No Go in Beaumont

Batdog · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: No Go in Beaumont

Breaking News: No Hockey This Year at Ford Arena
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Scott Lawrence
May 28, 2008 - 1:40PM
Del.icio.us | Digg | Print Story | E-Mail Story | Font Size KFDM News has learned there won't be a hockey team playing at Ford Arena this year, but SMG General Manager John Hughes says the owner of the Austin Ice Bats is still intent on finding a local investor and fielding a team in Beaumont for the 2009 season.

In March, the owner of the Texas Wildcatters announced he was moving the team to Ontario, California.

The owner of the Austin Ice Bats, Randy Sanders, wants to move his team, and he visited with SMG officials several weeks ago and said he was trying to find a local investor to help him find a home in Beaumont for his hockey team.

But SMG General Manager John Hughes says it won't happen this year.

"We're not going to have hockey in Ford Arena this year," Hughes told KFDM News in a telephone conversation Wednesday afternoon.

"I spoke with Randy Sanders late Wednesday morning, and he told me the Ice Bats will sit out the season. It wasn't a matter of terms. It's just he was unsuccessful in the time frame he had, which was a month, in finding a local investor."

Hughes says he'll talk with Sanders in the near future.

"He expects to be back in Beaumont in the next few weeks to look for a local investor so he might do something here in the 2009 hockey season."

Despite the loss of hockey, Hughes says Ford Arena is in good shape for the coming weeks and months.

"We have a lot of activities going on at Ford Arena and Ford Park, " said Hughes. "We wanted to have hockey, but it wasn't just about filling event days - we don't want to lose money. We won't have the utility costs and other costs associated with hockey. We have other things in the pipeline. We still have events filling a majority of those days."

http://www.kfdm.com/news/year_26229___article.html/arena_ford.html
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verylowpriority · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

Big surprise there, huh?
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NHrow7 (1996-2006)

**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

Maybe the players will finally get released then and be able to figure out what they'll be doing in October.
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I'm not judging you.
I just think you're stupid.

backupgoalie · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject:

Looks like the Austin Icebats are back. Just no place to play. Other than that it's all good. Wouldn't it be funny if the Cedar Park deal querred and the Bats could save the day and have a place to play. I know "I have a dream" but one can hope.

SinD · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

verylowpriority · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject:

The Giddings Giddy-ups? (Or the Giddings Juvenile Delinquents?) How about the Brenham Ice Creamers?
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NHrow7 (1996-2006)

verylowpriority · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

**dfwbat** · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1184

The Brenham Blue(line) Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Sundaes with Chocolate-covered Ice Bats....
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Ornery · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject:

batfan43 · Two for holding Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 23

According to my daughter-in-law (who lives right near the site) ground breaking started today on the Cedar Park site.

verylowpriority · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: ground broken

zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

From the DMN:

Regarding the minor league affiliate, [Les Jackson] believes Austin will be up and running for 2009-10, so it appears the Stars will split up their AHL prospects for next season.