Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Game Day: 9/28/14 @ NJ; Battle on Hamilton Wrapup & More

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Game Day: 9/28/14 @ NJ; Battle on Hamilton Wrapup & More
- bmeltzer

Sounds like the new arena is great. It's nice to have the affiliate so close again...albeit not across the parking lot. Since Allentown is a new market, how do you think they will draw attendance wise? It's a bit of a hike from The city and those folks that would have gone to the Phantoms in South Philly.

Sounds like the new arena is great. It's nice to have the affiliate so close again...albeit not across the parking lot. Since Allentown is a new market, how do you think they will draw attendance wise? It's a bit of a hike from The city and those folks that would have gone to the Phantoms in South Philly.
- section32

I live in Newtown (Bucks County) when away from Texas. It takes me roughly an hour to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly down I-95 and 45 minutes to the Skate Zone in Voorhees. It took me an hour and 10 minutes door-to-door to the PPL Center yesterday. For me, at least, it's not really much of a difference.

For people who live in Philly proper or some of the other suburbs, it is a bit of a hike to Allentown for sure. The population immediately surrounding the arena -- the neighborhood around the, in all honesty, is a bit dodgy -- probably won't be coming to a lot of games. So that remains to be seen.

Last night, the area around the arena was jam packed with people (a legitimate sellout) even two hours before opening faceoff. That mainly had to do with Flyers players being there and the allure of the first hockey event at the new building. Hopefully, it will keep up. I do know that season ticket sales for the first year in the building have been very brisk but the trick is to keep people coming back in future seasons.

I live in Newtown (Bucks County) when away from Texas. It takes me roughly an hour to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly down I-95 and 45 minutes to the Skate Zone in Voorhees. It took me an hour and 10 minutes door-to-door to the PPL Center yesterday. For me, at least, it's not really much of a difference.

For people who live in Philly proper or some of the other suburbs, it is a bit of a hike to Allentown for sure. The population immediately surrounding the arena -- the neighborhood around the, in all honesty, is a bit dodgy -- probably won't be coming to a lot of games. So that remains to be seen.

Last night, the area around the arena was jam packed with people (a legitimate sellout) even two hours before opening faceoff. That mainly had to do with Flyers players being there and the allure of the first hockey event at the new building. Hopefully, it will keep up. I do know that season ticket sales for the first year in the building have been very brisk but the trick is to keep people coming back in future seasons.
- bmeltzer

Whats the parking situation like?

I grew up in the Lehigh Valley. I think hockey can work in Allentown as long as the product is solid. If the Flyers can generally have a competitive team with some potential big time prospects in the line-up like the days of the Spectrum, attendance will not be an issue, IMO. Basically, Hexy has to continue to draft well.

I grew up in the Lehigh Valley. I think hockey can work in Allentown as long as the product is solid. If the Flyers can generally have a competitive team with some potential big time prospects in the line-up like the days of the Spectrum, attendance will not be an issue, IMO. Basically, Hexy has to continue to draft well.
- ravishingone

As a LV native as well, I agree with this. There's a pretty strong hockey culture there and as long as there is a decent team with good prospects, I'm sure ticket sales will be pretty good. It'd be nice if Hamilton Blvd gets revitalized. That area is the worst in Allentown. I still think the area by the Iron Pigs stadium would have been a drastically better location. Politics will be politics though

I live in Newtown (Bucks County) when away from Texas. It takes me roughly an hour to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly down I-95 and 45 minutes to the Skate Zone in Voorhees. It took me an hour and 10 minutes door-to-door to the PPL Center yesterday. For me, at least, it's not really much of a difference.

For people who live in Philly proper or some of the other suburbs, it is a bit of a hike to Allentown for sure. The population immediately surrounding the arena -- the neighborhood around the, in all honesty, is a bit dodgy -- probably won't be coming to a lot of games. So that remains to be seen.

Last night, the area around the arena was jam packed with people (a legitimate sellout) even two hours before opening faceoff. That mainly had to do with Flyers players being there and the allure of the first hockey event at the new building. Hopefully, it will keep up. I do know that season ticket sales for the first year in the building have been very brisk but the trick is to keep people coming back in future seasons.
- bmeltzer

If the team does well, and has family friendly pricing, I think it will do quite well. My wife has family in Wilkes Barre, and the Penguins draw fairly well. If the Flyers commit to having legit prospects on the roster and quality hockey, Allentown will be fine.

