Major announcement reveals a second hockey franchise in Illinois for 2024-25 season
A major announcement revealed that Bloomington IL has been chosen for a new ECHL hockey team that is slated to start in 2024-2025.
The league's public relations department made a statement that the league is planning to expand into Illinois and that Bloomington has been chosen.
The city has held several franchises in the Grossinger Motors Arena which was opened in 2006. At one time the city had the Bloomington Prairie Thunder and the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League.
Since 2014 the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the USHL has been housed in this arena. The team has been named the Bloomington Bison And the facility can house up to 7000 people.
It was also mentioned that the new franchise will be managed by Hallett sports and entertainment who currently own the Indy Fuel which is another ECHL hockey team. The team will be in the central division of the league which will rival the Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Walleye, Indiana Fuel, Iowa Heartlanders, and the Wheeling Nailers.
This expansion moves the ECHL closer to the dream of 32 teams.
Source: HawksInsider
Illinois is officially getting second hockey franchise
Source : Wikipedia
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Bloomington Bison will be a successful franchise? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 40.7 % |
| No | 48 | 59.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
