Tropical Hockey League Looking for Investors
The Tropical Hockey League (THL) is a new hockey league which is hoping to attract some fan owner investors in Florida. The league is an in-line hockey league with plans to place franchises in five cities in the Sunshine State. The following teams are planned to be in the new league:
- Bradenton Brawlers
- Daytona Beach Anglers
- Gainesville Gargoyles
- Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
- Tampa Bay Tritons
So why "in-line" hockey instead of "ice hockey"?
The league hopes to use a fan ownership model. Instead of a single investor or a small group operating a team, a large group of "fan-owners" elect representatives who make sure that their team operates in a way that supports their interests as fans. The Green Bay Packers operate this way, and so do many soccer teams around the country, but never before has an entire league committed to the concept as much as the Tropical Hockey League.
On paper, this league looks like a great idea for the sport where teams do not have to have expensive ice making equipment. There aren't a lot of opportunities for ice hockey in the South even with the growth of the sport. Some areas and players are shut out from the experience. This could be a rebirth of a viable roller/inline hockey league. The most notable league was Roller Hockey International (RHI) which played during the summers from 1993-1999 throughout the United States. Former RHI Executive Steve Pona is helping the THL to form their league.
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