No arena, no Fronts: Springer
Hockey club owner says he’ll move team if project
dies
The Whig-Standard
Local News - Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Updated @ 11:23:00 PM
The Whig-Standard
The city will lose its Ontario Hockey League franchise if council votes to
cancel the new downtown arena, said one of the team’s owners yesterday.
“There is no question that if they cancel the project, the Kingston Frontenacs
will be on their way,” Doug Springer said. “And not only that, but it also
jeopardizes the city’s bid for the Memorial Cup.”
The team has signed a 20-year lease in the new building, with an option for
another 20. The city gets a 10-per-cent cut of ticket sales, and 90 per cent of
food and beverage sales.
The new arena’s business plan states the team can’t make a profit in the
Memorial Centre, and for it to remain viable, a new facility is needed. Its
lease is up at the end of the year.
“The team suffers from low attendance numbers because hockey fans expect a
modern facility with appropriate amenities,” the plan states. “Low attendance
numbers result in annual financial losses for the owners of the team.”
There are cities looking to get into the OHL – Niagara Falls just wrapped up a
failed bid to attract the Mississauga IceDogs.
Meanwhile, the team has made a pitch for next year’s Canadian junior hockey
championship that is built largely upon having a new arena in place. Hockey
Night In Canada personality and Kingstonian Don Cherry has appeared in
television ads promoting the city’s bid and its new arena.