Artical from the Citizen
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Cougars sign three-year CN Centre lease
by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
The Prince George Cougars are staying put.
As reported in The Citizen three weeks ago, the Western Hockey League franchise and the City of Prince George have agreed to a three-year lease agreement for CN Centre. Add on a two-year option, and the contract should keep the Cougars here for this season plus four more.
The lease, now official but awaiting signatures from both sides and final approval by the WHL head office in Calgary, takes effect immediately. The city and the Cougars were operating under the terms of the former deal, which expired at the end of July.
"We're really happy with the outcome," said Cougars business manager Brandi Brodsky.
"There are allowances for extra icetime that we can use for things like a skate with the team, or the skills competition -- things that are for the fans."
The Cougars will pay the city 12.5 per cent of gross ticket sales up to $1.5 million, and 15 per cent on revenues above that figure.
As owner Rick Brodsky said during negotiations, the franchise was seeking a clause that would allow a reaction to lower revenues. Once the benchmark for WHL teams in terms of ticket sales, the attendance in Prince George has slumped by nearly 50 per cent -- the product of non-playoff seasons and a sense of dissatisfaction with the management of the team.
Brandi Brodsky didn't furnish the exact figures, but said the Cougars would be eligible to renegotiate the lease if revenues from ticket sales drop below the levels of the past few seasons.
"Should the revenues fall under a certain point, based on gross ticket revenue and not attendance, there would be an opportunity to change things around," said Brandi Brodsky.
"It's a number that's not going to allow us to just jump ship -- it's a well thought-out number, and it's tough to peg something like that on attendance alone because you have different revenues from children or senior tickets. It's not meant to be an easy-out for anyone. This is nothing like the lease the Kootenay Ice have in Cranbrook at all (where attendance figures triggered an opt-out clause in the summer of 2004), and we never felt that lease was a model we wanted to follow."
The Cougars get no money from building concessions, including the new pilot project allowing for beer sales in a downstairs lounge.
"We get no revenues from the concessions, as was the case in the past, but what we do some revenue sharing with (the city) on is with the signage," said Brandi Brodsky.
"Some WHL teams don't get money from their back-lit signs, where we do. Because the beer is a pilot project, how that will be handled in the future is still up for discussion. We're not interested in having beer be available in the general seating area, it's working well in the place it is now -- we've had no problems at all."
Lease negotiations between the Cougars and the city heated up after training camp when Tom Madden, the director of leisure services, became a central figure in talks. Discussions had stalled prior to that point.
"I'm thrilled we have managed to come to a mutually-beneficial agreement," said Brandi Brodsky.
"We're excited about how well the team is doing this season, and are looking forward to working with the city to ensure many more years of Cougars hockey at CN Centre."
I understand this is a rebuilding year, but come on boys!!