The CHL's Missouri Mavericks are launching play this fall in suburban Kansas City, and there's also talk of interest in bringing in an AHL team. But that's not going to happen — and we'll tell you why.
The CHL's Missouri Mavericks are launching play this fall in suburban Kansas City, and there's also talk of interest in bringing in an AHL team. But that's not going to happen — and here's why.
Simply put, there's no financial benefit to having an AHL team play at either Sprint Center or Kemper Arena this year or next year. Why? AEG, which manages the two facilities, is doing quite well and turning a profit on the Sprint Center. Bringing in an AHL team to Sprint Center would not yield too much in additional revenue; it would also require AEG to give up some of those desirable weekend dates. The AHL would be a secondary tenant, with AEG sucking up most of the revenue streams. This is why no one has seriously sought an AHL franchise for Kansas City, and why no one will.
So, for now, hockey fans in Kansas City will need to make do with the Missouri Mavericks of the CHL, playing at the 5,800-seat Independence Events Center.
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