Syracuse Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon Talks Future Of AHL

Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon took the time to do a live chat just mere hours after the AHL's Board of Governors meeting and resulting announcement that the league has pushed back the anticipated starting date of the 2020-21 season to December 4th, 2020.

"That does not mean that we're going to start on December 4th. It only means that we will not be starting earlier than that," Dolgon said during the Facebook Live chat. "There's so much right now out of our control. The virus is obviously not being controlled at any great level and the risk of putting people back in arenas or stadiums right now is too great to make a decision to be ready to play."

Dolgon was candid throughout the 30-minute live chat, stating that there isn't too much of an update besides the anticipated starting date of the season being pushed back into December.

"We're not closer to returning to play in a safer environment," Dolgon continued. "I wish we were. We're working the best we can, as an organization, and I think as a league we will be prepared once we get the green light. But to sit in front of you today and say we're going to be playing in December 100% I would not be forthright or honest with you and I never want to do that."

Dolgon expressed many concerns, and didn't hold back from sharing his true thoughts despite being the owner of the team with obvious financial stake in the ongoing situation.

"There's no guarantee we're playing hockey. There's no guarantee that next year the NHL plays, especially if they can't play in front of fans," Dolgon said.

Earlier today, InsideAHLHockey.com reported - before today's announcement from the AHL - that an AHL source was "Hearing they’re [the AHL] still trying to be optimistic. Dec 1 camps & a 68-game schedule starting in mid to late December at 50% capacity with probably some aid from NHL teams."

Unprompted during his Facebook Live chat, Dolgon brought up the capacity concerns.

"We've talked about[the AHL] playing with a diminished capacity, maybe 50%, but realistically is that possible? Can we play and expect people to not be infectious, not be near each other even at 50%, not wait in line for concessions, not be socially responsible. Are the players willing to play in that environment?," Dolgon asked rhetorically, mentioning the various sports leagues that have seen players opting out of playing even with no fans in attendance.

"I think at the very best if we go December, we go 50% capacity," Dolgon said, which is in line with what an AHL source told us earlier today. "We will not open the doors to play if it's not safe for our fans - that's the bottom line."

Dolgon did take the time to answer a question posed from InsideAHLHockey.com about the challenges ahead for independently owned AHL clubs and the NHL-owned clubs and getting everyone on the same page.

"I think the challenges are similar. The goal is still to have players play. You can't develop a player if he isn't playing. Tampa, our NHL partner - we're the independently owned team, it's treated like one family (with Tampa). Our goals are the same. Our discussions on moving forward are no different than [teams that are owned by NHL clubs]"

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