| Description | Charlotte is known as the birthplace of professional hockey in the South, and the Charlotte Checkers are proud to be part of that history. The Checkers, a member of the ECHL, are the affiliate of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. After a 17-year hiatus from hockey, Charlotte welcomed the Checkers back in 1993 under the ownership of two of Charlotte’s most prominent sports citizens. Felix Sabates, a well-known entrepreneur and NASCAR team owner, and Carl Scheer, a throw-back sports marketing icon that helped engineer the merger of the ABA and NBA and co-creator of the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest, orchestrated one of the most productive three-year runs in professional sports from 1993 to 1996 culminating in an ECHL Championship. Following the sale of the team after the 1996 season, the Checkers spent several years under multiple ownership groups before the City of Charlotte asked Sabates and Scheer to repurchase the team in 2002 and reestablish the Checkers as a viable family entertainment opportunity and sports property in Charlotte. The 2005-06 season marked a new era for the Checkers as the team said goodbye to its home at Cricket Arena (formerly Independence) and moved into the brand new Charlotte Bobcats Arena. With ticket prices remaining very affordable, ranging from $10 to $25, the move allowed Checkers fans to continue enjoying the intimacy of minor league hockey with the added value of a major league venue. The new Uptown home also attracted new fans that enjoy the closeness of the arena to everything that the Center City has to offer. The Charlotte Checkers have established a tradition of exceeding the expectations of their fans by providing a family-oriented environment at home games, quality broadcasts and a commitment to the Charlotte community. |
