Mike Griffith: Condors interested in bringing All-Star Game to Bakersfield
| Wednesday, Jan 13 2010 11:35 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Jan 13 2010 11:45 PM
The Condors will put on an all-out blitz at the ECHL All-Star Game in Ontario next week.
Four players will represent the Condors on the ice for the National Conference and coach Marty Raymond will join Idaho coach Derek Laxdal behind the bench but the real presence will come from the front office.
About a dozen front-office personnel, including team president Matthew Riley, will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Ontario to assess the feasibility of bringing the show to Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Perhaps as early as next year.
"We've been here 12 years, have a first-class facility and we're among the league leaders in attendance and promotions," Riley said. "We're taking a careful look into how things go in Ontario. We have a majority of our staff going down to observe, stand in the shadows, if you will."
Counting the game in Ontario, the All-Star event has been held in Western cities four of the past five years. It was held in Reading, Penn. in 2005, then went to Fresno, Boise, Idaho and Stockton before heading back to Reading last year.
Riley said no location as been set for next year's game.
"Ideally, you'd probably like it to go back and forth (from East to West)," Riley said of the game. "But we have some great buildings, great markets and great fan bases out here."
All of that, and more, is needed to make the event a financial success. There are hurdles to leap in putting on an All-Star game, such as getting players in and out of flight-challenged Bakersfield, but none that can't bear cleared, Riley said.
"We want to make sure (the addition of the All-Star game) wouldn't take away from our regular season but would hopefully be a nice addition to it," he said. "We feel the community can support it and it would be a nice spotlight for the city."
One essential, Riley said, is being able to bring on corporate sponsorship to help defer the cost.
Another is being able to get players, league officials and all others associated with the event, in and out of Bakersfield in a timely fashion. That may prove more problematic, as flights in and out of Bakersfield are relatively limited.
"We have a great staff and a great volunteer base and it can be done here," Riley said.
Riley said he and his staff will make further evaluations after the All-Star game.
Our bet: if there is corporate sponsorship forthcoming, the ECHL All-Star game will likely end up in Bakersfield with two years.
Slap shots
Bakersfield defenseman Sasha Pokulok has been added to the ECHL All-Star National Conference roster for the Jan. 20 game in Ontario. Pokulok replaced Robbie Bina of Las Vegas, who has left the Wranglers to play in Europe. He will join forward Shawn Weller, goaltender Timo Pielmeier and defenseman Eric Regan (now playing the AHL with San Antonio) as representatives of the Condors.
The Condors are in the midst of their longest stretch between home games his season -- 13 days. Next home game of the Condors is Jan. 22 against the Victoria Salmon Kings, who the Condors face on Friday and Saturday nights in Victoria. Bakersfield also has another 13-day gap between home games coming up, starting on Jan. 31 and ending on Feb. 13.
By the numbers:
41.6--The percentage of successful penalty shots in the ECHL this season through Tuesday night games as shooters have connected 15times in 36 attempts. Bakersfield is 0-for-3 in penalty shots.
6,093--The average attendance in Stockton this season, tops in the ECHL. That would rank sixth in the American Hockey League.
14-3--The Condors record on home ice, tops in the ECHL at 82.3 percent.
