By now at this time of year we would be screaming for signings, wondering and complaining about who was going to be the coach and what type of team we would put on the ice. Instead we are wondering "IF" hockey will ever be played here again or even anywhere close to Fort Worth. The city says it's just too expensive to host hockey at the FWCC unless a team has very deep pockets and will pay more then they earn. With that in mind you have to know that it makes WRMC even more impossible to host a team. It has no insulation, one end is always open to the elements via the barn so the ice plant and air conditioning system run all out all the time. The nature of minor league sports for "most" teams is to break even and try again next year which leaves little extra cash for rising rents etc. Hence the rink rats, new arenas new state of the art ice plants and well designed buildings which are much more energy efficient. But at what cost? Do you have to sell your soul to the devil in order to field a CHL hockey team? More and more it appears so, locations of teams are changing all new franchises are where the new construction is. And from our point of view little help has come from the league to help barter or broker a deal with the city to keep our team.
Sure you can lay blame at the feet of many entities for whats gone wrong, but the league seems to have a plan. It's the burps and the well to do burps at that. Just close enough to a major city and just far enough away so not to conflict with any other pro sport. If they could they would of (most likely) planted themselves in Frisco except the Dr Pepper Star's Centers beat them to it. (ever wonder why they never built in Fort Worth) And not to discount Jr. hockey but at least they were smart enough to move there when Blueline went under. And IMO if not for a contract I'm sure they would entertain taking in a CHL team. So what are we left with? Where do you place this team and when? Well I guess the only place possible by next season would be Blueline which is changing it's configuration and ice plant. (even with all it's minuses it's all we have for now) With FWCC and WRMC out we would have to look at other cities which would have to build and would be two if not three years away before being ready to play. So just where would that be North Fort Worth (not unless you can put a saddle on it), Mansfield (maybe still has plenty of land to be developed), Weatherford (interesting but not likely), Arlington (maybe but little open space left with high real estate cost really makes this city unlikely), HEB neither of these three cities seem likely and traffics another issue.
So unless the city has a reversal or another daddy Warbucks wants to help our current owner with expenses just to keep the team here it appears the "FOR SALE" sign is coming. Now that's just my opinion and "if" you have knowledge of something else throw it on out here. The Brahmas management staff sure hasn't come forth with any information lately to give us any hope at all.
Joe..........
Ice skating: When the outside temperature reaches 100-plus degrees in the shade, there's something to be said for slipping on the blades for a chilly reception at places such as Dr Pepper Star Centers, with locations including Duncanville, Euless, Plano and Valley Ranch; Americas Ice Garden and Galleria skating rinks in Dallas; Ice O Plex and The Rink in Addison; Ice at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco; Polar Ice in Grapevine; Blue Line Ice Complex in North Richland Hills; and The Ice in Fort Worth.
Sure you can lay blame at the feet of many entities for whats gone wrong, but the league seems to have a plan. It's the burps and the well to do burps at that. Just close enough to a major city and just far enough away so not to conflict with any other pro sport. If they could they would of (most likely) planted themselves in Frisco except the Dr Pepper Star's Centers beat them to it. (ever wonder why they never built in Fort Worth) And not to discount Jr. hockey but at least they were smart enough to move there when Blueline went under. And IMO if not for a contract I'm sure they would entertain taking in a CHL team. So what are we left with? Where do you place this team and when? Well I guess the only place possible by next season would be Blueline which is changing it's configuration and ice plant. (even with all it's minuses it's all we have for now) With FWCC and WRMC out we would have to look at other cities which would have to build and would be two if not three years away before being ready to play. So just where would that be North Fort Worth (not unless you can put a saddle on it), Mansfield (maybe still has plenty of land to be developed), Weatherford (interesting but not likely), Arlington (maybe but little open space left with high real estate cost really makes this city unlikely), HEB neither of these three cities seem likely and traffics another issue.
So unless the city has a reversal or another daddy Warbucks wants to help our current owner with expenses just to keep the team here it appears the "FOR SALE" sign is coming. Now that's just my opinion and "if" you have knowledge of something else throw it on out here. The Brahmas management staff sure hasn't come forth with any information lately to give us any hope at all.
Joe..........
Ice skating: When the outside temperature reaches 100-plus degrees in the shade, there's something to be said for slipping on the blades for a chilly reception at places such as Dr Pepper Star Centers, with locations including Duncanville, Euless, Plano and Valley Ranch; Americas Ice Garden and Galleria skating rinks in Dallas; Ice O Plex and The Rink in Addison; Ice at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco; Polar Ice in Grapevine; Blue Line Ice Complex in North Richland Hills; and The Ice in Fort Worth.
