The Moncton Wildcats and City of Moncton have an agreement to improve dedicated space for the team at the Downtown Centre at a cost of $2 million.
Wildcats Director of Business Operations Ryan Jenner says they have to fit up three rooms – including office space, the team store, and a dressing room.
“These are big spaces, and we certainly appreciate the City’s support on that, we’re definitely going to be repaying that over a 20 year period and the associated costs with that,” says Jenner.
He adds those spaces are currently just four bare walls but their research shows the budget is in line with other markets across Canada.
“It’s a recruiting tool for us, we’re competing against not only other teams in our league but U.S. colleges that have phenomenal facilities with endless alumni money,” says Jenner. “It’s a big deal for a junior hockey player to have a great facility to play out of.”
Jenner said it was important to both the team and the Wildcats that no taxpayer dollars would ultimately be spent on this project, hence the repayment plan.
He made it clear the $2 million dollars from the City was a hard cap, and any overages or costs above that would be paid for by the team itself.
As well, the Wildcats are making an unspecified, yet “significant” financial contribution to the fundraising campaign for the Downtown Centre which aims to raise $5 million.
The details of that contribution are not available at this point, although an announcement is expected in the future.
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