The Prince George Cougars are number one in a category that raises concern with Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison.
During the 2012-13 season the Cougars' average attendance was 1,840, dead last in the league and a drop from the 2,047 the team averaged the previous season. The Cougars dismal on-ice performance in recent seasons - they've missed the post-season five of the past six years, including the last two - accounts for much of the recent drop.
"We're very concerned, and have been for some time, about the declining support for the franchise," said Robison. "That has to change in order for that franchise to continue to be viable in the Prince George market. It's incumbent on the team to improve their performance on the ice, but it's also important for the community-at-large to support this franchise to maintain the Prince George Cougars."
The Cougars had 66,233 fans take in action at their 36 home games last season. In comparison the Medicine Hat Tigers sold out every game in their 4,006-seat arena with 144,216 fans passing through the gates. Calgary and Edmonton had the top attendance at 334,791 and 272,708, respectively, playing in NHL-sized arenas. At capacity CN Centre seats 5,797 people.
In order to break even on the balance sheet the Cougars need to sell about 3,000 tickets per game each season, according to Cougars vice president Brandi Brodsky.
Robison said he has talked with Cougars owner Rick Brodsky about ways to improve the community support for the team.
"We have ongoing discussions," said Robison. "It's going to come down to the level of support they get and their ability to turn the team around. Ultimately it's up to the team to perform both on and off the ice. Our goal is to keep the franchise in Prince George but that will depend on the level of support in the community."
Brandi Brodsky said the team always works with the WHL on both local and league-wide matters, but added nothing specific has been discussed.
"We need to continue working hard to get to where we want to be," she said. "That's our responsibility."
The Cougars' lease with the City of Prince George to occupy CN Centre expires July 31, 2018. If either side were to break the contract prior to the deadline they'd have to pay a financial penalty. The City has no plans to break the lease, according to city sources, while Rick Brodsky told the Citizen last month he had no intention of moving the team.
The Cougars aren't the only WHL franchise that concerns Robison, as the Kootenay Ice, Prince Albert Raiders, Swift Current Broncos and Lethbridge Hurricanes are all bringing up the rear in WHL attendance figures. The Raiders, Broncos and Hurricanes are community-owned franchises.
"We don't have any immediate plans for relocation or expansion," said Robison.
While the commissioner said expansion is unlikely, two markets that the WHL considers attractive are Winnipeg and Nanaimo. Moving a franchise to Winnipeg would give the Brandon Wheat Kings a provincial rival. In April, the owners of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets, True North Sports and Entertainment, put out a questionnaire to determine the interest level in bringing major-junior hockey to the city. The results haven't been announced yet.
Meanwhile, the WHL hasn't hidden its desire to have two teams on Vancouver Island to cut down on ferry costs for teams making the trip to the Island since the Chilliwack Bruins relocated to Victoria in 2011. The main stumbling block for Nanaimo is the fact they don't have a WHL-sized arena.
A group in Nanaimo is currently undertaking a feasibility study to determine if the interest in having a WHL franchise is there and if it's affordable to build a new facility. An update on the study is expected at the June 15 city council meeting.
"Winnipeg, as is Nanaimo, is a market that is of interest to the Western Hockey League," said Robison. "Should relocation occur, those would be our priorities in the future."