Whats the parking situation like?
- BiggE

There is bad news and good news. The bad news is that there no on-site parking and all parking must be done in nearby garages. The city of Allentown controls this, and even team employees have to pay to park each day and there is likewise no free parking for media. The good news is that there are several garages with a couple blocks of the building at 7th and Hamilton and game day parking is $6 (as opposed to $20 at the Wells Fargo Center lots).

As I mentioned before, the neighborhood around the arena is a bit sketchy. However, there was a lot of police presence around the arena (at least last night) and it didn't feel unsafe even 90 minutes after the game ended.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Game Day: 9/28/14 @ NJ; Battle on Hamilton Wrapup & More
- bmeltzer

Re-reading the Acton-Peeters deal made me look up the 1989-90 Flyers. Holy cow.

Re-reading the Acton-Peeters deal made me look up the 1989-90 Flyers. Holy cow.
- Jsaquella

Yeah......

Yeah......
- MBFlyerfan

I knew it was ugly. They actually had a few guys that could score, but their goalies played like poop. Hextall was hurt, and Wregget and Peeters....Oi Vey!

I knew it was ugly. They actually had a few guys that could score, but their goalies played like poop. Hextall was hurt, and Wregget and Peeters....Oi Vey!
- Jsaquella

I remember that year. What a mess. Hexy only played 8 games and then as I remember it, at one point, he played in Hershey for 1 game as conditioning and blew out his groin again.

I live in Newtown (Bucks County) when away from Texas. It takes me roughly an hour to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly down I-95 and 45 minutes to the Skate Zone in Voorhees. It took me an hour and 10 minutes door-to-door to the PPL Center yesterday. For me, at least, it's not really much of a difference.

For people who live in Philly proper or some of the other suburbs, it is a bit of a hike to Allentown for sure. The population immediately surrounding the arena -- the neighborhood around the, in all honesty, is a bit dodgy -- probably won't be coming to a lot of games. So that remains to be seen.

Last night, the area around the arena was jam packed with people (a legitimate sellout) even two hours before opening faceoff. That mainly had to do with Flyers players being there and the allure of the first hockey event at the new building. Hopefully, it will keep up. I do know that season ticket sales for the first year in the building have been very brisk but the trick is to keep people coming back in future seasons.
- bmeltzer

Well, even from Delaware or Chesco the commute is similar. I have family in Allentown so have made the commute from Drlco long before the Blue Route was around. Now that was a hike. It would be great if this new arena was the lynch pin to revitalizing that area.

There is bad news and good news. The bad news is that there no on-site parking and all parking must be done in nearby garages. The city of Allentown controls this, and even team employees have to pay to park each day and there is likewise no free parking for media. The good news is that there are several garages with a couple blocks of the building at 7th and Hamilton and game day parking is $6 (as opposed to $20 at the Wells Fargo Center lots).

As I mentioned before, the neighborhood around the arena is a bit sketchy. However, there was a lot of police presence around the arena (at least last night) and it didn't feel unsafe even 90 minutes after the game ended.
- bmeltzer

Thanks, that's good to know.

I knew it was ugly. They actually had a few guys that could score, but their goalies played like poop. Hextall was hurt, and Wregget and Peeters....Oi Vey!
- Jsaquella

Yeah it was bad. Besides the injuries, the trades of Poulin and Propp really demoralized the team as well. Also yanking the C from Poulin to make Ron Sutter captain was a terrible decision as well.

The problem was that they deluded themselves into thinking that since they reached the conference finals the year before that they were still a contender. What they forgot was that they were only a .500 team during the season and were, even when healthy, not a strong contender.

Yeah it was bad. Besides the injuries, the trades of Poulin and Propp really demoralized the team as well. Also yanking the C from Poulin to make Ron Sutter captain was a terrible decision as well.

