Canuck Surfer Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I plussed this, for legit reasons! But someone else already mentioned the Wolves of course will retain their own team name. And it lends the real question of how all affiliations will work? First, we do not own the Wolves and only have an agreement to have our contracted prospects play there. Second, and more importantly, are we (like the way that sounds, Aquilinni in reality) buying the Heat or just the arena facility? The article quoted by the OP suggests by extension it would "result in the Vancouver Canucks’ No. 1 farm team, the Chicago Wolves, switched to Abbotsford." That would not be the case. We HAVE an agreement with the Wolves, who own their own team, and we are also not buying the Heat, just the arena where they are locked into a bad lease. Be funny to learn if Aquillinni has the ability to raise the rent on Calgary if they are locked in? I'm being silly; the article should suggest we would negotiate to switch affiliations with Calgary and offer them the Wolves affiliation. Similarly, someone suggested we name the franchise the Wolves. We, again, would not own the team just its arena. Although if they are loosing money rescuing them with their purchase also is probably next in line... But until the Heat themselves are actually purchased, these are all just affiliation agreements, so name changes remain also another domain. Important, the Wolves will play regardless of whether there is an NHL lockout, not all their players have NHL contracts. With only a month before camp, will they appreciate a major planning change such as removing our players and hand picked coach whom they use? Its entirely likely that even if a deal closed on the Abbotsford arena any affiliation would move would happen only next year. So we could continue to support the Flames affiliate in our back door as our best hockey option during a lockout? But that could be great; Aquilinni could as owner of the complex (which probably has hatcheries in its portfolio's) could sponsor egg throwing promotions aimed at all Flame prospects? edit > If all pans out, and kidding aside, I support calling the team the Abbotsford Canucks. It already makes them sound a championship favourite! Leave the name the Abbotsford Wolves. Hell...we have wolves out here in BC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanCityScout Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Hockey Gods!! Make it happen!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 This just occurred to me but if Aquillini actually buys out the arena, then why not keep the Heat and also bring in our prospects and make a new team. It would be like how the LA Lakers and LA Clippers share Staples Center. It could be the Abbotsford Heat and Abbotsford Aviators (hopefully) sharing the arena. It could work out and there would be some great rivalries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TACIC Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I plussed this, for legit reasons! But someone else already mentioned the Wolves of course will retain their own team name. And it lends the real question of how all affiliations will work? First, we do not own the Wolves and only have an agreement to have our contracted prospects play there. Second, and more importantly, are we (like the way that sounds, Aquilinni in reality) buying the Heat or just the arena facility? The article quoted by the OP suggests by extension it would "result in the Vancouver Canucks’ No. 1 farm team, the Chicago Wolves, switched to Abbotsford." That would not be the case. We HAVE an agreement with the Wolves, who own their own team, and we are also not buying the Heat, just the arena where they are locked into a bad lease. Be funny to learn if Aquillinni has the ability to raise the rent on Calgary if they are locked in? I'm being silly; the article should suggest we would negotiate to switch affiliations with Calgary and offer them the Wolves affiliation. Similarly, someone suggested we name the franchise the Wolves. We, again, would not own the team just its arena. Although if they are loosing money rescuing them with their purchase also is probably next in line... But until the Heat themselves are actually purchased, these are all just affiliation agreements, so name changes remain also another domain. Important, the Wolves will play regardless of whether there is an NHL lockout, not all their players have NHL contracts. With only a month before camp, will they appreciate a major planning change such as removing our players and hand picked coach whom they use? Its entirely likely that even if a deal closed on the Abbotsford arena any affiliation would move would happen only next year. So we could continue to support the Flames affiliate in our back door as our best hockey option during a lockout? But that could be great; Aquilinni could as owner of the complex (which probably has hatcheries in its portfolio's) could sponsor egg throwing promotions aimed at all Flame prospects? edit > If all pans out, and kidding aside, I support calling the team the Abbotsford Canucks. It already makes them sound a championship favourite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Frk Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 This was long over due! Bout time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMBUTANS Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Abbotsford Aquilinis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Aquillini is a smart businessman. I'm sure the owners of the Heat and the Mayor of Abbotsford and stuff think that AHL hockey just won't work in Abbotsford, but it will if it's Vancouver's farm team, I would have way more