With the Prince George Cougars averaging only 2,047 fans per game, the lowest in the WHL, the jury
remains out as to their long term viability in the city.

 

It is clear, in the short term; the Cougars will continue to play their home games at CN Centre. “We are definitely going to be here next year. There is certainly no talk of selling, no talk of moving”, stated Cougars Vice President Brandi Brodsky in an interview with the Vista radio newsroom shortly after the season ended.

“I just placed a souvenir order for the fall and the hockey school is well on its way to being hopefully another sell out. Training camp is all prepared, we have the ice times all lined up, and we have our opening night and the Christmas date and everything like that. We’re going to be here. We are going to work this out. We will win some hockey games and everybody will be lining up for tickets."

 

Well, that’s all fine and dandy, and great to hear, but the small crowds remain a huge concern for the team.

“We made a decision some time ago that we will just talk about the attendance internally amongst ourselves. We know what we have to do to get people coming back to watch us play and that is what we’re focused on. There is no time line for how long we can continue," said Brodsky.

 

A major source of income for the Cougars obviously comes from ticket sales. Approximately 2,000 fans per game at an estimated average of $15 per ticket equals roughly $30,000 per game. With 36 home games, that’s just over a million dollars ($1,080,000). Yes, there are additional revenues, but a million bucks for a team with the most travel expenses can disappear quickly especially with gas prices continually on the rise.

The majority of the WHL franchises receive more cash than they spend. We all want to believe the Cougars will be in P.G. forever, but the numbers suggest it is a year by year decision.

 

Here are the final regular season average attendance figures for the 22 WHL teams ranging from most to least:
(% change from previous year)

 

 

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The Seattle Mariners are one of the have not teams in major league baseball and they have certainly been treated that way to start the season. Their schedule has been a farce. About the only person that could be “excited” about it would be Tim Tebow, since he is excited about everything.

Let’s review. The Mariners left Arizona and the cactus league to fly to Japan for two regular season games on March 28^th and 29^th. After splitting that two game mini-series against Oakland, the M’s returned to North America and the Cactus league to play more exhibition games. Guess who is back on the road today and Saturday? Yes, Seattle will play at Oakland for a pair, and then add to the fun by taking Sunday to travel to Texas for a four game series that begins on Monday.

Did you get all of that? One more time: exhibition games in Arizona to regular season games in Japan, back to exhibition games in Arizona, and then the resumption of the regular season in Oakland and more road games in Texas before the Mariners finally have their home opener on Friday the 13^th. I guess that’s what one would call a “lucky” schedule! But who cares, it’s only the Mariners.

 

 

The scouts no longer point the radar gun at him; they just count "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi …   

 

 

 

 

Congrats to Jamie Moyer, 49, who made the Colorado Rockies, and will now be the oldest pitcher ever on a MLB Opening Day roster. Moyer’s next challenge, to become the first pitcher whose age is a higher number than his pitch speed.

Former Maryland coach Gary Williams told a Washington radio station he thought the Kentucky Wildcats could beat the NBA’s Washington Wizards. Heck, these days the Washington Generals could beat the Washington Wizards.

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

 

 

A Louisville fan and a Kentucky fan got into a fight at, of all places, a dialysis clinic. But at least no kidney punches were thrown.

Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey blames the media for last season’s chicken and beer in the clubhouse scandal. Isn’t that like blaming the flashing red lights for distraction in a DUI crash?

  

 

 

Miami Heat star LeBron James dislocated a digit on his left hand in a recent game.
No biggie, a cynic might say — it’s just his ring finger. 

 

 

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested in Montana on theft and drug charges. Sadly, this represents the high point of Leaf’s career. 

 

 

 

 

Three of Tiger Woods’ former mistresses are in an X-rated video together. Tiger asked if he could appear for old times’ sake but the women said they already had a fourth. 

 

 

 

  

The penny is being taken out of circulation which was expected to be difficult for CFL players. However a spokesman for the owners says they can still nickel and dime the players.

Police reported numerous small fires and dozens of arrests near Kentucky’s campus after the Wildcats defeated Kansas to capture another NCAA title. Asked to rate the riot, Police say it was between a Montreal Canadians first round defeat and a Vancouver Canucks loss in the finals.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgaryhttp://smacksport.blogspot.com

 

 

Vancouver Police announced they would increase their presence for this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Offers of balancing the fan/police ratio have come from as far as London, Ont and Lexington, Kentucky.

 

 

An April Fools joke stated the Canucks had enlisted a Danish player that could shoot the puck at 163 mph to test their goalies. Too bad it’s the soft slow motion fluttering shots that Roberto Luongo has trouble with.

Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver

 

 

The US Commodities Futures Trading Commission has sued the Royal Bank of Canada for making fictitious trades. Now if they’ll only go after Brian Burke for his real ones. 

 

 

 

Petu, a hound in Finland, is an online hit for playing the piano while singing. Three of Petu’s favourite dog-related items:
3. Movie – My Life as a Dog;
2. Band – Three Dog Night;
1. Team – Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

 

Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com