The East Coast Hockey League and the owner of its Dayton franchise said Monday they are willing to drop the league's 50-mile block so they can consider putting a Double-A team in Cincinnati Gardens next season.
''I'd have to say we're still in the evaluation process of different leagues,'' said Pete Robinson, Gardens vice president.
But indications from the Triple-A American Hockey League are that the Gardens is on the verge of signing with one of its teams, most likely the Baltimore Bandits if a deal can be structured.
After the International Hockey League Cyclones announced two weeks ago they were leaving the Gardens for a refurbished Riverfront Coliseum next season, Gardens President Jerry Robinson said he had a deal to bring in a team he can't name until March.
''Under certain conditions, I would have to approve of the East Coast League going in there and I don't know what the conditions would be,'' said Bud Gingher, the Dayton Bombers owner who has previously nixed lifting the 50-mile territorial rule.
Gingher, an ally of Cyclones owner Doug Kirchhofer, said he has no desire to move his team to the Gardens. It's believed the Cyclones would prefer going against
the ECHL than the AHL, but Kirchhofer had no comment on a second team in town.
''It's too premature,'' Kirchhofer said.
Rick Adams, ECHL president, said a 50-mile block isn't automatic.
''We're trying to be flexible,'' Adams said. ''When the Cyclones started (in 1990), Cincinnati was a very successful franchise for the East Coast League.''
The Robinsons won't say it's too little too late, but they are keeping their options open. If a deal can't get done with the Bandits, it could be because of finances. ''We will not take on anyone else's debt,'' Pete Robinson said. ''We're going to start clear and free.''
BALTIMORE GM DENIES GARDENS DEAL Feb. 22, 1997
AHL TEAM READY TO MOVE TO GARDENS Feb. 21, 1997
PAUL DAUGHERTY COLUMN Feb. 21, 1997
