San Francisco Bulls Cease Operations

Photo Credit: Ryan Norris/StadiumJourney.com

Minor league teams fold with semi-regular occurrence. Most wait until the off-season to do so, but occasionally, the costs associated with running a pro franchise grow to levels too big to endure and you have a situation like the San Francisco Bulls. The ECHL(AA level hockey) team announced to season-ticket holders on Monday afternoon, with three months left in the season, they were ceasing operations immediately, via an email obtained by CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz.

Photo Credit: Ryan Norris/StadiumJourney.com

When the news about the Bulls' dire finances was reported by the San Francisco Gate last week, there was a slight chance that the franchise could’ve been saved, in part to new investors and a venue change out of the Cow Palace in Daly City. Oakland’s Oracle Arena and Fresno’s Save Mart Center had been mentioned as new homes as the state-owned arena declined to renegotiate the lease with the team, which could've offered some measure of financial relief. The team also spent their own money to upgrade the scoreboard and ice-making equipment along with other amenities. Unfortunately, the deficit due in part to low revenue generated by an attendance average of 2,292(21st in the 22 team league) combined with the high cost of living in the San Francisco market was too much to bear.

Now the work of tying up the loose ends is underway. The ECHL now has to implement a replacement schedule for the league’s other 8 teams in the Western Conference. This isn’t the first time the league has had to scramble after a team folded mid-season, the Augusta Lynx closed up shop 18 games into the 2008-09 season(Edit: As was pointed out to me, a second team in the ECHL folded that season, with the Fresno Falcons lasting 30 games. Guess Fresno wasn't the best option for the Bulls).

As well, the Bulls’ parent club, the San Jose Sharks will need to find another team for its’ three prospects on the Bulls roster, the players left out of contract are now free agents and the Bulls front office(who hadn’t been paid in over a month) and other team-related employees are all looking for work. As for anyone with tickets that now can’t be used, you have the next month to send “requests for refunds”. Requests? Uh oh.