Former Chicago BlackHawks Star Joins Sears Centre Team
NAPERVILLE, Ill., May 31 /PRNewswire/ --
Darren Pang, a former standout
goaltender for the Chicago BlackHawks and a hockey expert for ESPN, will be a
part owner in the United Hockey League (UHL) team playing its games at Sears
Centre in Hoffman Estates. The yet to be named team will play a schedule of up
to 46 contests at Sears Centre.
The ownership group for the Hoffman Estates franchise will consist of several
other partners. The managing partner will be Dr. Eric Margenau, a sports
psychologist and sports entrepreneur for the last 20 years. He and his primary
partner Jay Acton have owned and managed 20 franchises including baseball,
hockey and arena football teams.
"I have always had an interest in the development of young people in the game
of hockey and in building a winning professional team," Pang said. "When I
attended last year's UHL All-Star game and was with some of the league owners,
that interest and my whole thought process was re-energized."
Pang said that is "huge" that Chicago is such a great hockey town. In
explaining why Chicago is large enough to support another team, Pang said,
"There are more hockey fans in Chicago than we give credit."
"Produce a winning hockey team and they will come see you play," Pang said.
"And that is what we intend to do, build a great team to play in a fantastic
arena."
Sears Center is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose family entertainment, cultural and
sports center planned for construction in Hoffman Estates' Prairie Stone
Business Park. Expected to open in Fall 2006, Sears Center will attract more
than 750,000 visitors annually.
"Darren Pang has great name recognition in Chicago, and across the continent,"
Steve Hyman, President of CCO Entertainment, said. "As an owner, he will be a
tremendous ambassador for the league, Hoffman Estates and Sears Centre. I have
known Eric and worked with him for over a decade. Pair his experience with the
knowledge and popularity of Darren Pang and you couldn't ask for more in an
ownership group."
Earlier this year the UHL announced its plans to expand its league and have a
new team in place in Hoffman Estates for the drop of the puck to open the
2006-2007 season in October 2006.
"The two most important ingredients in a successful franchise are market and
venue," Margenau said. "In all cases, Sears Centre, Hoffman Estates and the
Chicago area are at the top of the scale. This area has the density and the
demographics you want to see." He said starting with a brand new venue like
Sears Center "rarely comes along in minor league sports."
Margenau also cited his "partnership versus relationship" association with
Steve Hyman at the Mark of the Quad Cities and the ability to add Darren Pang
as an owner are additional pluses that made taking an ownership stake the
Chicago a great opportunity.
Richard Brosal, President and CEO of the UHL, said a regular UHL season
schedule consists of 76 dates, split between 38 home and road contests. With
pre-season and playoff games, a good team can have as many as 46 home dates per
year, he noted.
The UHL, based outside of St. Louis, Missouri, is a 14-team professional hockey
league that includes the Adirondack Frostbite, Danbury Thrashers, Elmira
Jackals, Flint Generals, Fort Wayne Komets, Kalamazoo Wings, Missouri River
Otters, Motor City Mechanics, Muskegon Fury, Port Huron Flags, Quad City
Mallards, Richmond RiverDogs, Roanoke Valley Vipers and Rockford IceHogs.
DATASOURCE: Ryan Companies US, Inc.
CONTACT: Michael Millar, +1-312-644-7211 or Dan Peter, +1-312-644-7167,
both of Real Estate Communications Group