The St. Albert Steel junior hockey team is calling for a pass from city council, requesting a $125,000 grant each year for the next 10 years in exchange for a new tenancy agreement for Performance Arena.
Team governor Kelly Smith addressed council at Thursday’s budget meeting. He said the team is struggling to attract fans and make ends meet.
Operating as a not-for-profit, the team doesn’t enjoy the same perks as other nearby teams in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Smith said. Teams like the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints get 100 per cent of arena advertising revenue, Smith said, while the Steel gets 60 per cent. The Steel are also averaging 450 fans per game.
The team’s operating budget is about $525,000 a year, which puts it near the bottom of the league, Smith said. It struggles to attract fans because it’s located next to a major centre with an array of sporting and cultural activities to offer, he said.
The Steel have been operating in the red for the last three years, losing about $50,000 a year for the last two years, Smith said.
When asked what would happen if the team didn’t get the grant, he said the board would have to review its options. He didn’t threaten that the team would move, although its agreement with the city expires at the end of August 2012.
Reached afterward, some councillors seemed to feel the team was offside in asking for money.
Coun. Cathy Heron said the team already gets space in Servus Credit Union Place and pays the same ice rates as minor hockey teams.
“They’re getting a lot already from the municipality so I’m not on board yet,” she said.
Coun. Wes Brodhead wasn’t enthusiastic either.
“I think the St. Albert Steel, if they put out a good product, the citizens will support it and they won’t need public funds to make it a viable venture,” he said.
“That would be my challenge to them,” he added. “I would be hard-pressed to support that request.”
Mayor Nolan Crouse, a former AJHL coach and general manager, said he’s not on board yet either.
“The city provided concessions so the Steel could come here and what has not happened is the fans haven’t come out in large enough numbers and the team hasn’t established itself as a winning team yet,” Crouse said.
Smith acknowledged that the team could help its own cause by making a good playoff run but he also felt the team is part of the community.
“We think that junior hockey is a part of the fabric for most Canadian cities of this size. It’s one that brings notoriety … community spirit,” he said.
He added that the team would be happy with any kind of support, not just cash, such as reduced ice rental rates or forgiveness of its dressing room loan.
“We’re very hopeful that they’ll partner with us in some way,” he said.
