COBDEN — The Township of Whitewater Region is now part of the negotiations to bring the Whitewater Kings to the Cobden Astrolabe Arena.
Formerly the Prescott Flyers, the team name has been officially changed to the Whitewater Kings, noted general manager Kevin Ready in a release sent out to the media.
During the Wednesday, April 19 council meeting, the community services committee discussed, and passed, two resolutions to be sent to council.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay explained that since the municipality owns the arena, the council was invited into negotiations to see how the new hockey team will impact the township.
“We are working on a rental agreement based on one that is used in Pembroke and Arnprior,” he said.
As well, legal council has been advised of the discussions, to ensure the necessary provisions and standard clauses are included, he said.
The recommendation to have the township apply for a licence for the upstairs hall would not only be beneficial during hockey games, but could invite rentals of the upstairs hall. It would be the hockey club that would be responsible for the bar and scheduling servers during the games with the club receiving 75 percent of the profits and the township the other 25 percent, CAO Tremblay noted.
The recreation association may be offered the same option, but if the township had to hire the staff for various rentals, it would get 100 percent of the proceeds, he explained.
What is being discussed is who is operating the canteen, CAO Tremblay said. Arena manager Jerry McIntyre advised the rec association, which currently operates it, makes a profit of about $3,000 a year. However, it takes a lot of time scheduling and planning staff to operate the canteen, he added.
It has been suggested that the Whitewater Kings operate the canteen while the rec association and minor hockey do the 50/50 draws. The money from the 50/50 draws would then be re-invested into the facility and help minor hockey, he continued. It was noted the canteen would have to be open during all hockey games, not just when the Whitewater Kings are playing. CAO Tremblay said if the canteen is not open during various times when people are there, such as practices, there could be a good supply of food through vending machines.
There is also another opportunity to make money, and that would be by selling advertisements to be posted in the arena.
“In the Beachburg Arena, the current operator has taken full advantage of selling advertisements,” he said, adding, “It make sense to support the team.”
CAO Tremblay said the agreement is being finalized and should come back to council in two week’s time for review.
