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Nanaimo joins Winnipeg as WHL relocation possibilities
It seems the Western Hockey League’s desire for relocation is growing by the minute.
In addition to the mutual interest between the WHL and the Winnipeg Jets’ ownership group, True North Sports, to bring a second major junior club to Manitoba, the league is in ongoing discussions with the city of Nanaimo, B.C., for a possible relocation in the near future.
If the city builds an up-to-par arena, Nanaimo makes a lot of sense as a new home for one of the Dub's financially struggling teams. Their population of approximately 84,000 is larger than other communities such as Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, and Brandon that successfully sustain WHL teams. In addition, they would have an instant rival with the Victoria Royals, who would only be roughly an hour down the road.
Nanaimo’s 1,130-attendance average this past year with their BCHL club, the Clippers, is somewhat of a concern, though. The Clippers’ barn, the Frank Crane Arena, only filled up to an average of 38 percent in a year that entailed a lot of excitement with them hosting the Western Canada Cup.
Nonetheless, one has to keep in mind the excitement of watching top NHL prospects in the best junior league in Western Canada will sell more tickets. Not to mention, precedents show a new building tends to spike a club’s ticket revenue. The Moose Jaw Warriors’ attendance average went up from 2,655 in 2010-11 to 3,898 in 2011-12 when they moved from the Crushed Can to Mosaic Place; moreover, the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL saw their attendance grow by approximately 41 percent in 2011-12 when they moved into Spectra Place.
It appears as though the WHL is in somewhat of a hurry to lineup a new location for a club in financial trouble. In an interview with Cleve Dheensaw of the Times Colonist, WHL commissioner Ron Robison said “We want to know at some point in the near future (whether Nanaimo will build a new arena).”
That begs the question - whom is the WHL preparing to move in the next couple of years?
The Prince George Cougars seem to be the best option to relocate in Nanaimo. Not only are the Cougars struggling financially, but the WHL also wouldn’t have to change their division and conference platform.
The Cougars’ attendance has practically steadily dropped since joining the league in 1998. They have went from averaging over 5,000 a game in their first four years in the league to sitting dead last in attendance this year with an average of only 1,840.
Back in April of 2011, vice president Brandi Brodsky shared the Cougars’ money trouble with Alistair McInnis of the Prince George Free Press.
“Of course in the past we’ve been approached with offers to purchase the team,” Brodsky said. “There was a specific rumour that one specific person had just offered to buy the team from us, and that never happened. There’s still a team in Chilliwack and we’re not allowed to comment on that.”
Brodsky noted that they’ve been warned by the league that they’ll receive a fine if they discuss the situation surrounding the Bruins to media.
That being noted, Cougars management has stressed the need for attendance and corporate support to rise in order to survive in Prince George.
“We’ve been losing money the last few years, large amounts, and we just can’t continue to have that happen,” Brodsky said.
Two years later, there is no indication the Cougars have gotten out of the red. Therefore, maybe it’s finally time for the WHL to move on from Prince George. The league and the Brodsky family gave it their best shot, but the fan support just isn’t there.
The Kootenay Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes are two other possibilities for Nanaimo.
Despite winning three championships and never missing the playoffs in their 15 years of existence in the league, the Ice have struggled to sell tickets in Cranbrook, which has a agglomeration population of 25,037 as of 2011. In the last four years, they have averaged fewer than 3,000 people a game.
BTN learned in February that the Ice's majority owner Jeff Chynoweth had talks with True North Sports about a possible sale; however, the conversation didn’t go far with Chynoweth asking much more than what Jets ownership was willing to pay. Therefore, it seems the Ice aren’t looking to move, but a relocation is possible if the price is right.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have been vocal about their financial woes. In late August, they announced a loss of $602,000 for the 2011-12 and a combined loss of $1.25 million over the previous three years.
Lethbridge’s problems seem to stem from a handful of different issues. They had a failed marketing campaign in 2011, which included selling tickets at a 25 per cent discount, and their arena, the Enmax Centre, has been under renovations. In addition, they haven’t generated playoff revenue in the past four years.
Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen
