes they have lower level affiliations too (like Johnstown last year, correct)?

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 12:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Many teams have lower level affiliates…the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) are a Flames affiliate.

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Jul 7, 2009 12:19 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Save it?

He’s probably looking for a new home for the Avs, as that’s the only arena they’ll be able to fill up before too long….

Get rid of the loser point

08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?

by TheRed on Jul 7, 2009 12:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch!

Maybe that is why I just found out that we won’t even get our season ticket renewal and relocation appointment letters until the end of this month? Usually I would have had my appoinment by now. Also, maybe they don’t have nearly as many renewals to deal with this year?

If they move, it will be great for me for two reasons:

1. The arena will be closer to my house.
2. My seats will be much closer to the ice.

Of course, they won’t be able to sustain an NHL team, but why quibble over little details?

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 12:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Of course, they won’t be able to sustain an NHL team, but why quibble over little details?”

Ummm, did you watch last season???

by Hopfenkopf on Jul 7, 2009 1:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Yes, good point. I used the term “NHL” loosely here.

Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.

by Bob in Boulder on Jul 7, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

it’s all about market saturation. the avs, DU, then CC and the eagles too…bad idea. add to that they’re not that successful, and, yeah.

by thedoctor on Jul 7, 2009 1:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hadn't heard about the Blazers

That’s too bad. They’ve had some epic battles with the Eagles over the years. Fraser Filipic and Graham Dearle had some great fights, including a TKO by Filipic on Dearle in Game 7 of the 2007 Northern Conference Semi-Finals.

"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki

by wtnelson on Jul 7, 2009 4:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i was there for that. what a fight.

by thedoctor on Jul 7, 2009 4:21 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yesterdah, the city approved the lease agreement to bring an AHL team to the city for the 2010-2011 season. It would be Edmonton’s top farm club if the LLC can close the deal with Edmonton.

2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity

by Mike @ MHH on Jul 8, 2009 8:14 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

anyone have a link to tickets?

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 7, 2009 10:53 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

As far as the game

This is pretty cool, but it really doesn’t make any sense. I’ll try to go.

I guess it’s not all that different than the Avs and Kings playing in Vegas every year, except that this isn’t Vegas.

"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki

by wtnelson on Jul 7, 2009 11:53 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

The Avalanche played a preseason game with the Florida Panthers at the Budweiser Event Center in September of 2003 for the “grand opening” of the Budweiser Event Center.

by CAR on Jul 7, 2009 12:09 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs