Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 12, 1991 TAG: 9102120055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After adjourning Monday's meeting of ECHL's club owners in Vinton, Kelly beamed and said he had nothing but good news to report.
"Everything is positive; very positive," Kelly said of the mushrooming ECHL. "This league has come a long ways in three years and, frankly, everything appears to be full steam ahead."
The ECHL, which started in 1988-89 with only five clubs, could grow to as many as 16 teams next season, Kelly said.
"I'd say there is a excellent chance we'll have 16 next season," Kelly said.
The ECHL, now with 11 teams, already has granted new '91-92 franchises to Toledo, Ohio, Raleigh, N.C., and Charlotte, N.C.
"The three new teams have all paid their membership dues [$100,000], and the money is in the bank. Everybody is 100 percent," Kelly said.
The Charlotte franchise still faces one roadblock - the financing of a projected $3 million in renovations to the old Charlotte Coliseum. Developer Bill Allen, who owns the franchise rights, reportedly is close to coming up the money for the project.
"[Allen] said he hopes to know something this week," Kelly said. "We'd like to know something by May 1. We're making next season's schedule up in June, and we're not going to wait. If Charlotte can't go then, it will have to wait until '92-93."
A final decision on granting a new franchise to Dayton, Ohio, has been tabled until June. Kelly said at least five more cities - including Birmingham, Ala., and Charleston, W.Va. - are being looked at to fill the 16th spot.
If the league expands to 15 or 16 teams, Kelly said the ECHL could be divided into two conferences and four four-team divisions in '91-92. The alternative is to keep the current two-division setup.
Kelly said the ECHL franchise fee, which was $25,000 in 1988-89, will grow to $500,000 if the league expands beyond 16 clubs.
"That just shows you how far we've come in a short time," Kelly said.
Kelly confirmed that the ECHL league office will move from Vinton to Charlotte next season.
Kelly, who owns a home in Charlotte, said he hopes to begin moving in May.
\ The ECHL finally has solidified the format for this season's playoffs.
The top three finishers in each division and two wild-card entries will begin first-round series on March 14-15. Each of the four series will be a best-of-five.
The semifinal and championship series each will be a best-of-seven. The title series is scheduled to run no longer than April 14.
Wild-card entries will be based on points. The two clubs with the most points not among the top three finishers in each division will qualify.
In case of a tie, which is possible considering the logjam in the ECHL standings, the first tie-breaker is most wins, followed by fewest losses; head-to-head record; head-to-head goals for vs. goals allowed, and coin flip.
If more than four teams from one division qualify for the playoffs, the fifth team will cross over and play the other division's regular-season winner in the first round.
by CNB