The Philadelphia Phantoms. The Adirondack Phantoms. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
When the Flyers‘ AHL affiliate moves to Allentown to start the 2014-15 season, they’ll don the Lehigh Valley name, according to a report from the Allentown Morning Call on Wednesday. The other pro sports team in town, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, use the regional name as well. In statements, the owners said they want to be the “home team for the entire region,” not just one city and blahblahblah.
The Phantoms will also drop the purple and switch to “electric blue” as an accent color. Not surprisingly, you can already get merchandise with the new name on it. The logo and overall identity will stay essentially the same.
The team was originally set to move to Allentown in time for next season, but red tape and local politics have delayed the construction, and thus the planned opening, of the arena. The team doesn’t have a lease to play at Glens Falls Civic Center next season and the mayor there has publicly stated that the team won’t be back. It’s likely, however, that he’s just playing politics and that the team will indeed be back for a fifth season before making the 2014 move to Pennsylvania. Calls to the mayors office for comment on the issue have not been returned.
The Brooks Group, owners of the Phantoms, signed a 29-year lease with the City of Allentown and the new arena. It kicks in once the first puck drops in 2014.
h/t Tim McManus
