Major Midget Hockey Showcase Fails to Score Cash
Prince George, B.C. – The Cariboo Cougars Major Midget Hockey organization was back before Prince George City Council this evening to try and land some cash to host a Major Midget Hockey showcase.
Estimated to create a $167 thousand dollar economic benefit for the City, the BCMML Showcase is an event where all eleven BCMML teams and a 12th invited American team come together in one community to play regular season games over a three day period. The Showcase provides the opportunity for Junior A and WHL hockey scouts to evaluate all BCMML players in one location. Approximately 40 scouts attend the Showcase.
The cash ask for hosting the event was for $50 thousand dollars to cover travel costs for teams as normally, this event is held in the lower mainland. The rest of the costs for the event are covered.
The money requested is to cover the travel expenses for the teams.
Two weeks ago, Council asked the proponents to come back with a full budget before it would make the final commitment.
Councillor Jillian Merrick says she cannot support this expenditure, saying the City has already made a significant contribution to Major Midget Hockey in its $58 thousand dollar contribution to the hosting of the Telus Cup.
Councillor Brian Skakun says “nothing against the organization, but it’s too big an ask”.
Director of Finance, Kris Dalio suggested part of the funds be allowed now, and the balance be part of the 2018 budget discussions.
Councillor Frank Everitt spoke in support of the request saying if the City denies this kind of event, then such events will always remain in the lower mainland.
The motion to provide the funding was defeated.
Comments
So let me see, the projection is to bring in 400k and the cost for this event is 50k even if the event was to only draw half that we would still be ahead 150k not to mention the exposure from the teams, scouts and all the support for these players that would ultimately benefit local business, this is not rockets science. on the potential benefits to this town and the positive exposure we would receive. If any counselor disagrees kindly voice your opinion and in the next election I will vote accordingly
proudtobepg – point of clarification…. Caribou Cougars Midget Hockey is selling to Council a $400K economic benefit to “The City”. That’s beleived to benefit hotels, restaurants, retail stores etc. NOT income for the tournament. I concur with Skakun ( did I just say that?)and Merrick – “its too big an ask”. As a taxpayer, I have zero interest in funding Minor Hockey. If it can’t stand on its own without tax payers subsidy, leave it in the Lower Mainland.
This is a tough one, but if we look at other ventures that have always been in the south, they have been that way for a few reasons.
1. The capacity to host such events.
We have overcome that hurdle with facilities that meet almost any sport standards.
2. The ability to host such events.
Here too, we seem to have grown as a community, sport or otherwise. We have the will power because of a pride of community, the numbers in a given cohort and the training/knowledge.
3. Southerners don`t think they should have to pay for travel when they never have had to.
This will never change. As an administrator and coach in a number of sports both here and Vancouver I can understand both sides of the argument. The real issue is the Provincial Sport Governing body…if they want to develop the sport in the WHOLE Province, they should have a travel fund that will help offset the real issue. Our City has underwritten enough already. The facilities are what make them interested….tax payers have done enough.
As for the financial benefit to the community, let them kick in. Come to think of it, there is a hotel tax that has just jumped up about 1/2 a million. How about sport travel funding come from that….watch the activity then…
Merrick can’t support an initiative that brings revenue to the City but she’s all in favour of the hundreds of thousands of dollars put out for the handful of people who cycle in this city? Odd.
According to bike to work week, 400 participants took part. My personal observation is about 1000 people cycle regularly – meaning a couple of times a week – especially when you factor in children – so not a handful. I could argue only a handful of people play soccer because whenever I pass the fields, no one is on them – especially in winter. Your lack of observation isn’t evidence that over the hundreds of kms of bike lanes, no one is using them at any given time.
I agree though, I think a quarter of million (city’s share) was pointless because drivers don’t care about current regulations, why would they pay attention to signs and lines. In fact cyclists have observed drivers have become more hostile toward cyclists because their parking has been taken away. It’s about $50,000 a year to repaint.
But if you want to talk subsidies, let’s talk about hockey players, ice skaters, and swimmers. From City of PG budget and this is in millions, and this happens ever year. If every cyclist is being subsidized to the tune of $50.00 for bike lane painting, how much is a swimmer being subsidized a year. I can tell you. It’s about $6.00 to go swimming on a 10 pass. Since expenses outstrip revenues 2.3 to 1, every time someone puts down $6.00, the city has to put down $8.00 for them to have a swim. This is just the cost of having a livable city. Cyclists are the least of your worries.
Arenas Aquatic Civic Centre
Revenues 4,389.00 1,823.00 1,445.00
Expenses 6,448.00 4,251.00 1,980.00
Subsidy -2,059.00 -2,428.00 -535.00
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