Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 7, 1993 TAG: 9305070109
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ Roanoke's reputation as a "no-draw" city had a local group's bid for a 1993-94 East Coast Hockey League franchise in jeopardy late Thursday night at the ECHL meetings in Freeport, Bahamas.
"It's not looking good right now," said John Gagnon, leader of a seven-member group of Roanoke-area businessmen trying to land a team to play in the Roanoke Civic Center next season.
"We're still going to have to convince some people that Roanoke is not a bad city. That's the big concern here - the past experience of hockey in Roanoke."
In a change from the original meeting schedule, Gagnon's presentation to the league's 15 voting club owners was bumped up from today to Thursday. Following Gagnon's presentation, an unnofficial preliminary vote produced eight votes in favor of the Roanoke bid, six against and one undecided.
ECHL bylaws require a two-thirds majority vote to accept a new franchise, meaning at least 10 of the 15 owners will have to vote in favor of the Roanoke bid.
"Our presentation was triple-A and our financial statement was triple-A," Gagnon said. "The only concern was the city of Roanoke and its ability to support hockey. They wondered how hockey would work under me and not the others who have owned clubs in Roanoke.
"There were so many questions among the owners that no official vote was ever taken. They decided to transfer the vote to [Friday] until some of the questions could be answered."
Gagnon said he and partner Pierre Paiement would spent the remainder of Thursday night trying to sway the dissenters.
"We've been working all day and all night to this point trying to convince people about Roanoke," Gagnon said. "I still think we'll get the necessary votes. If we have to work all night long to get them, we will. "I still think there will be hockey in Roanoke next season."
In its five seasons in the ECHL, the Roanoke franchise has had the lowest attendance in the league every season. Playing in the 3,250-seat Vinton LancerLot, Roanoke's ECHL entry never has averaged more than 2,300 spectators per game. Last season, the lowly Roanoke Valley Rampage averaged an ECHL-record-low 1,439 fans per game in a league that averaged 4,500 overall.
Gagnon claims playing in the the 8,363-seat Roanoke Civic Center and his group's increased marketing of hockey will change those numbers. His group already has received commitments for 1,400 season tickets should Roanoke be awarded a franchise.
If his group's bid is turned down, Gagnon said he's not interested in waiting until 1994-95 for a Roanoke franchise.
"If they say `no,' well, I'm out $20,000," said Gagnon, referring to a $10,000 bond he had to post with the league and other expenses incurred to this point.
"If they said, `Let's wait to next year,' I'd say no because it would be very hard for us to create the kind of excitement we have this year," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's now or never."
by CNB