Baltimore Bandits
For many years, Baltimore was a very successful hockey city, with the Clippers and Skipjacks making the city home from the 1940s through to the early 1990s. When the Skipjacks left in 1993, the Bandits were formed to fill the void left in Baltimore by their departure. Unfortunately, the Bandits were unable to replicate the success of the city's previous two clubs. They got off to a rocky start when they couldn't get weekend dates at Baltimore Arena because of the indoor soccer club that played there, so they played largely during the week and struggled to attract spectators. The team's original owners checked out and sold the team after barely half a season.
The Bandits fared well on the ice. In 1995-96, they went 33-36-9-2 and defeated the Hershey Bears in the opening round of the playoffs, prevailing in overtime in Game Five. Their new owner used the "ask for a new arena" trick in their second season, but it didn't succeed. After only two seasons in Maryland, the Bandits were sold and relocated to Cincinnati. The Baltimore Arena (now Royal Farms Arena) is still intact after more than two decades, although it has been without a hockey tenant since.
The Bandits fared well on the ice. In 1995-96, they went 33-36-9-2 and defeated the Hershey Bears in the opening round of the playoffs, prevailing in overtime in Game Five. Their new owner used the "ask for a new arena" trick in their second season, but it didn't succeed. After only two seasons in Maryland, the Bandits were sold and relocated to Cincinnati. The Baltimore Arena (now Royal Farms Arena) is still intact after more than two decades, although it has been without a hockey tenant since.
