Lakers feeling betrayed by the city
MSL team mulling over options of where to play for 2019 season while PMC floor is replaced
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers feel betrayed by City of Peterborough staff, says a team spokesman.
The Lakers executive will gather Saturday morning to start planning the 2019 season after city council decided Monday to proceed with repairs to the Memorial Centre floor next summer. Those repairs will lock the Major Series Lacrosse team out of their home arena in 2019.
During contentious council debate the Lakers suggested folding the team was a possibility if the PMC was closed next summer.
Lakers executive member and communications director Brian Cowie said that doesn’t seem likely.
“I know there have been rumblings of is that still an option but I don’t think it’s a big option or big possibility,” Cowie said.
“I think somehow we have to make this work but, at the same time, once we get the budgets and expenses lined up, if we can’t do it, we can’t do it.”
The city has offered to compensate the team financially for lost ticket revenues but none of those conversations have taken place, Cowie said.
“There is not much trust with the city right now,” Cowie said. “We do feel betrayed by the information that came out and some of the facts that came out that we believe are not true.
“We are still apprehensive about what kind of (compensation) package they might put together.”
Cowie said they feel betrayed because the issue started as floor integrity. Once the Lakers offered an alternative fix to replacing the whole floor the city then made new boards and refrigeration piping issues, he said.
“They were changing the parameters,” Cowie said.
City commissioner of community services Allan Seabrooke said trust has to go both ways. He said the city doesn’t want to inconvenience any of its users but felt, after weighing all evidence, there was too much risk involved in not doing a full replacement of the floor and pipes.
“This was not a decision that was taken lightly and it certainly isn’t a decision any of us at the city or any of the staff wanted,” Seabrooke said.
As investigations went on, he said, it became apparent the piping and boards were related issues. Whether the PMC is replaced in five years or 15 years, these issues couldn’t wait, he said.
“It was only a matter of time. If it wasn’t this year and we took the risk there is a good chance it would have been another year,” Seabrooke said.
“If you have a situation that happens when it’s unplanned and you then have to react when you have an issue it’s not going to be good for any of the tenants. Not just the Lakers and Petes but any other users.”
As for 2019, Cowie said the team has more questions than answers.
“The first thing is where exactly are we going to play,” Cowie said.
“There are going to be some inquiries into places like Port Hope, Norwood, Lindsay to see what types of facilities and expenses might be involved at those places.”
While none of those facilities seat more than the Evinrude Centre, Cowie said they don’t know what it will cost to play at the Evinrude.
“In the past, the city has made $100,000 off our gate revenues. We don’t know if they’re going to charge us by our gate, which will be nothing anymore, or make us pay the $100 or $200 an hour.”
“I don’t think that is a decision that needs to weigh much in their discussions,” Seabrooke said.
“It needs to be, what is best for our fans and the Laker organization. Council has already committed to financial compensation for any difference in ticket revenues.”
Other issues of compensation, said Seabrooke, are open for discussion.
“Those are the conversations that will take place in the next meeting with the Lakers,” he said, anticipating those meetings will be in January.
Seabrooke urges sponsors and rans to continue to support the Lakers.
“This is when they need you the most. Continue to support them no matter what venue the Lakers pick,” Seabrooke said.
The city has ways to enhance the profile of Lakers sponsors, he said.
“We have guides that go out, a web site that can be used, we have boards around the city that provide messaging. There are ways to give high profile to these companies,” Seabrooke said.
Cowie says they won’t be able to charge the same ticket price at the Evinrude since the game experience won’t be as good. There are other costs beyond lost ticket revenues such as an anticipated loss of sponsors and carpet storage costs since their carpet likely won’t fit another arena, said Cowie.
“Our expenses are in the $500,000 to $600,000 range,” he said.
“We have to talk to our general manager and see if this is going to affect any of our players coming back. We haven’t talked to the league yet to see what their thoughts or input are,” Cowie said.
Another question include how to determine which 900 fans of their more than 2,400 season ticket holders get into games.
Seabrooke proposed putting screens in the other Evinrude pad or multipurpose room to create a viewing party for excess fans. The Lakers weren’t overly enthused by that idea.
There was talk of playing in an outdoor bowl but Seabrooke said the costs seem prohibitive. Cowie said weather is too much of a wildcard.