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New league has eye on Bayfront
By BRANT JAMES, Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG -- Enamored by the attractiveness of the market and undaunted by the failure of similar ventures in the city, the new Atlantic Coast Hockey League could finalize a deal to place a franchise in the Bayfront Center this week. Bill Coffey, the seven-team league's co-founder and president, said St. Petersburg is the perfect complement to Lakeland, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Knoxville (Tenn.) and Fayetteville (N.C.). Coffey, whose drawl belies 20 years in hockey operations, said the Lightning's presence would not diminish the drawing power of his developmental league. "This is a different market, and I think (the ACHL) just adds to it," he said. "I know y'all. You guys don't cross that causeway." A study commissioned by the Lightning last summer, however, found "35-40 percent" of the team's ticket purchasers were from Pinellas County, team spokesman Bill Wickett said. The league's creation was announced in the spring, although Coffey said talks began two years ago. It is tentatively scheduled to begin play in late October. Past failures in St. Petersburg of the Renegades (Sunshine Hockey League) and Tampa Bay Thunderdawgs, Windjammers, Sunblasters and Thrillers (basketball) will elicit skepticism among prospective fans and advertisers, but the ACHL's connections are proven. Coffey helped found the East Coast Hockey League, which now has a minor-league affiliation with the NHL, and won six championships with four franchises. Peter Friedmann, who, Coffey said "won out" over five groups to buy the St. Petersburg franchise, co-owns the Canadian Ice Academy and the Georgetown Raiders in the Ontario Hockey Association's Provincial Junior A league. Friedmann, a Toronto-based steel and rubber magnate, paid $100,000 for the franchise. He could not be reached for comment. "He's well-versed in hockey," Coffey said. "And he owns half of Canada." What Friedmann lacks is a lease to play the team's 30 home games in the nearly 6,000-seat Bayfront Center. His representative, Stuart Hyman, is scheduled to arrive in town today to begin negotiations with Mike Barber, the Downtown Facilities director. Beth Herendeen, the Bayfront Center event services manager, confirmed the city has made an initial proposal to the ACHL. "We've not found out what the team would want from us yet," she said. Coffey will be in Lakeland on Tuesday to approve that franchise's deal with the Lakeland Center. The ACHL is the namesake of a bare-knuckle circuit that had a fitful existence from 1981-87 and helped lay the groundwork for the ECHL by cultivating Southern markets. The old ACHL's Cape Cod franchise was owned by World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon. The new Orlando Seals will be coached by former Lightning Stan Drulia. The St. Petersburg franchise has not opened offices or announced a front office staff, coach or mascot.
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