How come hockey never does spectacular in Baltimore? Hockey has been off-and-on in Baltimore from what I've noticed. The Baltimore Clippers of the AHL had the best success, playing from 1962 to 1976, then playing one year in the lower-key Southern Hockey League, and then playing in the low-key Eastern Hockey League until 1981. The Baltimore Skipjacks were in the AHL from 1981 to 1993, and then moved to Portland, ME. The Baltimore Bandits existed for only a couple years, from 1995 to 1997, before moving to Cincinnati. The latest team in the vicinity was the Chesapeake IceBreakers, who played all the way in Upper Marlboro from 1997 to 1999.

What does everyone say is the reason why teams have closed up shop in Baltimore? Is it purely arena issues? Do the Capitals get all of the attention? Does Baltimore not care for hockey because it hasn't had a chance at the NHL? Has hockey's popularity waned since the 60's, 70's, and 80's? Is hockey just not popular enough to sustain a stable franchise for decades like a big city normally would?

Have there been discussions about bringing hockey back to Baltimore, even if only a minor league team, such as an AHL or ECHL team? If so, is there a timetable for this? If not, why hasn't anything been brought up?

I suspect an arena is the biggest issue.

The City and State would have to fork out money, I'd guess. There are other big things the State needs to fork out money for, and considering we're heading toward a serious structural state deficit, we're looking to invest our money to revitalized the City and downtown first and then move on to arenas. I don't think having hockey after massive subsidies for an arena is going to help the City as subsidies for downtown building restoration and tax breaks on new residential; money for transit is important, too.

I think it's a matter of priorities. I'm not that much of a hockey fan, so I'm biased here. But if taxpayers have to spend money for civic projects, I'd rather it be for urban revitalization first. I also think Baltimoreans are happy we got NFL back and we have soccer.

Sports doesn't revitalize as much as physical urban redevelopment and job creation with people living nearby, so the BDC, GBC, et al are putting sports on the backburner.

Just my thoughts there.

Nate

for some reason, i've never seen baltimore as a hockey town; well, not on the level that detroit is. the funny part is that i can't explain why. i just don't see hockey ever working here again and it's been proven that it doesn't work (3 times). again, i can't really explain why.

The reason hockey failed in Baltimore You can't have a minor league team in a major league city. They can't afford to advertise and the news media does not give them the time of day. Plus we have one of worst arenas on the planet. If we had a decent arena and an NHL team if might be different.

The NHL should start downsizing its league instead of expanding it, but it does seem like Baltimore should have an NHL team.

If our metro could support it, I don't see why not. The NHL is too big as it is, but if we could fill the seats, there wouldn't be a problem at all except for a new arena. If the olympics ever come up again, it would probably help to have a new arena in Baltimore.

a 12,000 or 13,000 seat arena doesn't cut it. Baltimore needs a new state-of-the-art arena of at least 19,000 seats to even have a hope of attracting any major league team. Personally, I'd rather see an NBA Team in Baltimore.

I would love to see hockey come back to Baltimore! I for one like hockey much more than pro basketball, but I love college basketball! If a new 19,000-20,000 seat arena was built I believe we could persuade one of the under performing teams in the league to consider a move to Baltimore. I live in God forsaken Hagerstown and we have an Ice and sports complex that offers youth hockey leagues along with ice skating. It has defiantly increased the popularity of both sports in this area. Does Baltimore have such a facility? I travel over an hour to see the O's (as sad as they are) and Ravens play and would do so to watch pro hockey!

a 12,000 or 13,000 seat arena doesn't cut it. Baltimore needs a new state-of-the-art arena of at least 19,000 seats to even have a hope of attracting any major league team. Personally, I'd rather see an NBA Team in Baltimore.

Why not get both? Many NBA arenas share with hockey like Wizards Capitols. An arena would be a really good thing for downtown B-More.

It's about the market, a new arena is already assumed in my mind when answering this question. That's obvious, but after that, it's whether we can support the teams. Between those two sports, it's a little more than 80 games. For the NHL, it'll be tough, basketball would be easier.

a 12,000 or 13,000 seat arena doesn't cut it. Baltimore needs a new state-of-the-art arena of at least 19,000 seats to even have a hope of attracting any major league team. Personally, I'd rather see an NBA Team in Baltimore.

I would also prefer an NBA team, but I also think basketball would be much more successful in Baltimore. Baltimore has some of the best highschool basketball players in the country. University of Maryland basketball is tremendously popular. Our neighboring Wizards don't have a tremendously loyal fan base with good attendance only occurring as of late. Finally, Baltimore is a sports town. We need something to fill the gap between baseball and football seasons and basketball is simply more popular than hockey to do so.

Speaking of NBA and Baltimore, Toni Braxton is performing at the All Star game as I type this.

