May 15, 2005

Memorial Cup In Kingston?

With the Memorial Cup tournament opening this week in London, there are sure to be LVEC proponents echoing the insinuations in the Business Plan that all you have to do is build a fancy new arena, and the tournament is yours to host. Actually; just the inclusion of such an assertion in the Business Plan is one of those holes that Councilor Beavis could drive a truck through.

The tournament is awarded to one of 20 OHL franchises every third year; rotating with the QMJHL and the WCHL. It is awarded based primarily on a teams' performance on the ice, and secondly, on bidding from selected competing cities; much like the Olympics. To be selected as one of the finalists, your franchise must have demonstrated that they are a legitimate contender for the league championship during the season during which the bid is submitted, and will ice a team capable of competing on the national level the following year; when they would get an automatic bye.

London is not hosting the event simply because they have a showplace arena. They were awarded the tournament last season when they were contenders all season long. They also had a large number of very skilled returning veterans and a history of good management decisions concerning acquisitions. It was on that basis the conclusion was reached that they would be as competitive this season; although I doubt anyone predicted just how good they have been.

A few such franchises are invited to submit bids. While a new facility is a definite plus, I can't help but think that other such factors as accessibility and parking are given high priority. Remember the John Labatt Centre is accessible from all directions and advertises 8,000 parking spaces within walking distance; most in a block and a half radius.

Note from the editor:  Here's a parking diagram of the area around the John Labatt Centre in London.  Note all the "P"s.

Barrie, Mississauga, and Sarnia have all built new facilities and have yet to be awarded the tournament. Oshawa , St. Michael's Majors, and Saulte Ste Marie are also moving into new facilities; plus Oshawa will have the advantage of an Olympic sized pad with a second pad for on-site practice. It will also put Oshawa in the running for the World Junior Hockey Championship which will now be held every three years in Canada. The Task Force selected a site too small for either an Olympic ice pad or a second pad. However, Kingston could be in the running if the Olympic ice pad at the proposed Multiplex were to accommodate an additional thousand fans.

If you can drive a truck through this hole you could drive an eighteen wheeler through the assumption that the Frontenacs will average 4,000 fans per game over a forty game season at a downtown site. With already the second lowest attendance figures in the league, it is doubtful that current or prospective fans will buy into the "Dispersed Parking" concept. This is simply re-labeling the "Non-Destination" concept rejected as part of the Block D proposal. On top of that, they are being asked to pay out an additional $240.00 per season ($2.00 surcharge plus a conservative $4.00 for the experience of Dispersed Parking) to directly subsidized what is quickly becoming a tourist convention centre.

I trust the independent Marketing Study will try to fill in these holes with accurate data and not just paper over them with nice words like vision, faith, and pride.

Dennis Brown
Kingston