Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots Sept. 29th Edition

By Hartley Miller

 Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to the Prince George CN Centre for tonight's exhibition game between the Vancouver Canucks, and the Edmonton Oilers. Now, for the starting lineups!

It's that time of year again when NHL teams are evaluating prospects in pre-season games. At times, these exhibition games take place in a non NHL city. So, can Prince George land a game, or two?

Perhaps, the best person to ask this question is CN Centre General Manager Phil Beaulieu. “At this point in the 4 years I have been here we haven't made a concerted effort to draw an NHL pre-season game yet, but we have considered it conceptually”.

So, does that mean Beaulieu will pursue the matter? The answer is affirmative. “Will we look at it in the future? Yes, I think it is our mandate to fill the building with big events. Obviously, NHL hockey is an event that would sell in Prince George”.

This concept could become reality, if the dollars and cents add up. 

Here's a hypothetical case:  Let's say 6,000 seats are sold at an average of a $100 a ticket. That's $600,000, excluding revenue from sponsorship, merchandise, concession and other areas.  Expand this to a double-header (keep in mind most NHL clubs have a pre-season roster big enough for two teams) in the city which results in a total of $1.2 million. Beaulieu says, “I don't know what the NHL teams financial realties are for an exhibition game. Is it worth me making a call saying we can put 600 grand on the table? Absolutely!”

The City of Prince George is developing a credible name by hosting major events and this might tweak the NHL's interest. “Thru the Royal Bank Cup and the relationships we are building with Hockey Canada in that event, we are starting to get some of the network out there where we can make those calls over the course of the winter and feel comfortable that they will be taken seriously,” said Beaulieu.

If an entrepreneur or sporting group would like to organize a major event like this, City of Prince George representatives are ready to offer their full support. “We are way more than all ears. We would do whatever we could to help facilitate it because I think it would be great for the community and for the building. I'm a hockey fan so it would excite me. I know the excitement the community would have” stated Beaulieu.

This year the Canucks held their training camp outside of Vancouver (in Vernon), so the next logical step is a pre-season game in a different part of the province, and that's where Prince George fits in.

If the organizational structure was in place, then the next step is to determine whether a hockey fan will shell upwards of $100 a ticket?  I'm convinced the answer is an overwhelming YES, especially if it means a game featuring NHL caliber players.

So, Prince George, would you pay upwards of 100 dollars a ticket?

Beaulieu and others want to know!!

From the quote rack:

"One opponent already has backed out, over health concerns expressed by her grandson."
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on unexpected snags in Evander Holyfield's heavyweight comeback bid.

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"Watch for race broadcasts on EhBC."
Jeff Funnekotter, to Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, on Canadian Cascar being purchased by NASCAR.

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"Giddy baseball historians immediately proclaimed it the mother of all intentional walks.''
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, after nearly a thousand disgruntled Orioles fans got up and filed out of Camden Yards en masse during a recent game against the Tigers in protest of owner Peter Angelos's stewardship.

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"Next April, baseballs that have the inscription "I'm Sorry I Bet On Baseball" will be auctioned off.
The Phoenix Coyotes are just relieved that they weren't signed by Janet Jones.”
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California 
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"The Raiders completed 93 percent (53 for 57) of their center snaps."
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, looking for a positive in the Oakland Raiders 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

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"T.O. thanks his lucky stars that it was only his ring finger, and says that his "middle finger" will be ready for that game in Philly."

Comedian Frenchie McFarlane  (www.frenchiemcfarlane.bravehost.com), after Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens had a plate inserted in his broken ring finger.

And in case you missed it:

According to Forbes.com, and with thanks to Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel, the six wealthiest people under the age of 25 are: 5. Serena Williams, $12.7 million; 4. Hilary Duff, $15 million; 3. Maria Sharapova, $18.2 million; 2. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, $21 million; 1. LeBron James, $22.9 million . .

And how was your week?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the
PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com

Publisher's Note:

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