UHL's Speed Struggles Both On The Ice And At The Gate

The KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL's Nick Gates reported UHL Speed Owner Andrew Wilhelm "confirmed Monday that the hockey team is struggling financially and he is seeking ways to improve cash flow." Wilhelm: "We'll probably lose money this season but we'll have hockey next year and in years to come." Despite "an attractive schedule packed with weekend dates," the Speed is averaging just 2,327 fans per game, "about 23 percent behind last year's pace at the halfway point" of the season. Accompanying the attendance slide is a disappointing record, but UHL President & CEO Richard Brosal is not concerned about the Speed's survival. Brosal: "We don't forsee any problems. We have a Board of Governors meeting in Chicago, and I'm confident [Wilhelm will] get things in order." Nevertheless, the Speed will have to address their attendance problems. Wilhelm: "Our season-ticket sales are down about 150 to about 850. We've had a slight dropoff each year. Our walkup has been down about 500 per game." While season-ticket prices have remained steady, the Speed "raised prices $1 across the board for nonseason tickets." Wilhelm claims the increase has not affected attendance, saying. "For $10 and $8, that's still a very reasonable price. We're comparable to the price of tickets for other teams" (KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL, 1/15).