Town council granted the request of the Olds Grizzlys for reduced ice rates for the 2012-13 season and also granted the team's request that practice ice times be moved to better accommodate player schedules. The decision was made at last week's regular council meeting.
Henry Czarnota, president of the team's board of directors, Rob Turville, the team's business manager and Brett Hopfe, the team's head coach and director of hockey operations, all appeared before council to make the request of the town.
Czarnota told councillors that an outstanding bill of roughly $24,000 of ice time rentals from last season will be paid soon, once the team receives money from a fundraising event recently held. In the meantime, the group requested that the town waive interest charges totalling $2,378 on the outstanding balance.
Hopfe told councillors that the 8:30 a.m. practice time slot the team had last season had a detrimental effect on student players, who could only practise for 30 minutes before having to leave for school. Last year, the team had roughly 10 players that were still in high school. In addition, he said after road games the team usually gets home after midnight, also making 8:30 a.m. practices difficult. With some billets out in Mountain View County, players sometimes had difficulties making those practice times.
As a result, Hopfe said noon to 3:30 p.m. practice times would work better for most players, as those still in school can better accommodate that time.
As a result of the move to the afternoon prime ice slot at a reduced $41 per hour rate, the town is absorbing $2,829 to accommodate the Grizzlys.
Coun. Mary Jane Harper pointed out to the delegation that the town would be losing money if the town granted its request. She said while she thought the team is a good ambassador for the community, she had concerns about its financial situation and the town absorbing some of the costs the Grizzlys might be expected to pay. In addition, the town allows the Grizzlys to take all of the advertising revenue from the rink boards and glass. Last year, that amounted to about $200,000.
The town had a $670,000 deficit budget this year at the sports complex.
“I support the Olds Grizzlys but I have a number of questions. You have to realize that the citizens are on the hook for that (deficit),” she said, adding that council should be provided with the team's financial statements.
Asked about the Grizzlys' financial health in relation to other teams in the league, the group told council that many of the teams are in similar positions to the Grizzlys, with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Grande Prairie Storm and Camrose Kodiaks doing much better than average due to support from the oil industry. The Kodiaks also draw on a large fan base, the group noted. The group also noted that Grizzly players plan to get more involved with minor sports organizations going into the future.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, Turville said the delegation was happy with the response of town council and that the organization has been making an effort to solidify its relationship with the town.
“Overall, we are happy with council's decision and … we are going to do our best to be as much involved in the community and the county … as we can,” he said, adding the team is attempting to build up more financial support to deal with the team's approximately $90,000 debt.
