CORNWALL – Citing skittish potential investors and the city scrubbing its logo from the ice at the civic complex, the owner of the Cornwall River Kings says the team has folded.
The move appears to have dashed all chances of the team making a comeback next year, suggested by Steven Moreau last week.
Moreau issued a “final statement” late Tuesday night seemingly blaming the city for the team’s woes.
Moreau said investors had shied away after “they were told there was no revenue from concession or beer sales, no discount on ice team and only 30 per cent of marketing in the arena.”
The owner also said the city had made it “pretty obvious” about it intentions after removing the LNAH team’s logo from the ice shortly after it announced last week it wouldn’t be playing in the upcoming LNAH season.
“We pushed and pushed hard to find one last company or private partner to invest in the team. Unfortunately, they all backed out when they realized the only revenue would be ticket sales and sponsorship,” Moreau’s statement read.
In a news release Tuesday (Aug. 23), the North American Hockey League had given the Cornwall team 24 hours “to reach a positive outcome” and had postponed its Board of Governors meeting.
The LNAH posted an update at 8:15 p.m. suggesting all parties would meet in Quebec City, Que. on Wednesday night for a final decision.
Moreau had also cited a “lack of community support” when it decided Friday (Aug. 19) the hockey team would not be playing in the upcoming season.
In April 2016, Moreau said the River Kings needed to raise $700,000 to keep the team afloat for the 2016-17 season.
Meanwhile, River Kings’ fan Rodney Rivette assembled a crowd outside the civic complex Tuesday night to try and crowd fund the team.
Rivette is looking for a $500 commitment a year for five years from 1,000 fans in order to keep the team in Cornwall, should the league agree to the community shareholder agreement.
Under the plan, Rivette would run the team.
The Cornwall River Kings had been in Cornwall since 2012.