YORKTON - There is a question that is being asked of the residents of Yorkton – that question being whether as a community we want sport entertainment beyond that of minor sports in the city?
At present the answer appears to be a definite no.
We have already seen the Yorkton Cardinals of the Western Canadian Baseball League disappear in a wash of red ink.
While initially the team went on hiatus to try and right its financial ship, the likelihood of a return was always remote, made more remote still by COVID-19.
Sad to say that baseball of a calibre above a local senior loop is likely not to be seen regularly on a baseball diamond in the city for quite some time.
Now some will suggest Yorkton has always been less a baseball town, and more a hockey town, and while that has some relevancy, the Junior Terriers aren’t exactly on the strongest financial footing either.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League franchise was significantly in the red based on normal operations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Somewhat surprisingly the pandemic actually helped the situation of the Terriers and of other teams in the SJHL.
The provincial government gave the SJHL $1 million to help it survive the COVID-related season shutdown. The Terriers would receive $90,909, as their share of a $1 million, which was split between the league office and the teams in the league.
Overall, government program dollars flowing to the Terriers because of the COVID-19 pandemic totalled just shy of $300,000, effectively lifting the team financially back into the black.
But, this season fan support has been sparse, with just more than 400 attending home games on average. Less fans mean less 50/50 and program sales and overall revenues shrink.
Team president Corvyn Neufeld admitted this week current projections based on the attendance numbers are putting the team back into a deficit position.
It was not so many years ago crowds were often of 1000, or greater, the decline starting pre-COVID so one cannot simply blame the pandemic.
The question then becomes why the decline, and how does the team entice people back?
If the answer is they don’t, then the future on Junior hockey in Yorkton, and across the SJHL -- as low attendance is not isolated to the Terriers – comes into question.
There is no doubt for many the Junior Terriers have created many lasting memories, and it would be sad for at least the diehard fan to see the team only remembered through displays at the local Sports Hall of Fame.
But, for the team to continue it cannot operate in the red, only emerging into the black because of grant dollars.
That means greater community support, so Yorkton are you up to be there for the Terriers?
