NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — The ownership group of the Central Hockey League’s 17th franchise has been named. The group will be led by twin brothers Mark and Mike Adams of Lubbock, Texas, the former owners of the now defunct Lubbock Cotton Kings franchise. The Cotton Kings suspended operations after the 2006-07 season after the team failed to reach an agreement with the city of Lubbock for use of City Bank Coliseum.
Former Oklahoma City Blazers executive Brad Lund has been tapped to be the President of the new franchise. Lund served as general manager, president and CEO of the Blazers for the last 16 seasons before leaving the organization last November.
“When I came up here, I saw this arena, and I thought this the best opportunity for a minor-league hockey franchise that I have ever seen,” Lund told The Examiner, a local newspaper. “I have seen a lot of arenas around the country, and this one is on another level. I think this is going to turn this community upside down and people here are going to get excited.”
Lund will be joined by former Wichita Wings and Topeka Scarecrows play-by-play announcer Bob Rennison. Rennison, an Independence resident, has been credited with laying the ground work for the new franchise by putting together city officials and officials at Global Entertainment, owners of the Central Hockey League, who were looking to expand their roster of facilities and related-tenants.
The new franchise is planning on utilizing temporary office space until construction of the new Independence Events Center is completed. A tentative home opener has been scheduled for November 13-14th, 2009.
Lund is planning on a public mascot naming contest and is looking for a team name appropriate to Independence and the Kansas City region.
The new team is expected to be named to the CHL’s Northern Conference after a re-alignment of divisions at the league’s summer conference, to be held June 4-6th in Chandler, Arizona.
A lease agreement is being negotiated between the city, Global Entertainment and Lund, and may be formalized at the Independence City Council meeting, as soon as April 6.
The ownership of another CHL expansion franchise in Allen, Texas is expected to be announced before months’ end.
Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.