From the SPHL Website:

"Biloxi to join SPHL

Jim Combs, Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League announced tonight that the Southern Professional Hockey League's Board of Governors has received an application from an ownership group to operate an SPHL team in Biloxi Mississippi for the 2009-10 season.

The ownership group has secured a lease from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and is expected to receive final SPHL membership approval shortly pending formal review of their application by the Board of Governors.

Combs stated that "our league's Governors are delighted about the opportunity to bring the SPHL's brand of professional hockey to the Mississippi Gulf Coast." The new Biloxi team will compete against returning SPHL members Fayetteville, Knoxville, Columbus and Huntsville.

Additionally, Combs advised that the SPHL is in active discussions with prospective ownership in Pensacola, Florida and other cities and expects to provide information on additional expansion over the next few weeks.

Combs stated that "while there is still work to be accomplished the Board of Governors is committed to expansion within our league's geographical footprint within a time frame that allows new members the lead time to prepare for the
2009-10 season.

The SPHL "The Leader in Single "A" Hockey" is committed to providing our fans with ongoing innovation in all aspects of the game while providing the best of family friendly entertainment in all of our markets. Additional information on the Southern Professional Hockey League can be found at thesphl.com."

They've lost two teams from the last couple of years - Richmond and Twin Cities but they've gained Biloxi for sure and possibly a couple other teams. I've heard Pensacola, Mobile, and Lafayette are likely to join too.

I've been hearing about this for the last few months. Pretty possible and this would lead to getting ice in the Blackham which in turn would lead to the UL team getting to play there rather than the hockeyplex.

What's wrong with the Cajundome? Ice is there now.....but they want to much money to rent. I guest I answered my own guestion.

There's no ice there now. Its just logistics. It costs quite a bit more money to run the Cajundome than it does the Blackham. This wont be drawing 10000 people.

They should make Blackham the full time arena for Hockey if it returns. This building is pretty much unused and this would be perfect. It's a good size arena for them too. Together the Icegators and I'm sure the short lived Mudbuggs can renovate it a bit.

The Icegators collapse was a result of greed on the part of Icegators managment, Cajundome managment, and finally ECHL managment.

Can hockey be a viable enterprise in Lafayette? Of course, but I honestly feel we may be looking at an oversaturated hockey market filled with greed all over again.

I dont know if they'd be the IceGators. Rights and stuff you know

I've been going to hockey games in Biloxi. They are still drawing 3-7 thousand a game. I believe the SPHL threshold is much lower to keep a team going. There is no question Lafayette could support them for the long haul. I think Blackham would be a great venue. You are correct about saturation. If they don't put a team in LC, BR and Alex the Icegators or whatever they would be called should do well. Also it would be awesome to head to Lafayette to watch the Ragin Cajuns play hockey.

Also from what I've gathered the SPHL is very much a fighting league. I love the game and don't care much for that stuff but your casual fan in Acadiana would eat it up.

Which is a shame, because hockey is an interesting sport without the fighting. I'm neither for or against fighting, but if it takes fighting to maintain a sport, then thats an indictment on fans' opinion of entertainment. Thanks a lot Ultimate Fighting.

Here's the SPHL attendance numbers. It is a small league but designed to last in the fringe Southern markets. How much does Blackham hold? I've never been in there.
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro...&seasonid=3188