I agree with all of the above - especially Baltimoreguy's take. First, let me say hockey is my #1 so I'd do anything for an NHL team. I'm tired of driving to Philly ten times a year to wath the Flyers.
Anyway,If you look at the history of minor league or what is perceived as "minor league" franchises we've endured here from the 'Jacks to Bandits to the Bayrunners and Thunder (remember them) they were barely even back page news. Even the two time MLL champion Bayhawks relocated to friggin' DC. If a city that breeds lacrosse players can't find a permanent home for a winning team like that then I don't know what chance any minor league sport has here.
I will say that our arena has a lot to do with the demise of a lot of these teams. Christ, the arena is the reason the Bullets left town. I know I'm going on way too long about this, but our embarrasing arena situation drives me nuts. I may be mistaken about this, but I'm pretty sure the Clippers were strongly considered to be absorbed by the NHL around the time the Cleveland Barons were but the league thought our arena was unfit. I don't blame them. So here we are without the Bullets and a possible NHL team because of the Glass Managerie on Baltimore Street. 19,000 SEAT ARENA OR BUST!!!

19,000 SEAT ARENA OR BUST!!!
ATLEAST 19,000. it's a must.;)

yup. its the arena. or lack thereof.

I really dont think an arena is the sole reason why hockey doesnt last in Baltimore. Baltimore just flat-out isnt a hockey town. Washington's franchise survies b/c DC has many more transients and has a much more significant international population. Baltimoreans love their Birds (Os and Ravens) and would love an NBA team, but the NHL should never consider Baltimore as a primary option.

Besides, Baltimore is a MUCH bigger basketball town. Look at the talent. A Baltimore player has helped lead his team to the NCAA title 3 of the 4 years (Maryland, Cuse and UConn). Hell, the ACC and Big East showcase impressive players almost every year.

A new full-service venue is the key to attracting any franchise. THE TIME IS NOW. David Stern really doesnt want Vegas to get a team. The MSA, the BDC and city hall need to keep a watch on whats going on out west. There are a couple of franchises with expiring leases that want new buildings in the coming years.

Baltimore seriously needs another arena. I'm a college basketball fanatic. I'd love to see Baltimore host a sub-regional or regional again. I'd love to see Legg mason or some other high profile, Baltimore-based company sponsor a college basketball tourney a la Washington's BB&T Classic.

I really think the best location was where the Hilton is currently being constructed. maybe something along the waterfront near the stadia.

I think hockey is a dying sport in general. The big question is how in the world such a great basketball city doesn't have an NBA team. It really comes down to the awful arena we have not being good enough for a team, and the city refusing to build a new one unless awarded a team, which the NBA nor a team looking to relocate would ever agree to. It's very sad and frustrating. Having three major sports in this city would be a major boost, especially the NBA and its 41 home games per year during dead winter months.

A study commissioned by the Maryland Stadium Authority concluded that Baltimore could support one more professional sports team. The question is, will it be hockey or basketball? I'd go with basketball over hockey.

Definitely basketball. That would be so awesome.

A brief history lesson is in order here. In the '40's and '50's, the Eastern League Clippers played at Iceland, in what was then Carlin's Park, near present day Mondawmin. This was a wooden rink, and it burned down one snowy night in, I believe, Feb. 1958.

In 1962, the Civic Center opened, and the now AHL Clippers debuted. Remember, in the early to mid '60's, the NHL had only 6 teams and the AHL, with 8 (at the time) was the highest minor league. So, between these 2 leagues, there were only 14 teams...the caliber of play in the AHL then was at least as good as the majority of the NHL today. The Clippers, after the first season, were highly competitive and exciting to watch ( I know..I attended 20-25 games a season during that era). Even if the Clips were, say, the 3rd best team in the AHL, that made them the 9th best team in all of hockeyat the time...imagine the 9th best team in the NHL today...in my opinion they are not as good as the minor league Clippers were back in the day. And they were very well supported...crowds of 7,000-9,000 were common on the weekends, and the Civic Center was second in quality only to Pittsburg's Igloo, and, at the time, the largest arena in minor league hockey. The team was represented by this logo:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/micrip/ClippersDecal.jpg

Three factors led to the eventual demise of hockey in Baltimore. The first was being passed over by the first NHL expansion in the late '60's, due only to the shortcomings of the Civic Center, which were becoming obvious by then. Then the arrival of the Caps in 1974 siphoned a lot of fans away that wanted to see major league hockey.

Finally, there was the ill-fated attempt to join the major leagues with the arrival of the Detroit WHA team, which was renamed the Baltimore Blades, in the middle of the 1976 season. The Clippers were forced to fold. Had we had a better arena, I think the Blades would have been one of the teams that would have been absorbed into the NHL when the two leagues merged.

The Blades did not return for a second season, and the AHL wouldn't take Baltimore back, forcing Baltimore into an even lower minor league. By then the talent was greatly diluted, and Baltimore fans did not want to watch an inferior brand of hockey. Most of the diehard fans had defected to the Capitals by then anyway.

Today, I don't think the Balt/Wash area could support two NHL teams. I'd guess that a significant part of the Caps fan base (maybe around 20%) come from the Baltimore area, and they are hurting at the gate as it is. There is and old saying..."only hockey fans watch hockey" unlike baseball and football, which draw a lot of casual viewers.

^^ Good information.