From 1984-99, Indianapolis had a built-in rival, as the Checkers & Ice had annual meetings with the Fort Wayne Komets. Huge crowds, lots of passion and more.
Is there a chance the Ice could be having a close in-state rival in the USHL?
According to Fort Wayne's WANE-TV and several other published reports, the city of Marion (IN) has passed a $30 million bond issue to build a 4,100-seat hockey rink. It is being built by a Chicago-based group, which is attempting to move the dormant USHL Thunder Bay franchise to Marion, which is about 60 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The rink would be located right off I-69 and its exit with State Road 18 southeast of town.
The rink would be ready in time for the 2012-13 USHL season.
More: WANE
Confirmed on the city of Marion website. The city council voted unanimously to fund the new arena, so the USHL impressed them. Gino Gasparini, former USHL commissioner, is apparently involved in the ownership group. This is a bold step for a city the size of Marion, which will depend on getting fans from Ft. Wayne, Muncie and Anderson to fill the new arena.
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