FHL update

After an anti-climatic battle, the FHL is emerged as the number 1 Single 'A' Tier 2 pro league in the Northeast (at least right now). The Northern Professional Hockey League's website is gone with no updates on the league, the AAHL (all of its two teams) are rumoured to be joining the FHL. 

So now lets look at what is happening in the FHL. The Akwesasne Warriors have punched their ticket the FHL Finals and await the winner from the Aviators/Whalers series. But the Warriors owner, Basem Awwad does not seem too be happy these days. His passport was stolen, preventing him entrance into the USA for games, but expansion and attendance  are what bringing Basem down.

The Standard-Freeholder writer Todd Hambleton has been covering the Warriors this season and has done an excellent job. In an article written two days ago, Basem had this to say about the expansion in Danville, Illinois,

"I would have preferred to wait until the end of the playoffs and really take a look at (the Danville proposal)," Awwad said.
"I did speak to the (Danville franchise owner Barry Soskin), but we (the league owners) didn't get a chance to vote (before the FHL granted the franchise)."

That confirms that Barry Soskin is a part of the new Danville franchise, unfortunately, and this could end up spelling trouble the FHL in the future.  But it also shows how rushed the FHL is too expand, not even consulting its current owners about the expansion of the league, which isn't good for business.

A league is only as strong as it owners.

Basem is also concerned about his teams recent attendance. Despite being one of the most successful franchises on the ice this season, the playoffs proved to be a box office blunder!

He gets it (Basem), about Game l, when the announced gathering was 453. The Colts played at home against Pembroke that night, and the popular high school team in Hogansburg, the Salmon River Shamrocks, had a game too.
But three days later, the crowd got even smaller -- listed at 371 on a Sunday night.
In fact, there were about 150 people there.
"I'm just so disappointed with the crowds ..."

Full article can be read here.

With attendance that low, one does not have to guess how much an owner is losing with ticket revenue trickling in and expenses flowing out.

With two new teams joining the FHL that come with a $50,000 USD expansion fee, per team, the FHL just got a nice deposit into its bank account. If the team adds more, and it says it will, the league will have a nice cushion to start the following season. But a league cannot rely on expansion fees to stay afloat in the long term, the league will need to start generating ticket revenue and increase corporate sponsorship if it wants to see its 5th year anniversary like the SPHL did last season.

Napanee, Ontario, a rumoured FHL location, stated yesterday that it has said no to the FHL.  In The Napanee Guide it was announced that a meeting between town councillors and the local Jr.C hockey team decided that a FHL franchise in town would not be good for the hockey there.

Raiders officials became worried when they heard the Federal Hockey League was looking for an owner to pay a $50,000 expansion fee and handle a roughly $300,000 yearly budget for a new team in Napanee.
Hart believes money targets that high would force a team to compete for sponsorship dollars with the Raiders.

The FHL will have a press conference in Vermont tomorrow to officially announce the Rock Crushers and there is another press conference announced for March 15 to announce the Danville team. No word yet on any other teams to be officially included, but I gotta feeling the Battle Creek Revolution will seek entrance.