The effort to save the franchise proved to be a dead letter. Due to financial troubles, the IHL ceased operations in the summer of 2001. Surviving IHL teams were admitted into the American Hockey League for the 2001–02 season. Because of league rules, owners could only control one team. DeVos chose to move the Griffins to the AHL (since they were based in his family's hometown of Grand Rapids) and fold the Solar Bears and Blades. The Kansas City Outlaws of the United Hockey League played in the Kemper Arena for the 2004-2005 season before they folded. The Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL now play in the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in nearby Independence. In 2007, the Sprint Center opened in downtown Kansas City; it was built specifically to attract an NHL or NBA team. Several NHL exhibition games have also been held in Kansas City since the demise of the Blades. The St. Louis Blues have played four exhibition games in Kansas City, including games at Kemper arena in 2003 and 2005, and games at Sprint Center in 2008, 2014 and 2016. On April 17, 1999, 269 fans with missing teeth received free admission as part of a "Toothless Night" promotion.