The Aeros are leaving town

I'm not a huge hockey fan and over the years I've only attended a handful of their games. Nevertheless, I really hate to hear that the Houston Aeros are moving to Des Moines, Iowa.

RIP 1994 - 2013 We'll miss you guys!

The Aeros began play in 1994 at Lakewood Church Compaq Center The Summit as a member of the International Hockey League. They later moved to the American Hockey League and became the minor-league affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild, had been around for 19 years. The team took its name from the WHA's Houston Aeros, which played in the 1970s and whose players included hockey legend Gordie Howe.

"Our organization has enjoyed tremendous support from the loyal, passionate hockey fans in Houston since 2001," Aeros general manager Jim Mill said.

"There is a great hockey history in Houston, beginning with the Apollos in 1965, and continuing with the Aeros in the WHA, IHL and AHL. We are honored to have been a part of this hockey tradition."

The Aeros were left with few options when negotiations for a new lease with the Toyota Center failed to come together.

Both the Wild and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority were unsuccessful in finding a suitable alternative location for the Aeros to continue playing in the Bayou City.

Put another way: Toyota Center is the only commercially viable hockey arena in this city, and Rockets owner Les Alexander used that advantage to screw the Aeros right out of town. As if I need another reason to hate that guy.

Hopefully the AHL will retain the rights to the Houston Aeros name, just in case somebody else tries to bring hockey back to Houston in the future. But, as of now, this city is now the largest in the country without any sort of professional hockey team, NHL or minor league. The Houston Press has more.