Save AHL Hockey in Worcester

AND:

AHL Board of Governors
Worcester Mayor Timothy Murray
Worcester City Manager Michael OBrien
Worcester City Council
Worcester City Solicitor David Moore
Sandy Dunn, General Manager DCU Center
Don Stirling, President and CEO of Massachusetts Sports and Entertainment Commission

We, the undersigned fans of the American Hockey League, would like to encourage all parties involved to begin negotiations in bringing a new franchise to Worcester, Massachusetts for the 2005-2006 season.
At the end of the 2004-05 hockey season, the Worcester IceCats franchise will move to Peoria, Ill. The Icecats have been in Worcester for 11 seasons, and are the seventh oldest team in the American Hockey League. The city and SMG has recently invested many dollars into upgrading the DCU Center. A new video scoreboard which can generate fan participation (as well as revenue), and upgrades to concessions are scheduled soon. Since the IceCats came to Worcester 11 years ago, jobs have been created (office, retail, restaurant, DCU Center (formerly Worcester Centrum Centre), as well as added revevue for the city of Worcester due to the forty plus dates which the IceCats generate. If the city loses their team, this will all be lost. The IceCats have also contributed over $100,000 to local organizations in 2003-2004 alone, and the booster club has contributed tens of thousands of dollars over the years to local groups. The organization and players have done great work in the community going to schools, libraries, hospitals, and other charity event. Children are getting the opportunity to meet future NHL superstars, not to mention the IceCats help out many of the youth hockey teams in Worcester County.

We are also asking that the St. Louis Blues turn all copyrights, trademarks, logos, colors, season ticket info (including seating assignments), and corporate partner info over to the city of Worcester until an owner can be found. People see Scratch (the mascot) and they think Worcester.
We are asking that SMG (managing company of the DCU Center), be more flexible and imaginative in reducing costs associated with rent and ticket prices, and to work with prospective owners, the AHL, and the city in achieving this goal.

In a poll conducted in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette November 2004:

How should Worcester replace the IceCats? (2363 votes)
More AHL Hockey 48.7\%
Arena Football 6.1\%
Baseball 16.9\%
All 3 19.7\%
Nothing 8.7\%

We have not lost our faith. We believe not only that Worcester can support an AHL team, but that both the AHL and Worcester need each other. Having an AHL team in Worcester will help with the continuing revitalizaion of Worcester, and would give people a reason to travel here and spread their money in the community. If Worcester loses it's AHL hockey, it will not only be the fans from Worcester Country who lose out, but AHL fans throughout the Northeast. Worcester is right in the center of all the Northeast franchises. Worcester has eight AHL teams within a two hour drive, which means strong rivalries have (and can) be built up. Travel for the other AHL teams are lower as a result. Rivalries in such proximity means business and commerce for all associated teams, not just for Worcester. Without Worcester, other New England teams will be losing out on business as well.
Were asking for an immediate start on negotiations to bring AHL hockey back to Worcester for 2005-2006. I hope we can count on your support to help us 'Save Our Hockey', in Worcester. Thank you for your time and consideration.