Cincinnati Cyclones Discussion

[Cincykidbc1]

Good news for Hockey fans. But I can't help but think it's better for everyone if the whole RAILRAIDERS idea is nixed and the Cyclones move back to THE GARDENS. But seeing that U.S. BANK ARENA/NEDERLANDER own the Cyclones this would probably never happen. So how about just forget the whole RAILRAIDERS thing, and maybe attendance for the Cyclones games will get back to the way they used to be. Wishful thinking I know.

Professional Hockey Officially Returns To Cincinnati
Date: April 20, 2006

Cincinnati, OH –U.S. Bank Arena proudly announces that after suspending operations the past two seasons, the Cincinnati Cyclones will participate in the 2006-2007 ECHL season.

The team will rejoin the ECHL’s American North Division. The upcoming season will be the Cyclones fourteenth overall season. The team originated in 1990 as part of the ECHL before moving to the IHL in 1992. The Cyclones returned to the ECHL in 2001.

Season tickets are on sale now. Prices for the 36 game home season are: VIP Seats located within the first 2 rows from the ice $720, neutral zone seats (straightaways) $540, & endzones are $360. Half season packages are also available for $360, $270, and $180 respectably. Single game tickets will cost $22.50, $17.00, & $12.00 and will be available at a later date. Season tickets can be ordered by calling 513-421-PUCK (7825). More information on season ticket packages is available at www.cycloneshockey.com.

“It is our distinct pleasure to bring hockey back to Cincinnati,” said U.S. Bank Arena/Nederlander Chief Financial Officer Ray Harris. “We have been working on bringing back the Cyclones for months and are excited to see our hard work come to fruition. We feel strongly that Cincinnati will support this team. We are dedicated to bringing the people of Cincinnati a great product come October.”

“We are thrilled to have Cincinnati back in the ECHL,” commented ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna. “We see Cincinnati as a vital part of the league’s success and we share the organizations feelings that the community will support this team. The Cyclones history combined with a first class facility such as U.S. Bank Arena should make for a great season of hockey and a great future for Cincinnati hockey and the ECHL.”

http://www.cycloneshockey.com/news_data.php?article=00001

[Cincinnatus]

YES!!! This is great news!

[buildingcincinnati]

Fantastic!  I agree about the arena, though.  It's just way too big for ECHL hockey.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Sweet, I can go see them play the Ice Dogs at the Long Beach Arena!

[the pope]

I remember when the cyclones used to play the detroit vipers in the old IHL.......

[Buckeye Native 001]

I remember watching them play at the Gardens way back in the early 90s.  Its one of the reasons I love minor league hockey and have never gotten into the NHL.

[buildingcincinnati]

From the 5/26/06 Enquirer:

Weber new coach of Cyclones
Hiring latest step in rebuilding team
BY COLLEEN KANE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Cincinnati Cyclones took another step toward bringing minor-league hockey back to the area Thursday when the rebuilding East Coast Hockey League organization announced the hiring of Chuck Weber as coach.  It is the first head coaching job for Weber, a Lockport, N.Y., native who has spent seven years as a minor-league assistant in the ECHL, American Hockey League and the International Hockey League.  Most recently, he was the assistant coach and assistant director of hockey operations for the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies.

Brian McKenna, the ECHL commissioner, and Ray Harris, the chief financial officer for Cyclones owner Nederlander Entertainment, joined some area hockey fans in welcoming Weber at the press conference at U.S. Bank Arena, where the team will play next season.  The Cyclones are returning after a two-year hiatus and will be the only pro hockey team in town next season after the AHL's Cincinnati RailRaiders franchise, formerly the Mighty Ducks, failed to secure the 2,000 season ticket deposits it needed to secure a team for a 2006-07 season.  The two organizations co-existed from 1997 to 2004.

Full article at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060526/SPT/605260434/-1/rss

[Cincykidbc1]

Holy stinky sh!t, has anyone noticed the ticket prices?
I mean this is the ECHL and not the NHL.
This is exactly why they should play at the Gardens.
Don't get me wrong, I'll go to a few games but there won't be any big family outings.
Take a look for yourselves. Maybe I'm over exaggerating.


http://www.cycloneshockey.com/tickets_season.shtml#

[dfly]

It looks like the ticket prices are pretty much on par with the Dayton Bombers...but then again, no one seems to go to Bombers games since they left Hara. 

[UncleRando]

Cyclones, Montreal team up
BY RYAN ERNST | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Cincinnati’s latest run at maintaining a professional hockey franchise will get a little help from the most successful franchise in professional hockey history.  The Cincinnati Cyclones, returning to U.S. Bank Arena after a two-year absence, this season will be a minor league affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.  The teams announced the agreement at a Tuesday press conference.

The Cyclones’ return to the ECHL will mark the first professional hockey season in Cincinnati since 2004-05, when the Mighty Ducks lost their NHL affiliation with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.  The Canadiens, winners of a record 24 Stanley Cups, previously held an ECHL affiliation with the Long Beach Ice Dogs.  Julien BriseBois, the team’s director of hockey operations, said it was important for the team to secure an affiliation closer to Montreal and to its top affiliate – the Hamilton (Ontario) Bulldogs.

