Prior to last season, the Peterborough Petes held its first town hall meeting with season ticket holders and fans.
It was revealed at the time, that the organization was struggling financially and losing on average anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 per year and so they reached out for help.
One year later, the team is back and team management says they are stronger as they have a new contract and lease agreement with city hall.
Petes’ president Dave Pogue announced the news at the second annual Town Hall: The Follow up — as it was called, where Pogue had “plenty of good news to share.”
“I just got the latest numbers and our season ticket sales are up 12 per cent.”
Last year his message was a little more dire, after talks of the historic franchise perhaps being sold or folding.
It’s no secret that small market OHL teams have been struggling. Two years ago, the Belleville Bulls franchise was sold and moved to Hamilton.
Still, there was no question the Petes and the city didn’t want to lose the franchise.
“In the previous deal we were giving 50 per cent of our gross revenue to the city and now we are only contributing 35 per cent,” said Pogue of the new contract.
Head coach Jody Hull thinks the town hall last year was a turning point and helped clear up some misconceptions about the organization.
“We’re heading in the right direction and we want to keep hockey in Peterborough,” said Hull. “And I think the city and the team have recognized that we needed to come together to work some things out and we have done that.”
The Petes say they want to see more fans at their games, as last season it took a 10-game win streak in December before the team eclipsed the 2,500 attendance mark for a game.
But this season there are already some positive moves to celebrate says Pogue.
“Nobody liked the way things ended last season and we are trying to go further than that,” said Pogue. “So we’re going to try and keep putting a winning product on the ice and hopefully that correlates to more fans in the seats.”
Jonathan Ang led the Petes in playoff scoring last season and is excited to get the regular season underway and says community events like the town hall go a long way to help fans get closer to the team.
“It’s always good to see your fans,” he said. “They are the ones that support you and cheer you on, and as a team we want them to come out.”
The Petes have three exhibition games remaining before they host the defending OHL champion Erie Otters at the Memorial Centre for its home opener Sept. 21.
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