A member of the American Hockey League's executive council said Tuesday his league is headed to the Cincinnati Gardens.
Tom Ebright, owner of the Portland (Maine) Pirates, said if it's not the Baltimore Bandits, it could possibly be an expansion team or one of the AHL's inactive franchises coming here next season.
League sources continue to say the Bandits are the club earmarked for the Gardens if a financial deal can be put together.
''Whether it's Baltimore or not, I don't know. But we will have something in the Cincinnati Gardens,'' said Ebright, who owned the previous AHL team in Baltimore. ''You can put two and two together (about the Bandits). There have been a lot of conversations.''
With an expansion fee worth $2 million, the Bandits are the Gardens' best buy. There are also suspended franchises from West Palm Beach, Fla., Cornwall, Ont., and Ottawa.
Ebright is confident in a turf war with the International Hockey League's Cincinnati Cyclones.
''There aren't that many desirous cities or buildings left that aren't filled already. So if Cincinnati is going to be a battleground, I feel we can win it,'' Ebright said.
''I don't think we should shirk from going in there. I'm not afraid of going in there. We realize the battle has to take place some time. It might as well be now. I'm one of the owners looking for a fight.''
Gardens vice president Pete Robinson continued to refuse comment Tuesday on any deals.
DAYTON OKs ECHL IN GARDENS Feb. 25, 1997
BALTIMORE GM DENIES GARDENS DEAL Feb. 22, 1997
AHL TEAM READY TO MOVE TO GARDENS Feb. 21, 1997
PAUL DAUGHERTY COLUMN Feb. 21, 1997
