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B-Sens to Belleville for Start of 2017-18 Season?
TDS Staff via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
According to a report out of the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa Senators’ will move their affiliate from Binghamton to Belleville in 2017.
Although there has been no official confirmation, in speaking with Broome County executive Debbie Preston, the paper quoted her as being accepting of the AHL’s plans to give Binghamton another affiliate once the Senators relocate their B-Sens to Belleville.
“The AHL has committed to staying in Binghamton and Broome County, and as long as the league keeps that commitment, I am satisfied.”
Starting play at the beginning of the 2002-03 season, Binghamton’s been Ottawa’s’ longest-tenured minor league affiliate to date and due to this longstanding commitment and the team’s 2011 Calder Cup championship, the bond between Binghamton Senators fans and Ottawa Senators fans has grown over the years. It’s helped that a lot of the best prospects who’ve played with Binghamton have gone on to become productive players at the NHL level, so there’s going to be some level of attachment there that’s going to be hard for Binghamton fans to let go of. (As an aside, if you’re a Binghamton Senators fan who found their way to this website or checked out this site’s Twitter account, thanks!)
The reasons behind leaving Binghamton are well documented.
The Senators would like a franchise that’s a shorter distance away and doesn’t require the prospects always having to cross the border whenever the Senators have to make an emergency recall. If it can also help broaden the Senators’ fan base a little further down the 401, so be it.
As the Ottawa Citizen outlined however, there are a few hiccups to overcome.
Belleville’s Yardman Arena requires an influx of cash to increase the seating capacity and meet the AHL’s standards for approval. Estimates peg that these renovations will come at a cost of a cool $20-million, but given Preston’s concession that the AHL will bring another franchise to Binghamton, unless the group Perdita Felicien’s it, this doesn’t seem it’s a huge hurdle to clear.
The only left is for the City of Belleville and/or the Ottawa Senators to make an official announcement in the near future.
Continue reading...
TDS Staff via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
According to a report out of the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa Senators’ will move their affiliate from Binghamton to Belleville in 2017.
Although there has been no official confirmation, in speaking with Broome County executive Debbie Preston, the paper quoted her as being accepting of the AHL’s plans to give Binghamton another affiliate once the Senators relocate their B-Sens to Belleville.
“The AHL has committed to staying in Binghamton and Broome County, and as long as the league keeps that commitment, I am satisfied.”
Starting play at the beginning of the 2002-03 season, Binghamton’s been Ottawa’s’ longest-tenured minor league affiliate to date and due to this longstanding commitment and the team’s 2011 Calder Cup championship, the bond between Binghamton Senators fans and Ottawa Senators fans has grown over the years. It’s helped that a lot of the best prospects who’ve played with Binghamton have gone on to become productive players at the NHL level, so there’s going to be some level of attachment there that’s going to be hard for Binghamton fans to let go of. (As an aside, if you’re a Binghamton Senators fan who found their way to this website or checked out this site’s Twitter account, thanks!)
The reasons behind leaving Binghamton are well documented.
The Senators would like a franchise that’s a shorter distance away and doesn’t require the prospects always having to cross the border whenever the Senators have to make an emergency recall. If it can also help broaden the Senators’ fan base a little further down the 401, so be it.
As the Ottawa Citizen outlined however, there are a few hiccups to overcome.
Belleville’s Yardman Arena requires an influx of cash to increase the seating capacity and meet the AHL’s standards for approval. Estimates peg that these renovations will come at a cost of a cool $20-million, but given Preston’s concession that the AHL will bring another franchise to Binghamton, unless the group Perdita Felicien’s it, this doesn’t seem it’s a huge hurdle to clear.
The only left is for the City of Belleville and/or the Ottawa Senators to make an official announcement in the near future.
Continue reading...