Twin City Cyclones Skate Out of Town

Minor league hockey continues to struggle to find its place in the Triad sports landscape. The Twin City Cyclones have announced that they are ceasing operations on Tuesday. Below is a statement from the team, issued through the team’s website.

The Twin City Cyclones would like to thank all 1,100 loyal fans that came to our hockey games as well as the handful of loyal corporate sponsors that tried their best to help us over the last two years. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and we will be ceasing operations effective March 31, 2009.

This was a personal, difficult decision to make for me and the entire organization. My wife and I will miss all the great people we met and got to know in Winston-Salem over the past two years.

Two years ago we placed the number of fans in the seats at 2200 to 2300 for each game in order for the Cyclone franchise to remain in Winston-Salem. As most of you know this did not occur. We tried many advertising venues and spent over $100,000.00 in the past two years to try and draw more fans into the seats. Again we didn’t meet the 2200 to 2300 per game attendance mark. Our entire organization truly enjoyed the folks in Winston-Salem and will miss them. I wish to thank “Bucky” and his entire staff for their help and support over the last two years. The Annex at the LVJM Coliseum Annex was a fun place to play hockey.

It just came down to money lost. And please, if you are angry, do not take it out on the Annex complex. They also tried their best to make it work. All we needed was another $150.000.00 in corporate support and 1200 more fans in the seats for each game. I did not see this occurring in the future, especially with the recent economic downturn.

So until we meet again- keep the wind at your back, the sun on your face and may the good Lord hold you in the palm of his hand.

Thanks again,

Bob Kerzner

Majority owner

Twin City Cyclones