San Antonio Dragons
The San Antonio Dragons relocated to Texas from Illinois in 1996, where they were known as the Peoria Rivermen. The IHL team relocated to Freeman Coliseum for the 1996-97 season, which was unusual given that the venue was also home to the CHL's San Antonio Iguanas. This was one of the few occasions when a minor league team relocated to a new place and actually moved in with another minor league team. As far as we know, it might be the only time this has ever happened! The IHL was a bigger league at the time, with the CHL being more of a third-tier league, so likely the Dragons thought they could push the Iguanas out.
The Dragons went 45-30-0 in their debut season and made the playoffs. The Iguanas did go out of business as a result, despite the fact that the Dragons were not extremely dominant in the area, averaging roughly 5,000 spectators to the Iguanas' 3,000. The Dragons would have the arena to themselves in 1997-98, but they would struggle, finishing 25-49. They were sold at the end of the season, renamed the Iguanas, and relocated to the CHL for the 1998-99 season. So in a way, the Iguanas sort of won the war anyway. The Iguanas' second appearance lasted until 2002, when the franchise dissolved for good.
The Dragons went 45-30-0 in their debut season and made the playoffs. The Iguanas did go out of business as a result, despite the fact that the Dragons were not extremely dominant in the area, averaging roughly 5,000 spectators to the Iguanas' 3,000. The Dragons would have the arena to themselves in 1997-98, but they would struggle, finishing 25-49. They were sold at the end of the season, renamed the Iguanas, and relocated to the CHL for the 1998-99 season. So in a way, the Iguanas sort of won the war anyway. The Iguanas' second appearance lasted until 2002, when the franchise dissolved for good.