Full article at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060719/SPT/607190412/1078/rss12

[UncleRando]

Cyclones skate by at bottom of list for hockey attendance
BY STEVE WATKINS | SWATKINS@BIZJOURNALS.COM
April 20, 2007

CINCINNATI - The presence of just one pro hockey team in Cincinnati hasn't worked out so far.  The Cincinnati Cyclones finished last in the 25-team ECHL in attendance, despite fielding a team that made the playoffs.  The Cyclones drew just 1,844 per game, or 66,396 for the 36 home games in the regular season, which ended April 6.  The league, two notches below the National Hockey League, averaged 4,170 fans per game.

For seven years through 2004, Cincinnati had two minor-league hockey teams.  The Cyclones then went on hiatus for two season. The Mighty Ducks, of the higher-level American Hockey League, played one more season at Cincinnati Gardens before losing its NHL affiliate.  Owner Pete Robinson tried but failed to bring in a new AHL team.

[unusualfire]

Another reason is exposure. Local sports news run highlights of The NBA before they even talk about the Cyclone's. IF they lead off with the Cyclone's first , it would be in a much better position.

[thomasbw]

Lower concession prices. 

[UncleRando]

Cincinnati Cyclones slash ticket prices
January 28, 2008 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

DOWNTOWN - Minor league hockey team the Cincinnati Cyclones is offering fans a bargain on tickets in February and March.  The team, part of the ECHL League, said Monday that ticket prices will continue at $10 a seat, beginning with the Wednesday game against the Charlotte (N.C.) Checkers.  The team began discounting seats in January to boost attendance

Prices will remain at $22.50 for VIP tickets, which include the first two rows of seating in the U.S. Bank Arena.  A discounted price of $8 per seat for groups of 30 or more are also available.  The Cyclones are 28-11-0 in league play, with attendance averaging 4,200 for January home games.

[airforce_jm]

The cyclones are having a great year! 35-11-0 with 10 straight wins so far. They just beat the bombers 3-2 tonight.

[jmecklenborg]

Who remembers when the Gardens used to sell out regularly for The Cyclones?  10,000 people every weekend night game, $6 to get in.  People don't want to spend $50 to take their family out and Riverfront Coliseum sucks for hockey. 

[airforce_jm]

The Cyclones have won 17 in a row, the longest winning streak in ECHL history!

[Cincinnatus]

The Cyclones have won 17 in a row, the longest winning streak in ECHL history!

The sad part is ... is that the other cities' paper is giving this more thought than our own local newspaper.

[airforce_jm]

Hardly anyone in my area has even heard of the Cyclones. If they continue to be a dominant team in the ECHL, i'm sure they will become more well known. They are Cincinnati's little ray of light in sports right now lol. 

[CWMccann18]

Fans Trade Chad For Cyclones Tickets
April 30, 2008
By Shannon Russell
Cincinnati Enquirer

CINCINNATI - A steady stream of Bengals fans entered Koch’s Sporting Goods downtown at noon today to pay their disrespects to the The Player Formerly Known As Chad.  Each carried with him a JOHNSON 85 jersey, and a cathartic need to get rid of it.

The jersey could have been kindling. It could have been a doormat. They wouldn’t have cared. The fact that fans could exchange the nylon keepsake for two tickets to a Cyclones playoff game was a bonus, icing on the cake of betrayal. As fan David Minnis explained, “Chad took the heart of Cincinnati and crushed it.’’

What you do is forget the lousy behavior and go on loving the game. Occasionally, you exorcise a demon by exchanging a JOHNSON 85 jersey for a couple minor league hockey tickets.

More at http://www.enquirer.com

[oakiehigh]

Tied the series up 2-2 last night.     Was anyone there?

Curious to know what the attendance was.

[CWMccann18]

I'm going to try and go to the Saturday game if I can find somebody else to go.

[UncleRando]

I've been wanting to go, but I never get around to it...it surely doesn't help that the Cyclones get like zero coverage locally.  This makes it quite easy to lose track of what's going on and when/where/who they're playing.

[airforce_jm]

The Cyclones are down 2-3 in the series after the 1-0 loss last night. Isn't the game in Reading on sat??

[CWMccann18]

Yeah, they don't play in Cincy again until Monday so I guess I won't be going to either one now.

[CWMccann18]

Does anybody know if the Cyclones are winning. I don't pick up 96 Rock where I live and I no longer have TV 

[CWMccann18]

Cyclones Headed To American Conference Finals!

Date: Monday, May 5, 2008

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Cyclones advanced to the American Conference Finals with a 6-1 win over Reading Monday night in the seventh game of the best of seven series. Jason Deitsch and Mathieu Aubin each scored a goal and had tow assists to pace the offense. Cedrick Desjardins stopped 30 shots in taking the win.

The five goal margin was the most lopsided victory in a seventh game in the 20 year history of the ECHL. There was no scoring in the first period, as the teams each ended with 15 shots on goal in the frame. For the first time in the Kelly Cup playoffs the Cyclones exploded for four goals in a period in opening a 4-0 edge.

More at http://www.enquirer.com

[airforce_jm]

Thanks for the update, I was starting to worry.

[Cincinnatus]

Where's the next game? In Cincy?

[airforce_jm]

If i'm not mistaken they play the first 2 games against SC at home Fri and Sat.