Asheville Aces
Encyclopedia
The Asheville Aces were a Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) team in Asheville, North Carolina
. The team, which suffered limited success and low attendance, lasted only one year before disbanding.
which lasted from 1998-2002. Florida real estate investor David Waronker
, representing the Southern Professional Hockey League
(SPHL) began lobbying the city for rights to form a team. Meanwhile John Cherney, the founder and first president of the South East Hockey League
, also attempted to establish an SEHL team in the city. Concerned with the financial viability of a team in the municipally-owned Asheville Civic Center
, officials from the city of Asheville insisted that if a team was to play in the facility, it be part of a league that comprised at least six other teams. The SEHL at that time had only four teams. The SPHL had three teams in Jacksonville, Florida
, Orlando, Florida
, and Macon, Georgia
, and promised more expansion teams were waiting to be announced until the sixth team came aboard. The city agreed and by the beginning of the 2004-05 season, the Asheville Aces were officially one of nine teams in the SPHL. Orlando's lease was revoked before the start of the season but this still left the SPHL with eight teams.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. The team, which suffered limited success and low attendance, lasted only one year before disbanding.
Franchise History
The Asheville Aces were established in the summer preceding the 2004-2005. The city of Asheville was perceived as a strong candidate for minor league in spite of the limited success and subsequent demise of the Asheville SmokeAsheville Smoke
The Asheville Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played in Asheville, North Carolina from 1998 to 2002. The Smoke were coached by Keith Gretzky from 1998 to 2000. Prior to 1998, the team was known as the Brantford Smoke. The closest rival of Asheville were...
which lasted from 1998-2002. Florida real estate investor David Waronker
David Waronker
David Waronker is a real estate investor, the President of CBD Real Estate Investment, L.L.C., and a lifelong ice hockey enthusiast. Waronker was the founder and commissioner of the World Hockey Association 2.- Biography :...
, representing the Southern Professional Hockey League
Southern Professional Hockey League
The Southern Professional Hockey League is a low-level professional ice hockey league based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with teams located in the southeastern United States.- History :...
(SPHL) began lobbying the city for rights to form a team. Meanwhile John Cherney, the founder and first president of the South East Hockey League
South East Hockey League
The South East Hockey League was a minor ice hockey league formed in August 2003. It succeeded the short-lived Atlantic Coast Hockey League and had 4 teams for its first and only season. Jim Riggs was the commissioner....
, also attempted to establish an SEHL team in the city. Concerned with the financial viability of a team in the municipally-owned Asheville Civic Center
Asheville Civic Center
The Asheville Civic Center is a 7,654-seat multi-purpose arena, in Asheville, North Carolina.It was home to the Asheville Altitude basketball team in the NBDL, before the franchise moved to Tulsa in 2005 and the United Hockey League's Asheville Smoke and also the SPHL's Asheville Aces.The venue...
, officials from the city of Asheville insisted that if a team was to play in the facility, it be part of a league that comprised at least six other teams. The SEHL at that time had only four teams. The SPHL had three teams in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, and Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, and promised more expansion teams were waiting to be announced until the sixth team came aboard. The city agreed and by the beginning of the 2004-05 season, the Asheville Aces were officially one of nine teams in the SPHL. Orlando's lease was revoked before the start of the season but this still left the SPHL with eight teams.