Chicago’s professional roller hockey team is back in business, and it hopes business improves this year.
The Chicago Cheetahs, one of 19 members of Roller Hockey International, open their second season at 7:05 p.m. Friday against the St. Louis Vipers.
The Cheetahs had one of the league’s lowest attendance marks last year, drawing less than 2,000 a game at the UIC Pavilion.
They hope things turn around now that they’ve relocated to the Odeum, a 4,000-seat arena in Villa Park. The Odeum allows the team to target fans in the suburbs, where roller hockey is mostly played.
“Just for the location alone, I think more people will come there, rather than drive downtown to UIC,” said Cheetahs second-year forward Rob Granato.
Cheetah games will take on a festival atmosphere, with bands and cookouts kicking things off outside the arena. Once inside, fans will see a fast-paced, high-scoring game.
“We put together a pretty good product,” said Cheetahs coach Randy Boyd. “All of the people I’ve ever talked to that have been to a game tell me they thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Most of the Cheetahs are minor-league ice hockey players trying to keep in shape during the summer. Granato, whose brother Tony plays for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, says the team is “a nice summer job” for most of the players.
But they also want to win, Granato says, and they have put together a team they think can improve on last season’s 12-10 squad that lost in the first round of the playoffs.
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“Last year, we had too much scoring,” said Granato, who played ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin. “This year, we have more guys who can play a grinding style. Everybody’s going to have a lot of fun and play a lot harder.”
The Cheetahs play 12 home games through Aug. 11. Tickets are $5 general admission and $10 reserved seating. Call 708-782-5743 for more information.