Page 10 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 29

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The CMHA Peewee B Hockey
Team came out victorious
in the Eastern division of
the UCMHL. At press time,
the Peewee’s were playing
against Perth for the overall
East/West Championship.

Submitted photo

Story
Correction

n Issue #28, it was wrongly said
Ithat local triathlete Dale Witty
was diagnosed with cancer. Mr.
Witty has never been diagnosed and
is simply an advocate to conquer
it. We here, at Sports Energy,
sincerely apologize to Mr. Witty
for this mistake.

presents Sports Panel

Recently the OHL’s Belleville Bulls franchise was sold and is moving to Hamilton On. Cornwall lost it’s Major Jr Royals in 1992.

Would the OHL work in the Cornwall market today?

William Dillabough Jake Lapierre Jim Riddell
The question of Major Junior Having an OHL team in Cornwall The idea of having an OHL team in
“A” Hockey returning to is a wonderful idea; to watch and Cornwall is not all that farfetched.
Cornwall crops up every couple enjoy higher calibre Major Junior Cornwall is a great hockey town,
hockey - to bring back the nostalgia the Ed Lumley arena has the
of years. OHL franchises have
of the Royals and the opportunity capacity to accommodate the
become multi-million dollar
to cheer “up and coming” NHL team and the necessary education
operations.
prospect players locally; however, and billeting partners would
Sports Enthusiast Both the franchise fee and Conditioning Coach at what cost? The structure of the Seaway Karate Club compare favourably to any city in
operating budgets are in the OHL has changed considerably

millions. So, the first thing we need is an owner with since 1992. The Ed Lumley Arena, once considered a the league. Cornwall, however, is at a disadvantage to
very deep pockets; second, would be the arena. The state of the art facility, would require extensive and costly most other team in both location and population density.
complex would require major upgrading at taxpayers structural changes to meet current OHL standards. The Using Belleville as an example, the city’s population
expense. Most OHL arenas today resemble mini average OHL fan attendance is approximately 3000 per is similar to Cornwall, but with Napanee and Trenton
game. Is Cornwall’s fan base large enough to fill 3000 just a few minutes on either side, the numbers double.

NHL Rinks. The team would also need to control
seats per game to support the team? Would an OHL team Cornwall would have only the Ottawa 67’s as natural
concessions, parking, etc. Third - fans. I think you
benefit Cornwall enough to entice the City to invest the rivals while most other teams have several. Belleville

would need a committed season ticket base of at funding required for facility upgrades? Do taxpayers has Kingston, Oshawa, and Peterborough within easy
least 2000 to 2500 people. Walk-up would be needed believe an OHL team would benefit the City of Cornwall driving distance. Even with a greater population and

to bring attendance to around 3400- 3800 per game. enough to invest tax money on a team and sacrifice other proximity to the fan base of other teams, Belleville has

Current OHL ticket pricing is $20.00 – $30.00 per City services? been at or near the bottom of the OHL in attendance!
adult and in most cases parking is an additional cost. The City of Belleville, (population 49,454 according to Five of the twenty teams in the league are averaging
Fourth, we would need support from the corporate the 2011 census) was faced with similar issues to keep an
OHL team in Belleville. The Bulls are now relocating to 3000 or more in attendance per game. Many people in
community. Sponsorship packages, corporate box
the First Ontario Centre in Hamilton. Cornwall and surrounding area would appreciate and
rentals and support are essential. If we had all of the
Would I like to see an OHL team in Cornwall? Absolutely support an OHL team, but to average 3000 fans per
above, who knows, we could be hearing “GO Royals but I’m also realistic. Do I believe Cornwall has the game over 34 home games might be overly optimistic.
Go” echoing throughout the Ed Lumley Arena once appetite for an OHL team at today’s price tag? In my I do not think that we would have the fan support to
again. opinion, I don’t believe so, but that’s just my opinion. sustain an OHL team in Cornwall.