Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver and Jim Calpin, president of Paramount Sports Services, met to sign an agreement during a news conference at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. The agreement authorizes Calpin to bring together an interested ownership group and ice hockey franchise that would be housed in the Civic Center.
Calpin has worked for teams in the United States Hockey League and ECHL, and he has extensive knowledge and connections in the field. Paramount Sports Services is his sports consulting firm, which provides comprehensive services for the business operations of sports franchises.
He’s also familiar with the Delmarva region.
“With regards to looking at the community and looking at the demographic numbers, I feel that it’d be a very, very good fit to have hockey here in this arena,” Calpin said.
This first step in the process comes at no cost to the County. Next steps include finding an appropriate league and an ownership group that would call the Civic Center home and obtaining necessary funding to make building improvements.
Some improvements to the building have already been made. Culver spoke of the Civic Center’s recent progress, including renovations such as new arena seats, painting and floor replacement. The Civic Center also started selling beer and wine in mid-November.
Calpin mentioned two leagues that are on his radar: the Southern Professional Hockey League and the ECHL. Calpin noted that a team could play at the Civic Center as early as October 2018 or possibly 2019 depending on the timing of funding and building improvements that would need to come together.
The ice rink could be used for more than just minor league hockey, including events such as public skates or programs for children.
“We’ll be able to develop youth leagues,” Culver said.
Culver said ice hockey would be an additional asset to the Civic Center – bringing additional nights of events – and would not take away from existing types of entertainment.
“We want to make this a community thing,” he said.
Pictured: Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver and Jim Calpin, president of Paramount Sports Services
34 comments:
How much of my Worcester County real estate taxes paid for this decision? Not to mention State of MD.......
What a HUGE waste of tax payer money. Nothing is free except for Obamacare.
It's wicomico county so none of your Worcester taxes were used. In that same vein, how much of my wicomi taxes is used to continually expand the Roland Powell convention center? Get with the program 1:36
As person that attended numerous minor league hockey games in the 1960s in Kansas City, I would have no hesitation attend them here in Salisbury today.
Contrary to what the poo pooers are saying above, minor league hockey is low budget entertainment. This aint like spending a billion dollars the lure in a NFL or MLB franchise.
Sand Box John
This is a freakin joke. I'm an ice hockey fan. Watch it on T.V. But I'm not going to pay to see minor league hockey in Salisbury.
They might sell tickets to a minor league basketball team. That is what would entertain the venue of people they are looking for. Or more WWE wrestling. Plus you'll need lots of Security if the fools are selling alcohol.
Ice Hockey is more a white collar sport now. This town is not going to buy into it. I used to sell sports cards. I had to Throw away hockey cards. Most people, with any knowledge of hockey, 99 percent of them have heard of one hockey player. Wayne Gretzky. People here cold care less.
This is a white elephant, and one of the many reasons I'd never vote for Bob Culver again.
Sounds like RAAD "retirees against any development" or for that matter anything don't want no progress to come here afraid more traffic and development will happen,just keep the slum life.
How are they going to keep the hood rats out? Ever been to the public pool in Cambridge?
I like hockey. Follow, after a fashion, one of the NHL clubs.
But spending money to put in a rink and its associated refrigeration costs with the naive assumption that selling a few beers will pay for it is pie in the sky.
Lot of folks play/played baseball and softball - ergo the Shorebirds fit, and draw some OC visitors.
Lots of folks shoot hoops, so a minor league basketball team might have some traction.
But about zero percent of our locals play hockey, and those who actively follow the NHL watch TV or head to DC, Philly, etc to watch. And hockey's season has very little overlap with the beach.
Prove me wrong, but from the pockets of the owners and not the county.
2:33, the only joke here is you.
As a fan of hockey, I realize it is more than just the NHL, but it is college, club level and rec hockey as well. I am sorry you were so immature that you threw away your cards. A fan would never do that, because the card holds more than a monetary value to a fan.
White collar sport? What are you talking about? Seriously, you obviously do not care for Culver and that is okay, but to assume the county or the area will not appreciate this, well...we all know what assuming does.
I am looking forward to this, hoping that it comes to fruition.
You used to sell cardboard.
Ask 10 kids in grade school, most will know who Ovi and Crosby are. Most kids these days don't remember Gretzky. Hell, most would recognize his daughter before him.
