A last ditch effort to keep the West Kelowna Warriors where they are is underway.
Alex Draper, the team含羞草研究社檚 director of business operations, is among a group of dedicated locals putting their time toward drumming up interest for a new ownership coalition.
含羞草研究社淲e have a couple irons in the fire, but we need more investors,含羞草研究社� said Draper, who started the effort in earnest last week.
含羞草研究社淧eople started expressing interest and we thought, 含羞草研究社榣et含羞草研究社檚 do what we can then we can look in the mirror and say we did the best we could.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
In addition to private investors looking into the feasibility of a group-ownership plan, Draper said they含羞草研究社檝e also had support from the City of West Kelowna.
Bob Kusch, West Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 Parks, Recreation and Culture Manager, on Tuesday submitted a report, that recommended council approve the application of 含羞草研究社淗ome of the 2016 RBC Cup Champions含羞草研究社� decals on all city vehicles should the West Kelowna Warriors remain.
含羞草研究社満卟菅芯可绂They are seeking support from the city to express pride and support for the franchise and recognize the teams含羞草研究社� achievements,含羞草研究社� read Kusch含羞草研究社檚 report.
含羞草研究社淭he new proposed ownership group believes, that by doing so, the city would assist in their efforts to increase the fan base.含羞草研究社�
Draper said that含羞草研究社檚 just the tip of the iceberg. The city has also told them it含羞草研究社檚 open to releasing advertising space to the team in Royal LePage Place that could offer an additional revenue stream.
含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檝e told us, 含羞草研究社榃e want you guys here,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 said Draper.
Draper acknowledges that keeping the team local isn含羞草研究社檛 going to be easy, but there含羞草研究社檚 precedence with three community-owned teams in the league.
含羞草研究社淔or these teams local investment has come together and they have a local board that can pass laws and that kind of thing,含羞草研究社� he said.
While the specifics are far from being hammered out, Draper said it含羞草研究社檚 clear there含羞草研究社檚 a contingent of hockey-minded residents who want it to happen and he wants to help.
含羞草研究社淭he other day a 10-year-old in Kelowna minor hockey come up to me and ask, 含羞草研究社榠f the Warriors leave am I still a Warrior?含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 he said.
含羞草研究社淵ou hear that kind of thing and you have to do what you can.含羞草研究社�
The plan to move the team to Delta is still moving ahead, but Draper said that if something happens to keep the team local the current owner would support it.
含羞草研究社淗e always wanted to keep the team here, the three or four years he was selling it we hoped it was going to be to a local investor,含羞草研究社� he said.
Warriors含羞草研究社� owner Mark Cheyne signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership of the club to a Delta businessman last month, with the move subject to approval by the league含羞草研究社檚 board of governors.
The team was a money-losing venture since moving to West Kelowna from Langley in 2006, Cheyne took over sole ownership of the club in 2009.
With an RBC Cup championship run last season, Cheyne hoped the club含羞草研究社檚 financial fortunes would finally take a turn for the better. But with community support for the team and attendance remaining stagnant this season, Cheyne said the writing was on the wall.
含羞草研究社淲e were never even close to breaking even once and after awhile it含羞草研究社檚 just no fun anymore,含羞草研究社� Cheyne said. 含羞草研究社淭he last few years, you look for that light at the end of the tunnel, and when we won it all last year, we hoped that would be it.
含羞草研究社淚 was told once you get by Vernon, once you get by Penticton, once you win something big, it含羞草研究社檒l turn around,含羞草研究社� Cheyne added. 含羞草研究社淏ut the light at the end never came.含羞草研究社�
To get in touch with Draper email alex@westkelowna.ca.