incentive to go and see Vancouver's future than Calgary's future. This would be a fantastic move if it gets done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonz Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 hmmmmm would this hurt rogers arena attendance - half the people at rogers arena are fair weather fans, eating sushi, drinking coffee and texting on the phone i can see the fans in abby being loud beer drinking hockey crazed fans it wont hurt attendance but it might just be a better crowd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHL rocks Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Abbotsford Jr Canucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Your're an idiot i used eat sushi and text on phone (usually its abou hockey). Although i dont drink coffee, does doing these things make me less of a fan? Whats a description of a die hard fan? The one gets super drunk and rowdy and starts riots when the team lose? Anyone can be a fan from lower to upper class citizens. You think Aquilina isnt upper class??? Hes probably eating lobster while watching games lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseBlue Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 how about abbotsford explorers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklax Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 how about abbotsford explorers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancity87 Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Abbotsford Whalers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonberries Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Fraser Valley 'Nuckleheads !! It has a nice ring to it. Yes, I like the sound of it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 What would they call them? I dont think they can remain as the Heat, with their name and colours being directly related to the Flames Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SukhKular Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 What would they call them? I dont think they can remain as the Heat, with their name and colours being directly related to the Flames Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex the Great Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 - No talks between City of Abbotsford and Canucks: Pizzuto - Abbotsford city manager Frank Pizzuto downplayed a Vancouver newspaper report that Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini is interested in buying the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre and stationing the Canucks' AHL affiliate there. He noted the rumour has come up before, but said no talks have taken place. "It's not on the market," he said, referring to the AESC. "I don't know where that comes from." Bringing the Canucks' farm team to Abbotsford would make sense on a number of levels. The Heat are affiliated with the Calgary Flames, one of Vancouver's division rivals, and have struggled at the box office over their three-year history. Attendance has dropped each year, from 3,897 to 3,807 to 3,545 last season. But a team linked to the Canucks would be a better draw. The attendance issues have cost taxpayers, as the Heat have a supply fee agreement with the City of Abbotsford that guarantees the team a break-even budget up to $5.7 million annually. The shortfall was $450,000 in 2009-10, and rose to $1.37 million in 2010-11. Selling the AESC could also make sense from the city's perspective, in that they could lower the debt load on the facility while also eliminating the annual operating deficit. The AESC's projected deficit for 2011 is $2.83 million, which includes $1.7 million for building expenses and $1.1 million earmarked to cover the hockey team's financial shortfall for 2011-12. The team's fiscal year ended in June, and the final numbers are expected next month. But the rumoured transaction would be a complex one. Even if Aquilini were able to strike a deal with the city to buy the arena, he'd have to come to an agreement with the Calgary Flames, the Heat's NHL parent club, and the local operating group, Fraser Valley Sports and Entertainment. The Flames own the franchise, while the FVSE group led by Lane Sweeting holds the AHL board of governors' approval to operate a team in the region. It's worth noting that the Canucks do not own an AHL franchise, and are heading into the second year of a two-year affiliation agreement with the Chicago Wolves. "We have a contract with Calgary, and discussions would have to take place between Vancouver and them," Pizzuto noted. Acquiring a local farm team would further strengthen the Canucks' already-strong brand, while facilitating greater convenience for the team in terms of player recalls and prospect development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmotamed Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 The Abby Pre-Canucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookieCrumbs Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Abbotsford Moose would be incredible, assuming they could purchase the name and logo from Winnipeg. The Moose had some of if not the best jerseys in the AHL. Seeing that reincarnated locally would be great. Another option would be to simply call them the Abbotsford Canucks. They had the Hamilton Canucks for a couple of seasons so I don't see why they couldn't do it again. First choice - Abbotsford Moose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Dangled Out Of The Womb Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 The name's gotta be the Abbotsford Beavers (with or without the 's' on the end...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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