OHL Niagara IceDogs

Final Push Towards December 5 Spectator Facility Vote

Published on November 28, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release


Dear Niagara IceDogs Supporters,

This week is a key point in Niagara IceDogs history. A week from today will be the final vote regarding the New St. Catharines Spectator Facility and with that vote, the future of the Niagara IceDogs hangs in the balance. A vote of yes for the facility would secure the future of the IceDogs in St. Catharines for the long term, while a vote of no to the facility is essentially a vote of no to the IceDogs future in St. Catharines.

While the New Spectator Facility supporters have been vocal in the past, we are now in the stretch run and we need to be more vocal than ever with our support for the facility. It is key that we make sure the councilors are aware of the support there is for the new facility and we need to make sure they hear our voices! The e-mails to council do not have to be an essay, something as simple as "I want a new spectator facility for St. Catharines!" with your name and phone number helps show your support. Councilors have received hundreds of e-mails on the subject of a new spectator facility in the past, let's make it thousands of e-mails of support in the next week.

So if you have e-mailed the councilors before, we encourage you to e-mail them again. If you have not e-mailed them before, now is the time. Encourage your friends, family and neighbours to do the same because after next Monday, your e-mails will be too late!

In addition to e-mail support, there was a column by Doug Herod in the Standard on Saturday, in which he challenged IceDogs supporters to "walk the talk" by coming out and packing the Gatorade Garden City Complex. While the crowds this season have been good, the arena has not been completely packed on a night in, night out basis and with the final vote coming up, now is as important a time as ever to "Pack the Jack"! By filling the arena for the next two home games, we can show council and the anti-arena advocates that the support for the IceDogs is here and that a new spectator facility could see much larger crowds on a nightly basis.

Even though Herod does not come out against the new facility in the article, he does use the attendance as a reason to say that a 4,000 seat facility would be enough. While we can appreciate the fact that it would seem that 4,000 seats is a big increase from the current arena, we are confident that with a new facility with proper amenities we would more than fill a 4,000 seat facility. Currently at the Gatorade Garden City Complex our average attendance is more than the number of seats, meaning the majority of tickets left available are standing room only. This is with an outdated facility that is cramped, lacks proper concourses and adequate washroom facilities, has uncomfortable seats and essentially none of the modern conveniences of a new facility. Right now, fans endure an uncomfortable arena to enjoy the hockey, whereas with a new rink it wouldn't just be about the hockey, but it would be an enjoyable night out for everyone.

Also, while Herod may only use it as a reason to limit the capacity, the anti-arena crowd will try and use it as a point to show that a new arena isn't necessary at all because we cannot even fill the current one. It is for this reason that we must pack the Gatorade Garden City Complex on both Thursday and Saturday to make a statement to council and the anti-arena advocates that IceDogs supporters are loud and proud in their support of both the team and a new spectator facility! If we can pack the current arena to the brim despite the lack of amenities, it just goes to further show how much support there is for the team.

If you have tickets for Thursday and Saturday, we appreciate the support! If you are a season ticket holder, we encourage you to make sure that you ensure your seat is filled. However, even if you do have your tickets already, we encourage you to try and bring out any friends or family that might be interested in attending a game. We have been challenged to sell out the arena for this week's game in order to make a statement to council about the arena and we need your help to make it a reality. You have helped us step up to a challenge in the past and we need your help again.

For those of you that don't have your tickets, what are you waiting for? With a team that features a CHL high four players invited to the Canadian World Junior Selection camp, as well as 10 NHL drafted players, the year's IceDogs squad is an exciting team to watch. Also, attending games is important not only for supporting this year's team, but the IceDogs future in St. Catharines. It is an exciting product, at an extremely reasonable price. Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll just wait and come another game, or just wait until there is a new rink, if we don't fill the rink we have now, there may not be that opportunity in the future.

I thank you all for your support of both the team and the new spectator facility up until this point, however, I cannot emphasize just how important your support is over this coming week for both the team and the facility. We are in the last minute of play and we need you to leave it all out there as we try and make this facility a reality. Next week there will be no tomorrow; a new facility will either be a reality or something that could have been. Let's not leave anything to chance. We've been challenged and now is the time to step up and make it a reality! With your help we can make this happen!

LET'S BUILD IT!

Go Dogs Go,

Bill Burke

Owner

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2011


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