Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 22, 1993 TAG: 9304220033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The lease agreement, considered the biggest obstacle in the group's bid for a franchise, leaves only one step between Roanoke and hockey next season - a vote of approval by the ECHL's club owners on May 5-6 in Freeport, Bahamas.
"We're elated to have a deal with the civic center," said John Gagnon, Hockey-Roanoke Inc.'s primary investor. "It has been a long road through these negotiations and we finally have an agreement.
"As far as the league goes, I see no hurdle as far as us getting [a franchise], unless there's something we don't know about.
"When we spoke to the league and said we wanted to play in the Roanoke Civic Center, it opened [the league's] eyes very wide. They said, `We want that.' To them, it's a gem. It's the nicest or one of the two nicest buildings in the league. Plus, location-wise, we're right in the middle of the league geographically. For those reasons, the league wants a team in Roanoke."
And, obviously, so do some other people. Commission chairman Vern Danielsen and Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden, who were instrumental in the arena cutting a deal with the group, have contended losing minor-league hockey would have been a huge blow to an area that has been recently victimized by the loss of major employers such as Dominion Bank and Gardner-Denver.
"The commission has had the feeling we wanted to do everything we could to make this happen within reason and good business judgment," Danielsen said. "We have some local folks, people who have been involved in hockey. It looks like these people have a chance of succeeding, so we said, `Let's work with them the best we can to help that happen.' "
The lease agreement calls for a flat rental fee of $2,200 per game. The deal is different in that the 8,363-seat civic center is offering the club a rebate of 50 cents per person on paid admissions exceeding 3,125 per game. If the club draws 7,525 or better, the rent for that night will be zero.
"Realistically, the better the hockey club does, the more we can offer a rebate to them," civic center manager Bob Chapman said. "I don't know of another building in the country that offers that type of arrangement."
The civic center, which hasn't been the full-time home of the Roanoke Valley minor-league entry since 1975-76, will pocket all parking fees and concessions profits, Chapman said. Advertising income from sale of rink dasher boards will go to the club, he added.
Chapman estimated capital improvements necessary for hockey will cost approximately $45,000. The biggest costs include new dasher boards ($18,000), new insulation-board floor covering ($15,000) and new Plexiglas.
"We've made an investment to help get them going," Chapman said. "I think two years is a good trial basis. It's either going to succeed or we're going to put [hockey] to bed. At the end of two years, if these guys blow this thing out of the water, then the city is going to be looking for more revenue."
Danielsen added: "We're not in a situation where we're in danger of losing a great deal of money. We've projected this out where it's a good deal and we're satisfied."
Danielsen said it was the commission's opinion that hockey is a game on the rise. ECHL clubs in nearby cities such as Norfolk, Richmond, Greensboro, N.C., and Raleigh, N.C., all averaged more than 5,000 spectators per game this past season.
"We think that hockey will take hold like the other sports have," Danielsen said. "And this is a chance for the Roanoke Civic Center and the valley to capitalize on that. We're not looking at this as just a one- or two-year situation. We think it's a situation that will grow and have great economic impact."
The Roanoke Valley Rampage franchise, which owner Larry Revo moved to Huntsville, Ala., averaged a league-record low 1,439 fans per game this past season at the 3,250-seat Vinton LancerLot.
Gagnon, the president of Hockey-Roanoke Inc., projected the club's '93-94 budget at $800,000, or approximately double the Rampage's figure from last season.
"I think hockey in the past, especially last year, has not been taken seriously by the owner," said Gagnon, who added he already has received commitments for 1,400 season tickets, including 800 from Downtown Roanoke Inc. He estimated the club will have to draw "a little more than 3,000" spectators per game to break even.
Pierre Paiement, who will serve as the club's general manager, said he's negotiating with four NHL clubs for player working agreements. He said he has narrowed the coaching candidates to two, both with experience in the NHL, American Hockey League and ECHL.
by CNB