The Prince George Spruce Kings lottery home is skating on thin ice.
With six weeks left before the March 19 draw date, there are still 3,500 tickets ($100 each) remaining.
The Spruce Kings are a community-owned team in the B.C. Hockey League. Net proceeds from the show home, combined with the 50-50 draw, account for 75 per cent of the team's operating costs.
Without the lottery home selling out, the team's financial future will be in jeopardy, say team officials.
"If the home doesn't sell out, there will be a drastic change in the hockey operations department," said Spruce Kings team president Tom Bohmer. "We will have to make some very hard decisions. Through the show home, we are amongst the elite teams in the BCHL and that's due to the fact we have a budget to support it. If our budget shrinks, our operating budget will too. It puts the club in jeopardy."
Proceeds from ticket sales pay for the team's yearly travel budget which is $200,000 and amongst the highest in the league as well as equipment such as sticks ($30,000).
The custom-built home by Scheck Construction is a 2,986-square-foot five bedroom, three bath home located at 2693 Links Dr. in the Aberdeen Glen subdivision.
It features nine-foot ceilings, neutral colours, wide entry-ways, large windows, and two patios.
The rooms are uniquely decorated by donated items from Prince George businesses and organizations.
"This is a venture that requires the support of the hockey team and the community," said Bohmer. "I think the community understands the Kings and the entertainment value it provides at a reasonable cost. It's a good fit for the community."
So far, 6,000 tickets have been sold since they went on sale in September.
The show home is available to tour Monday to Friday from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets, which sold out last year, are also available at Canadian Tire, Pine Centre Mall, Central Builders, and Northern Hardware.
Besides the grand prize show home, there are still three early bird prizes are available.
They include a $1,000 gift card from Central Builders on Thursday; a $2,000 RK Furniture gift card on Feb. 12 and a $5,000 travel voucher from Expedia Cruise ShipCenters on Feb. 19.
To purchase tickets, a 24-hour hotline is available, 250-962-4946 (IWIN).
In addition to show home lottery tickets, the Kings Period 3 Mega 50-50 lottery tickets are also on sale with the draw on March 19. Someone could win $40,000.