@2:58. These people have nothing better to do than Bitch and moan all day about EVERYTHING.
2:58 no it sounds like the people that pay the most in taxes want their money spent the way they want. No one cares about ice hockey here ask 100 WORKING people about ice hockey and you will find out just how much no one cares about it unless you're from D.C. and nothing that comes out of Washington DC is any good.
Awesome!! I can't wait. Fun stuff. Hockey is great. That facility in Easton prob get bent out tho , carousel too
Anonymous said...
I like hockey. Follow, after a fashion, one of the NHL clubs.
But spending money to put in a rink and its associated refrigeration costs with the naive assumption that selling a few beers will pay for it is pie in the sky.
Lot of folks play/played baseball and softball - ergo the Shorebirds fit, and draw some OC visitors.
Lots of folks shoot hoops, so a minor league basketball team might have some traction.
But about zero percent of our locals play hockey, and those who actively follow the NHL watch TV or head to DC, Philly, etc to watch. And hockey's season has very little overlap with the beach.
Prove me wrong, but from the pockets of the owners and not the county.
March 31, 2017 at 3:43 PM
Agreed!!
Baseball is America's sport and we can hardly fill the Shorebirds stadium. Most people on the Eastern Shore don't know anything about hockey and you think there will be enough interest to support a minor league hockey team. Only an idiot will support that idea.
Anonymous said...
2:58 no it sounds like the people that pay the most in taxes want their money spent the way they want. No one cares about ice hockey here ask 100 WORKING people about ice hockey and you will find out just how much no one cares about it unless you're from D.C. and nothing that comes out of Washington DC is any good.
March 31, 2017 at 5:09 PM
I know many people in Wicomico County and I don't know anyone that wants to watch ice hockey at the Civic Center.
I love hockey!! I have been here in Wicomico County since 1989 and have not met hockey fans. I still try and get people to learn the game because it is the most exciting of the 4 major sports. People complain they can't follow the game, and yes can be difficult on TV until you learn the sport. But seeing hockey live is awesome and easier to learn. I really hope hockey does come. I will be 1st in line to get a ticket! The only problem I see is that the team that comes would have to have some kind of connection to either the Caps or Flyers ( GO CAPS!)
Theres zero chance they get into the ECHL. Even though its expanding to 30 teams the Civic Center would be by far the smallest venue in the league. Theres a team in Norfolk that plays in the Norfolk Scope for instance.The smallest Venue is in Elmira NY and it seats 4,000. No way a team here would be competitive financially. Same thing goes for the Southern league which only has 10 teams but its smallest venue is 6000 seats in Huntsville AL.
I don't think there would be enough sustained interest in ice hockey to make it a viable option in this area.
Taxation without citizen consent.
Let's go - bring it on - thanks Mr. Culver! I can't wait for hockey to be in Salisbury!
the more things change the more they stay the same
we'll and spend, spend spend doing so
Minor means small, small means less money. Culver needs to quit listening to Strasberg and start managing the county.
Start a street hockey team and see if there is interest in the community first. I will try out for the team.
I was just thinking that. Then again, I was thinking. Amazing how that thinking thing actually works.
Might work with The New Math
Bring the hockey team and the opportunity for a youth league.. I would buy season tickets and sign up 3 kids for the youth league. I know plenty of other parents that feel the same way. Why is everyone around here always so scared of something new or different??
Great maybe I'll get a raise now!
Can't wait to get lickerd up and go see some ice bangin!
I am not a hockey fan or know anything about it but I happened to attend a girls fast pitch softball game at the Naylor Mill sports complex today and the park and fields was in excellent shape.Just seeing that fresh white lime on the perfectly groomed field along with super green outfield grass brings in spring with a bang.The grounds and byways were clean with no trash and concessions employees were cordial and helpful.I am from Delaware and this has to been one of the best places to play softball in the Mid Atlantic.
There are quite a few very talented kids, who play hockey, from the local area. Right now, they travel to Easton, Harrington or Newark DE. to play. Salisbury University has a club team that travels to Harrington for practice and games.
Billy? Is that you?
And the civic center holds roughly 5,100 your point is now void
Just a pipe dream for a handful of bureaucrats. Doomed to fail, but not before wasting lots of taxpayer money.
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