The Return of The IceGators?

[RCAJUN90]

_ A win-win if you ask me. One question though. Would UL have to pay the initial cost to turn blackham into a hockey rink. I dont know the cost, but im sure it isnt cheap. As a former player, i know that alot goes into it. _

Anyone has Ron Handy's e-mail? It is no longer on the Ragin Cajun website. I bet he could fill us in. I'm real excited about the prospect of Blackham turning into a hockey arena for the Cajuns and the new pro team. It think it would be awesome.

[RiverRanchMan]

http://www.theind.com/content/view/4149/54/

Pay attention to the date of the article.

[Zeebart21]

Maybe we can get Eric Cloutier to run Lafayette operations.

[jimbo]

_ Maybe we can get Eric Cloutier to run Lafayette operations. _

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! NICE!!!!

[CajunRed]

That's all we need... the Icegator-retreads! I, for one, haven't missed them and don't look forward to a second go round.

[RCAJUN90]

_ That's all we need... the Icegator-retreads! I, for one, haven't missed them and don't look forward to a second go round. _

Yea that would be terrible for the folks in Lafayette to have more entertainment options in the Winter and Spring. It would also be horrible for UL to collect some revenue from Blackham. I take it you don't like hockey. Not a problem. I hate baseball and don't even ask me about soccer. However the IceGators proved there is a market in Acadiana for hockey and think it would be awesome for the Cajuns, the new pro team and the folks that live in Acadiana.

[Cajunsmike]

Yea that would be terrible for the folks in Lafayette to have more entertainment options in the Winter and Spring. It would also be horrible for UL to collect some revenue from Blackham. I take it you don't like hockey. Not a problem. I hate baseball and don't even ask me about soccer. However the IceGators proved there is a market in Acadiana for hockey and think it would be awesome for the Cajuns, the new pro team and the folks that live in Acadiana.

People who have reservations about them just don't want hockey to take away from the Cajun sports.

[CajunCanaille]

_ Yea that would be terrible for the folks in Lafayette to have more entertainment options in the Winter and Spring. It would also be horrible for UL to collect some revenue from Blackham. I take it you don't like hockey. Not a problem. I hate baseball and don't even ask me about soccer. However the IceGators proved there is a market in Acadiana for hockey and think it would be awesome for the Cajuns, the new pro team and the folks that live in Acadiana. _

I don't think it would be all that great for the Cajuns due to the possibility of people spending their money on hockey season tickets as oposed to Louisiana season tickets.

[RCAJUN90]

_ I don't think it would be all that great for the Cajuns due to the possibility of people spending their money on hockey season tickets as oposed to Louisiana season tickets. _

I don't think you would see the mania of the IceGators. I believe you would be drawing from fans that really get into basketball. It would provide revenue to UL and give this team a chance to grow. http://ragincajunshockey.com/

[UL_Cajuns]

_ They should make Blackham the full time arena for Hockey if it returns. This building is pretty much unused and this would be perfect. It's a good size arena for them too. Together the Icegators and I'm sure the short lived Mudbuggs can renovate it a bit. _

I'm Glad they are not playing in the cajun dome.

[keithj]

If you've seen me around these parts, then you know what kind of a hockey fan I am. Especially with the Gators. Coming to the games in the mid and late nineties is what sold me into coming to school here in Lafayette, otherwise I would have been heading off to either LSU or LA Tech. Needless to say I was sad to see them go. I was a little relieved to see Ron put together an ice hockey team here and have been hoping and praying to see more hockey in this town ever since.

[Membertou]

The IceGators were fun while they lasted. They were the also the best thing that ever happened to the CajunDome. They brought much needed revenue for a period of years, and contributed to most improvements made at the arena during its existence. Since they've been gone, the CajunDome has fallen on major hard times. And, its only getting worse now that they have to collect sales tax. Unresolved maintenance issues will start showing soon in a major way.

[RCAJUN90]

_ The IceGators were fun while they lasted. They were the also the best thing that ever happened to the CajunDome. They brought much needed revenue for a period of years, and contributed to most improvements made at the arena during its existence. Since they've been gone, the CajunDome has fallen on major hard times. And, its only getting worse now that they have to collect sales tax. Unresolved maintenance issues will start showing soon in a major way. _

This seems like a win win for everyone. Blackham would produce some revenue and the Cajun team would get a better venue. The Cajundome was high end for the ECHL and in fact I argued they should have applied for the AHL and they might still be around. If Cajun basketball can step up to fill the the Cajundome and Blackham is rocking then all will be well for the spring sports at UL and Acadiana fans will be happy.

[billbeck451]

if biloxi joins I hope there are more teams left than in the echl. It seemed like the Sea wolves played the same 3 or 4 teams all season long this year

[wcd35]

_ if biloxi joins I hope there are more teams left than in the echl. It seemed like the Sea wolves played the same 3 or 4 teams all season long this year _

I doubt it. The ECHL has 22 teams but they are spread out over the country so teams around here play regional matchups. This new league is based in the south so they probably wont have more teams, but may play more different teams since they are all closer. Sea Wolves have suspended operations for next year, maybe this cheaper league will be what it takes end ECHL operations permanently.