The saga of Reno getting a professional ice hockey team continues as the Grand Sierra Resort continues their efforts to build a new arena. For the first time, the GSR has publicly acknowledged that a hockey team will move into the new arena. At the beginning of October the GSR sent out an email asking for community input on their new expansions that does include an arena. In that email they did mention that a minor league hockey team would be moving in. Details on the project to expand the GSR are limited. Construction has not started yet. All there has really been is an announcement about what the GSR wants to do. Their are no details on a future Reno hockey team yet. It has been reported that since Alex Meruelo owns both the GSR and the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League, the Roadrunners will relocate to Reno. The GSR and Tucson Roadrunner have made any statements about a relocation.
The chance of Reno getting an ECHL team seems low as the Tahoe Knight Monsters are in the same market. It is possible. It does look like the ECHL is exploring eastern markets though. Reno is likely too far south for a Canadian Hockey League team. Reno is likely too far west for a Southern Pro Hockey League team. The planned arena is likely too big for a Federal Prospects Hockey League team. The FPHL would also run into the issue of Reno being too far west. Alex Meruelo likely does not have the ability to create a new minor hockey league due to his reputation in the hockey world. That leaves the Tucson Roadrunners relocating to Reno as the most likely option right now. I do not know how the ECHL would react to Alex Meruelo trying to bring a team to Reno with a team already in Tahoe. While I think that might be a good move for the ECHL and the western ECHL teams, the ECHL may see things differently. The AHL lets teams relocate and move as much as they want. The prospect of better facilities for an AHL team may be all it takes for the league to allow for a relocation. There is also the prospect that Alex Meruelo does not own whatever team moves to Reno. A different AHL team could move to Reno. Someone else could bring an ECHL team to Reno. The Tahoe Knight Monsters could move to Reno. There are plenty of options still on the table. It looks like something is going to happen. Reno will get a hockey team or at least make a push to get one.
None of this is happening anytime soon. It will be a while before the arena is built. If it is built at all. The Tucson Roadrunners did extend their lease in Tucson this year. That was more of a fallout though with them trying to play some home games in Phoenix. Their lease extension only has them playing in Tucson for a few more years. It was not a long term extension. Even if they do not relocate the first year the arena opens, they could still relocate. I don’t think Tucson should lose their hockey team so Reno can have one. Both cities having teams would be the best option. Unfortunately it seems that option is the least likely.
Zac Electrifly 
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