The ECHL is getting a new team in Lake Tahoe, co-owned by Tim Tebow and Dave Hodges. They're set to start play in 2024-25.
A new professional hockey team at the ECHL level is set to lay down roots in Lake Tahoe, Nev., and former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow is among the owners.
The team, which has yet to be named, will be the ECHL’s 29th franchise beginning play in 2024-25. It will be owned by Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy winner Tebow, along with Dave Hodges.
"The ECHL proudly welcomes the 29th member team to the league in the brand new Tahoe Blue Event Center, expanding our geography in the western part of the continent, and creating natural rivalries for visiting fans with the Idaho Steelheads, Utah Grizzlies, and the entire Mountain Division,” said ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin.
“This new team will offer the only professional sports action in the region, giving locals a hometown team and fast-paced entertainment, with a commitment to giving back and growing the game of hockey in the community. This ownership and operating group have already shown the ability to create a new generation of ECHL fans, and we look forward to the excitement they will bring to South Tahoe."
The team will play at the new Tahoe Blue Event Center, a 4,200-seat arena scheduled to open this month.
This is Tebow’s third investment into ECHL franchises, as he also holds minority stakes in the Savannah Ghost Pirates and Jacksonville Icemen.
“I love that sports can bring people together from all over to enjoy camaraderie, competition, and community impact,” said Tebow. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of a group bringing hockey to the Tahoe area for fans and families to create memories for years to come.” Tebow said.
The arena is conveniently located at the center of the busy Lake Tahoe area, which attracts more than 15 million visitors annually, spurred by skiing and casinos, said the announcement. The city will now have a professional hockey team to call its own.
"As a recreation and sports-passionate destination that has hosted numerous high-caliber sports over the years, we welcome the ECHL to Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Blue Event Center,” said Carol Chaplin, president and CEO of Visit Lake Tahoe. “The addition of an ECHL team will greatly complement our year-round venue programming, not to mention delighting both visitors and residents alike for years to come.”
Tim Tebow is the former Florida Gator standout (where he won two BCS national championships, Heisman Trophy and multiple other awards) NFL player and minor-league baseball player. He has become best known around the world for his work with the Tim Tebow Foundation, whose mission is to "bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."
Tebow is also a five-time New York Times best-selling author, sports broadcaster and investor. He also helped bring professional soccer to Jacksonville, Fla.
Tebow spent three seasons in the NFL playing for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, but is best known for his Christian faith, including kneeling on the field in prayer, which is tied to advocacy for faith-based abstinence and campaigning against abortion.
Tebow’s co-owner, David Hodges, is the chairman and CEO of Hodges Management Group and founder/owner of 925 Partners.
“It is an honor and a privilege to steward this new franchise for the community,” said Hodges. “Tim and I are excited to be able to share this new team with the community. We look forward to engaging the fans as we name the team, design the logos and eventually drop the puck in October of 2024. We believe in the power of sports to bring communities together and there's no better place than the South Lake Tahoe region. With this new ECHL team, we're committed to delivering unforgettable games, making lasting memories and impacting this community positively.”
The ECHL is a feeder system affiliating to the AHL and NHL. Last year, the Ghost Pirates became the 28th team in the league, while the Iowa Heartlanders and Trois-Rivieres Lions joined the ECHL in 2021-22.