Talks stall on keeping hockey team in Evansville arena

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - The future of Evansville's minor league hockey team is in doubt as negotiations have stalled over a new contract to keep it playing in the city's downtown Ford Center arena.

An attorney for the Evansville IceMen told city officials Wednesday that the team wouldn't respond to the latest offer as a league deadline for a new arena contract passed.

City officials have repeatedly said they won't agree to a new contract that costs the city money. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke tells the Evansville Courier & Press he's frustrated the team won't say what's insufficient about the latest offer.

IceMen owner Ron Geary tells WFIE-TV that he's not optimistic and believes the team is being forced out.

The IceMen play in the ECHL with the Indy Fuel and the Fort Wayne Komets.