Long Live the King: Manchester Monarchs Cease Operations

May 16, 2019

Yesterday was a day many saw coming, but it doesn't make the news any less saddening.

Early yesterday, the Manchester Monarchs released a statement announcing that the franchise has ceased operations immediately. As I pointed out in my very first blog post, things weren't looking good for a Monarchs franchise that has seen attendance drop by over 50% in the four seasons since dropping from the American Hockey League to the ECHL. I had speculated that the team wouldn't cease operations, but would try to find new owners and rebrand. This was due to the current owners being one of the main reasons why fans stopped coming to games, as management tried to sell the ECHL brand level of hockey as equal to the AHL.

Unfortunately for the city of Manchester and all Monarchs fans, this didn't come to light and now they are left with no pro hockey in the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire does still have the UNH Wildcats NCAA D1 Hockey that plays in Durham, a little under an hour drive from SNHU Arena to there. Of course, though, this won't satisfy some fans that still want pro hockey.

The sadness one feels for losing a team they had been so loyal to is a feeling I can understand. In minor pro hockey, hardly anything can truly last forever, it's just a hard truth of the situation. For me, this makes me love it more though and cherish it. For any Manchester Monarchs fans that may read this, know that this isn't the end and we as a minor-pro family understand the feelings and we hope for a return to pro hockey in Manchester. I do believe that hockey will be played at SNHU Arena in Downtown Manchester again.

- Marc of The Robinson Report