FROM THE MORNING CALL
Every Phantoms home gamed played in Allentown's new hockey arena will be broadcast in high definition on Service Electric TV2 during the teams inaugural season and beyond.
Terms of the agreement were not released as part of Friday's announcement, but Phantoms co-owner Rob Brooks said it is a multiyear deal. Service Electric Cable TV & Communications of Allentown has more than 100,000 subscribers in the Lehigh Valley.
The company plans to install a new sports desk either in the arena or in a retail space nearby. The desk will be the origin for all pregame, postgame and intermission reports, according to a news release.
Brooks said the agreement is an asset for the franchise in two ways — attracting sponsors and building a local fan base. He's not worried about the television deal affecting ticket sales and pointed to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, as evidence a local minor league team can sell-out games that are on television.
Service Electric's coverage of the IronPigs made the cable provider an attractive partner, Brooks said. He thinks the high-definition broadcasts will accentuate the fast-paced action of hockey.
"I don't know if you've seen a hockey game in high definition, but that's the way to watch it," Brooks said.
Brooks did not say how many games are involved, but this season the Phantoms are playing 36 regular season games in their temporary home in the Adirondacks and one "home game" in Philadelphia.
Brooks said no other cable company approached the franchise about a deal. The team intends to move to Allentown as long as its new home is ready for the 2013-14 season.
The new arena planned for construction at Seventh and Hamilton streets will seat 8,500. Allentown is in the process of demolishing buildings and supporters fancy the facility as the heart of downtown's economic revitalization. Mayor Ed Pawlowski hopes the television deal will build the local fan base needed for the franchise to succeed, according to the news release.
The Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, left Philadelphia after the 2008-09 season because their home rink, the Spectrum, was demolished.
Service Electric TV2 general manager Andy Himmelwright said in the news release he can't wait for the first game.
"2013 can not get here soon enough," Himmelwright said.
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-phantoms-service-electric-20120224,0,4977317.story
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