The owner of the now-defunct Newfoundland Growlers ECHL franchise is challenging the numbers put out by St. John’s City Council on their worth to the Mary Brown’s Centre and the city.
Councillor Ron Ellsworth, who chairs the finance committee, says the Growlers meant about $75,000 per year to the facility—or two concerts.
Dean MacDonald, President and CEO of Deacon Sports and Entertainment, suggests Ellsworth is not telling the truth. MacDonald says St. John’s Sports and Entertainment was guaranteed at least $75,000 but that figure would have been closer to $100,000 had the team played out the regular season and the playoffs. In addition, the city receives $350,000 a year in Growlers’ sponsorship money.
Ron Ellsworth
MacDonald says the naming rights from Mary Brown’s, $150,000 a year, is based on having hockey and the city probably makes about $40,000 on parking, plus other spinoffs including more than 750 hotel nights per year for players, fans and officials for a total revenue to the city between $600,000 and $700,000.
MacDonald told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that problems with the city were numerous, including the inability to have the next season’s schedule in time to meet the ECHL’s requirements. It happened only once in five seasons. He says the ECHL will never have another team in St. John’s.
He says the schedule for next season should be going out right about now because it’s part of a cycle which involves selling season tickets and sponsorships.
VOCM News has reached out to the city for a response.
