The Winds of Change Continue
The past two seasons have seen several franchise changes in the USHL, and the next couple of years appear to be headed in the same direction.
In the United States Hockey League, it's not just the players you can't tell without a program.
Any USHL fan that fell asleep in the summer of 1999 and is waking up now would not recognize the league. Sioux Falls, Cedar Rapids, Chicago, and Tri-City have joined the league the past two seasons. Twin Cities, North Iowa, Thunder Bay, and Fargo-Moorhead are no longer part of the league.
If current rumors are correct, however, the changes are just beginning. The new frontier for the USHL appears to be south and east, with several more franchise shifts set to happen in the next couple of seasons.
The only confirmed franchise relocation has the Thunder Bay franchise setting up shop in Aurora, Ill., in the fall of 2001. The team will play in a new arena in downtown Aurora, approximately 45 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.
It's a pretty safe bet that Aurora will not be the only city to join the league in fall. Topeka, Kan., and Tulsa, Okla., appear set to join the league as well, changing the shape of the league's footprint. In the next couple of years, that footprint could change further, with Champaign, Ill. looking like a strong possibility to receive a team through franchise relocation.
Butch Johnson, owner of the Waterloo Black Hawks and Cedar Rapids Roughriders, has obtained the Kansas Expocentre leasing rights of the Central League's Topeka Scarecrows and plans to place a USHL franchise there next season. The details are somewhat confusing, but it appears that the Central League's Scarecrows will cease to exist and a new USHL franchise, using the same name, will replace the Central League franchise.
Meanwhile, an ownership group in Tulsa is rumored to have purchased an existing USHL franchise with the intent of relocating it to Tulsa. This market could present the toughest challenge for the USHL, as the Central League's Oilers have a strong foothold in Tulsa.
In recent weeks, stories have surfaced that the ownership of the Lincoln Stars has discussed the possibility of purchasing an existing USHL franchise and relocating them to one of several sites, with Champaign, Ill. being one of the front-runners.
Logic would dictate that the two teams involved in potential relocations are Rochester and Dubuque. The Mustangs are averaging 1,441 fans through 12 home games, but some question whether even that many people are in attendance most nights. The lack of atmosphere in the Rochester Recreation Center has become overwhelming, as many fans question whether the team will stay in Rochester past this season.
The Fighting Saints have struggled at the box office in recent years and are averaging just 785 fans per game this year. As the only USHL team averaging less than 1,000 fans, many people have speculated the Saints' days in Dubuque are numbered.
So if the rumors are true, look for Aurora, Topeka, Tulsa, and Champaign to join the USHL in upcoming years, while Rochester and Dubuque will join North Iowa, Twin Cities, Fargo-Moorhead, and Thunder Bay on the list of cities to recently lose USHL franchises.
While some long-time USHL fans may lament the loss of these cities, there is no question the franchise shifts have been good for the league. The recent additions have been strong at the box office, as three of the five USHL teams averaging more than 3,000 fans per game have joined the league in the past two seasons. Meanwhile, all of the relocated franchises were struggling at the gate at the time they moved, making it tough to compete in an increasingly competitive USHL.
If the rumored franchise shifts and additions take place, it would leave the USHL with 14 teams by the fall of 2002. The most likely divisional scenario would look something like this:
| West Division: | East Division: |
|---|---|
| Lincoln | Aurora |
| Omaha | Cedar Rapids |
| Sioux City | Champaign |
| Sioux Falls | Chicago |
| Topeka | Des Moines |
| Tri-City | Green Bay |
| Tulsa | Waterloo |
However, it is unlikely the USHL will stop expanding once it hits 14 teams. With the value of franchises increasing along with the talent pool, future expansions in upcoming seasons are probable. With a footprint including Kearney in the west, Tulsa in the south, Chicago in the east, and Green Bay in the north, there are several directions the USHL can expand.
If the USHL, as anticipated, becomes the first Tier I league in the USA Hockey umbrella, a presence in hockey-rich Michigan would be very desirable. Michigan produces a large number of players, and Michigan teams tend to draw well at the box office. While the Detroit market would appear to be off-limits with the presence of the Ontario League in suburban Plymouth, there are several other options in Michigan.
Placing a team in Marquette, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, would make sense from a recruiting standpoint. The UP produces many players considering the relatively small population. The team likely would also be a success at the box office, as hockey-crazy Youppers have given the Northern Michigan University squad and the midget AAA Marquette Electricians strong support for many years.
Benton Harbor, located on the east shore of Lake Michigan, 100 miles from downtown Chicago, has a metropolitan population of approximately 160,000, placing it within the same range as many USHL cities. Benton Harbor is one of the largest Michigan cities without a junior A or minor league hockey team, and would give the USHL a foot in the door in Michigan.
Regardless of what the distant future holds, it is clear the near future will bring many changes to the USHL. And for a league hoping to become a Tier I league in the near future, that is a good sign.
By Trevor Grimm