5 replies to this topic

[echl rocks]

The Demonz beat the Dashers 4-2 in front of announced 1400 at Hara Arena last night.

Some observations:

1) Real attendance no more than 800..... Crowd was enthusiastic at goals and fights.

2) Quality of Play......A huge step down from the CHL. Skill sets of players not even close to comparable to CHL/ECHL Dayton teams in any ways. Will take a lot of getting used to for long time Dayton hockey fans.

3) Chippiness of play including fighting, hits, and chirping a positive. Much more than in the CHL. Or ECHL for that matter. The more physical/chippy style of play will resonate more with some fans than the AA style did.

4) Ticket prices were very cheap. Adult prices $7.50/$9.50/$12.50. Kids 12 and under $7.50 anywhere. Parking was free. Pub was open and concessions were the same as they were with the Gems.

5) There was only one Dasher board advertisement. Each corner had an ambulance-chasing law firm's ad. I believe this is part of an Arena arrangement and not the Demonz client. There was one medical company advertised on the ice, along with an apartment complex (almost certainly where the players live) and a travel company (probably the team's bus provider). So, essentially there is no sponsorship revenue for the Demonz at this point of the season.

6) Only between periods entertainment was "chuck-a-puck". A positive from my point of view. lol

7) It would be nice if the teams could wear their own uniforms. Dayton played in Queen City Storm (defunct Cincinnati semi-pro) uniforms. The Dashers played in "Alberta Thunder Junior League" uniforms in which former players names were partially scrubbed off. I'm not kidding. I was told that the Demonz late name change from the Devils was responsible for the delay in securing the Dayton Demonz uniforms. Both teams are owned by Barry Soskin. The organization(s) need(s) to take care of this issue pronto. It just doesn't look good. At all. Especially for a Danville fan given that the team has been around for a year.

With the state of the Dayton economy, the multiple AA hockey failures, and the lack of an adequate facility for AA hockey, the semi pro Demonz are all a Dayton hockey fan can expect to have. I think it's going to be a very tough sell. My hope is that the very low operating costs of an FHL franchise will allow for the survival of the team.

Edited by echl rocks, 28 October 2012 - 03:17 AM.

[Mr Ricochet]

Very nicely written, echlrocks!! After seeing 2 of 3 Finals games a few years back of the precurser to the FHL, I agree with everything you said about the play and the selling points of single A.

No the play is not comparable to AA but is much more grass roots and old time. The quirks like the uniforms you mention give the league and players a bit of flavor and grounding. That sells with some fans, and you don't need that many of them to stay solvent.

I enjoyed the single A games I saw and would support that level if given the chance, and I think many would if they got a look at the game at that level. It's different and in a lot of respects in a good way.

[i-pod]

When Muskegon had single A, I went to almost all the home games. It is very different from any of the other leagues I have watched. But I loved it just because it was like old time hockey. The other thing that always stood out to me was how the players at this level are really just playing for the love of the game, which in my mind is pretty cool!

[echl rocks]

Mr Ricochet, on 28 October 2012 - 08:00 AM, said:

Very nicely written, echlrocks!! After seeing 2 of 3 Finals games a few years back of the precurser to the FHL, I agree with everything you said about the play and the selling points of single A.

No the play is not comparable to AA but is much more grass roots and old time. The quirks like the uniforms you mention give the league and players a bit of flavor and grounding. That sells with some fans, and you don't need that many of them to stay solvent.

I enjoyed the single A games I saw and would support that level if given the chance, and I think many would if they got a look at the game at that level. It's different and in a lot of respects in a good way.

Thanks for the compliment.

There is enough speed in the game for the most part to make it a legitimate product. There were a few times when there were three of four players down on their knees in the slot....reminded me of my high school playing days of many moons ago.lol. In an odd way, I think that the relative lack of skill can make for a more enjoyable game. One facet of the lower level of play is that there were a lot of major defensive breakdowns resulting in odd man rushes. Odd man rushes create more offense and in this day and age of hockey, that's not a bad thing, imo. The casual fan likes goals. 2-1 defensive struggles don't create a lot of opportunities to cheer for goals, so the more wide open style of play as a result of lesser skills may actually have some marketing advantage.

The Demonz organization is EXTREMELY bare bones. There are very few employees so I can't imagine that there will be much of a marketing push. Hopefully there are enough pure hockey fans in Dayton who enjoy the game enough to support a lesser product than they're used to. If the team can average in the 1000-1200 range they can make a go of it, I'm told. With almost all of the games of the weekend, low prices and the long tenure of hockey in Dayton and the large number of people exposed to the game over the past decades, the Demonz have a outside chance of making of go of it primarily due to their cost structure.

I'll attend a few more games in November and December for certain.

Edited by echl rocks, 28 October 2012 - 03:22 PM.

[Drake8]

Interesting read! I'm hoping that Dayton and Danville can hold down the fort in the Midwest averaging 900-1000+ (yes I know that's a long shot haha) until places like PH Flint Bloomington come along. Also found it interesting the FHL has gotten players like Festa Neidert and Hill, they have to be doing something right if CHL and SPHL players are willing to play in the league. It's looking like the league is shifting to more arenas also, hopefully it can continue!

[Timber!!]

I went to a few Blizzard games when they were in Muskegon. They were a far cry from even the IHL2, but they were enjoyable and for $7 for an adult ticket it was far worth it. If we still had a pro A franchise I would be there. Good luck to all of the FHL teams for a successful season.