INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Independence City Council unanimously approved a lease agreement Monday that will bring a hockey team to the Independence Events Center.
“I think it will be awesome. I'll definitely go to the games,” says hockey fan Josh Seevers.
The team will play in the Central Hockey League and begin play sometime in November. City leaders say they want the public’s help in naming the new team and will release more details on how you can do that later this week.
The arena, currently under construction, is located at Interstate 70 and Mo. Highway 291, near the Independence Center shopping mall.
As part of the lease agreement with the city, about half of the tickets to games will cost less than $20.
“It's cheap. It's fun. You really don't need a whole lot of money to bring the whole family out and enjoy the evening together,” says Enrique Trillo.
The team will be the only hockey team in the metro and will join the Wichita Thunder in the Central Hockey League, not affiliated with the NHL.
Robert Heacock, the Independence City Manager, says the team will be an economic boost to the city.
“The real positive to the team is the fact that it will support the area businesses and help create Independence as a destination for travelers and folks around the region,” says Heacock.
The team in Independence will join a team from Allen, Texas, as the 17th and 18th teams in the league, currently in its 17th season.
The team plans to play its first game in the arena on Nov. 13 or 14.
