With multiple sources reporting on the sale of Perani Arena in Flint Michigan, TJHN has learned that an application to the USHL and USA Hockey concerning an expansion team to be located in Flint are both pending.
The USHL is expected to vote on and approve the expansion franchise in Flint January 13th, 2015. Approval will be contingent on several upgrades to Perani Arena and subject to USA Hockey approval.
Multiple sources are reporting that approval by USA Hockey is slated to be given at the USA Hockey Annual Meeting in Orlando Florida scheduled for January 15th through 18th, 2015. These same sources have indicated that the expansion application was submitted before the November 15th deadline for expansion applications.
While the timeline for both approvals appears slim on the surface, multiple sources are reporting that both approvals are merely a formality and that the process of the arena purchase was the main hurdle that needed to be overcome. These same sources are also reporting the other USHL owners have already given their strong support for this expansion.
While Perani Arena is currently home to the NAHL’s Michigan Warriors, sources have also confirmed that talks to move the Warriors to Port Huron we initiated in October, and that the franchise is actively being marketed for sale. Two potential ownership groups have allegedly been identified to keep the team in Michigan.
One source, unwilling to speak on the record indicated a strong desire on the behalf of the Flint Ownership group to secure the rights of using the Flint Generals as the team name. The Generals name is still currently owned by the Perani family according to the same source who suggested that securing the name does not appear to be an obstacle.
TJHN will update this story as more information becomes available.
Joe Hughes
