Flames Vice Chair Harley Hotchkiss said yesterday that
better fan support is "critical to the survival of his
team," according to Allan Maki of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.
If the Flames fail to draw as many as 3,000 customers per
game, the team would "miss out" on C$5-7M worth of projected
revenue. The team could also "fail to qualify" for the
league's Canadian Assistance Plan (CAP) that helps "reduce
the currency difference between Canadian and U.S. dollars."
Over the past four years, the Flames have received C$750,000
to C$1M from the CAP for meeting ticket and luxury sales and
advertising targets. But with a season-ticket total of
9,000, the team is "no longer entitled to help from the NHL,
and that has Hotchkiss worried." Hotchkiss said the CAP
money covers 25% of the team's "currency costs," a number he
estimated to be C$12M. Hotchkiss: "We need better fan
support. ... It's that simple. ... For us to not get the
[CAP] money would be a serious problem." Maki adds that
attendance at the Saddledome has been "on a steady decline"
since '95, and the team is averaging 14,629 after 13 dates
this season. The team "regularly drew" 19,036 in '95 and
averaged 16,201 last season (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/16).
