Dr. Nick Vaccaro and Allan Howell announce they will be creating a new professional hockey league to rival the National Hockey League. The new league would be called the World Hockey Association, after the league that played in the 1970's. Birmingham was named, along with twenty-eight other cities, as potential sites for franchises. 

Vaccaro and Howell are heavily involved with the Anaheim Roadrunners of the American Basketball Association and claim to have been working on this idea since 2000. "There is no doubt in my mind that now is the time to aggressively move forward in every way and take complete advantage of this wonderful opportunity. The timing could not be better. The preliminary responses we have solicited could not be more encouraging. Yes, now is the time," Dr. Vaccaro said. 

However, many feel that the hockey's narrow main-stream appeal can't support another major hockey league. Very few of the minor league hockey teams are making money and the current economy isn't showing signs of growth. All of these factors could play a major role in the success of the new league. 

Birmingham had a franchise in the old WHA, when John Bassett moved his Toronto Torros here in 1976 and renamed them the Birmingham Bulls. In March of 1979, the NHL agreed to take in four of the WHA's more successful teams and the WHA ceased operations. 

A minor league farm system is also planned, the WHA2, which will be a training ground for players, coaches, office staff and officials.

  WHA2 officials state that Birmingham has been awarded a franchise in the proposed league. WHA president of hockey operations Peter Young said the league was attracted to Birmingham and the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. "What we're looking for are major markets with NHL-sized buildings. You don't have to do the math to realize Birmingham has an NHL-caliber facility, so Birmingham is in line for the WHA. Birmingham has got the population base and the building and that's the two most important criteria," Young said.

However, Frank Poe, BJCC executive director, said he would not sign a contract with either the WHA2 or the ACHL until both leagues notify him that they have worked out their differences. The two leagues are in heated discussions regarding Florida developer David Waronker pulling his three teams out of the ACHL so they could join the WHA2. Waronker owns the Miami Manatees, Jacksonville Barracudas, Orlando Seals and the Macon Trax.

According to Young, the Birmingham team won't have local ownership initially, but will have local involvement. Birmingham is the sixth city to be added to the WHA. Miami (FL), Orlando (FL), Jacksonville (FL), Lakeland (FL) and Macon (GA) have already been granted franchises.

Each team in the league will operate under an $8 million salary cap. Each team will also be able to sign a high-profile player that doesn't fall under the salary cap. "We're not going to get into a bidding war like the first WHA," Young said.

The WHA2 will begin play in October of 2003 while the WHA will wait until October of 2004 to get started. However, rumors are the WHA teams will compete in the WHA2 for the first year to better prepare themselves for the WHA the following year. If that method proves successful, future teams that join the league could face the same one-year WHA2 membership before being allowed to join the WHA.

  The WHA2 and the ACHL issue press releases stating they've reached an agreement to their dispute.

The resolution signed today ends all legal issues surrounding the withdrawal of the Miami Manatees, Jacksonville Barracudas, Orlando Seals and Macon Trax from the ACHL and their entry along with the Lakeland Loggerheads in the WHA2. The ACHL will continue operation of its league and will respect the rights of WHA2 to operate exclusively in Miami, Lakeland, Orlando, Macon, and Jacksonville.

Also, the WHA2 will not attempt to field expansion teams from Knoxville (TN), Fayetteville (NC), or Winston Salem (NC).

Waronker pulled his four teams from the ACHL at the end of 2002-03 season citing player insurance issues.

"In the end we got want we wanted," Waronker said. "We realize freedom to separate from the direction of the ACHL and to make sure that the health and safety of all our players, including their outstanding medical bills, were being taken care of by the ACHL. As we owned or had a significant interest in four of the six ACHL teams, I had a huge investment and interest to make sure that the league followed the directive of developing hockey talent. At the end of last season, I saw us leaving that mission and that scared me as an owner and as a fan of the sport. Our new league will not only develop hockey players into professionals looking to go to the highest level of competition, but will also provide for the development of the entire franchise, including coaches, trainers and all office staff." 

  The ACHL announces they are close to finalizing a lease at the BJCC. The ACHL's plans came as a surprise to WHA2.

"That's news to me," said Taylor Hall, president of the WHA2 team that will play in Pelham. "I met with the BJCC today and no one mentioned they were putting a team there. But we're not really worried about what the ACHL is doing as far as their league and teams. We're forging ahead."

  Taylor Hall, president of Alabama Professional Hockey, announces that Birmingham is officially a part of the WHA2. 

Hall also has completed negotiations for the team to play at the 3,500-seat Pelham Civic Complex arena. "Playing in this building is a wonderful start for us. At some point in time, we hope we outgrow this facility. But for right now, it's going to be an absolutely great home," Hall said.

WHA2 franchises will operate with an annual budget of $1 million, which will include a $6,400-a-week cap on players' salaries. Also, each team will play a 60-game regular-season schedule, instead of the 70- to 80-game seasons typical for most hockey leagues.

Because of such constraints, Hall said the new team can easily be financially successful in a 3,500-seat facility. "We really only need about 1,000 people (per game) to make it work. If we get 3,500, that's great. But we don't need 3,500," Hall said.

"We’re going to have a VIP room where the players will be going after each and every game to sign autographs and mingle with the fans, which I think is something that is very important. Fans who do buy merchandise and memorabilia will be able to personalize it by having their favorite player sign it for them," Hall said.

The ownership group is sponsoring a "name the team" contest and the franchise's name will probably begin with "Central Alabama".

  The league announces they are exploring the possibility of having a Canadian Division this season. Of the seven potential cities named, four believe they could be operational for the upcoming season.

"If the Canadian Division played in 2003-04, each team would make two trips south to play the American Division teams. American Division teams would make one trip north to play all four Canadian teams," said Young. "For the balance of the season, the teams will play teams in their own division. At playoff time the top two teams in the north would be given the last two seeds in the Southern playoffs, with a guarantee of a home date if they made it past the first round."

"Although it will be a challenge to get this division ready for the inaugural season of the WHA2, we have set a deadline of June 30th to make it happen," Waronker said.

  At a press conference, Hall introduces Garry Unger as the team's head coach. Unger has spent the last seven years as the head coach of the Central Hockey League's Tulsa Oilers. Under Unger's direction, the Oilers won the CHL championship during their 1992-93 season. 

"I'm excited about the new league. It's kind of exciting to start something new," Unger said. He currently holds the CHL record for most games coached at 568 and is second in number of wins with 292.

"To be able to get someone with as much experience in the hockey world as Garry is a tremendous step forward for us," Hall said. The two have known each other for years and Hall was an assistant to Unger at Tulsa for several seasons. 

Unger played in the NHL for sixteen years where he earned the nickname "Ironman" for playing in 914 consecutive games. The bulk of his playing career was with the St. Louis Blues, where he also made seven NHL All-Star teams.

  Team officials announce the local WHA2 franchise will be named the Alabama Slammers. The name was picked from a list that included "Freeze", "Vulcans" and "Hammers".

"We couldn't be happier with the team's new look and identity. Our team will be built to reflect the hard-working and aggressive nature the name implies," Hall said.