The problem was that they deluded themselves into thinking that since they reached the conference finals the year before that they were still a contender. What they forgot was that they were only a .500 team during the season and were, even when healthy, not a strong contender.
- BiggE

Poulin ended up playing with Boston in the SC Finals didn't he?

Even 25 years ago the flyers were circumventing the rules. When is chris pronger playing again or will it be another year on LTIR. What a fraud, yet somehow its the devils who were circumventing the rules with the kovy deal?

Poulin ended up playing with Boston in the SC Finals didn't he?
- Hextall271

Yup, him and Propp both. Propp also, IIRC, played in the finals with Minnesota in 91.

Even 25 years ago the flyers were circumventing the rules. When is chris pronger playing again or will it be another year on LTIR. What a fraud, yet somehow its the devils who were circumventing the rules with the kovy deal?
- devfan30

No more a fraud than Savard in Boston. The rules are ridiculous to start with.

Hey, I can understand your bitterness, must suck having to be a fan of a team that few people care about and even fewer bother to pay to see.

There is bad news and good news. The bad news is that there no on-site parking and all parking must be done in nearby garages. The city of Allentown controls this, and even team employees have to pay to park each day and there is likewise no free parking for media. The good news is that there are several garages with a couple blocks of the building at 7th and Hamilton and game day parking is $6 (as opposed to $20 at the Wells Fargo Center lots).

As I mentioned before, the neighborhood around the arena is a bit sketchy. However, there was a lot of police presence around the arena (at least last night) and it didn't feel unsafe even 90 minutes after the game ended.
- bmeltzer

No on-site parking...sounds like a hassle to me. Doesn't look like there's any public transportation either. Seems like those are two things you'd want for a new stadium.

No more a fraud than Savard in Boston. The rules are ridiculous to start with.

Hey, I can understand your bitterness, must suck having to be a fan of a team that few people care about and even fewer bother to pay to see.
- BiggE

playing in front of sold out crowds sure has helped the flyers in there run to multiple championships?

No more a fraud than Savard in Boston. The rules are ridiculous to start with.

Hey, I can understand your bitterness, must suck having to be a fan of a team that few people care about and even fewer bother to pay to see.
- BiggE

I think he's complaining about two different issues here. The Devils were penalized for structuring a front loaded contract that circumvented the cap and broke rules in the CBA. The LTIR rule was put in so that if a player gets hurt long term, you get cap relief to replace him. The reason Pronger can't retire is that it was an over 35 deal and if he did, it would count against the cap and we'd get no relief. Believe me, if this was circumvention, the league would have punished the Flyers already.

Oh look, one of the three Devils fans the organization has is out and about today.

Oh look, one of the three Devils fans the organization has is out and about today.
- KGBflyers10

Ya know, I really don't like that they didn't let Brodeur stay in the org at least as the backup.. He wanted to get to 700 wins, which to me is not unreasonable, and they sent him packing.

I live in Newtown (Bucks County) when away from Texas. It takes me roughly an hour to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly down I-95 and 45 minutes to the Skate Zone in Voorhees. It took me an hour and 10 minutes door-to-door to the PPL Center yesterday. For me, at least, it's not really much of a difference.

For people who live in Philly proper or some of the other suburbs, it is a bit of a hike to Allentown for sure. The population immediately surrounding the arena -- the neighborhood around the, in all honesty, is a bit dodgy -- probably won't be coming to a lot of games. So that remains to be seen.

Last night, the area around the arena was jam packed with people (a legitimate sellout) even two hours before opening faceoff. That mainly had to do with Flyers players being there and the allure of the first hockey event at the new building. Hopefully, it will keep up. I do know that season ticket sales for the first year in the building have been very brisk but the trick is to keep people coming back in future seasons.
- bmeltzer

i worked in newtown on and off for 5 years. trying to get to the WFC after work can be a female dog. do not miss that ride. at all.

i also lived in emmaus, the town directly southeast of allentown for about 3 years, and agree that the area around hamilton isn't great. it's certainly no worse than the rock in newark and its surroundings. it won't keep the folks from all over the valley attending the games. i suspect attendance will settle in around 5-6,000 most games, which is a pretty good ahl turnout. if i were still living there, i'd certainly have a package and go to 20 some-odd games a year.