Warriors’ new owners hope to put team’s stamp on outside of city arena

West Kelowna recreation manager says changes could help team financially

New murals outside and more food choices inside will help create a better hockey atmosphere at West Kelowna Warriors games this year, city council will hear Tuesday.

Council will decide whether to grant permission for new owners of the money-losing BC Hockey League team to adorn the exterior of Jim Lind Arena with the club’s logo and depictions of its star players.

As well, team owners propose to take back control of the rink’s concession so more food options can be offered to fans. Different food trucks on game night are under consideration.

Giving up the concession will cost the city about $5,000 a year in revenue, staff estimate.

The suggested modifications to the city’s lease with Vision Sports Group should help the team draw more fans and put it on a better financial footing heading into the 2017-18 season, says Bob Kusch, municipal recreation manager.

Previous team owner Mark Cheyne announced just before the start of last season’s playoffs that he was looking to sell the Warriors after years of heavy losses. The 2015-16 season alone, he said, had cost him more than $300,000 even though the Warriors won the national championship.

The team’s financial losses were even greater in other years, West Kelowna council heard last fall when it cut the Warriors’ annual rink rental from $63,600 to $52,000.

Attendance at Warriors games last January averaged about 840 people in the 1,500-seat arena. Although Penticton and Vernon have populations similar to West Kelowna, teams in those cities draw substantially more fans than the Warriors.

The Penticton Vees have averaged 2,500 fans the past three years, and attendance at Vernon Vipers games since 2014 has averaged 1,850.

In February, council voted against a request from the team to put Warriors stickers on all city-owned vehicles to better promote the club.