Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors as Tenants in the Multiplex

On December 12, 2005 City Council adopted the following resolution (an excerpt, emphasis added):

THAT the City of Moose Jaw commit a capital investment of $10 million in the capital budgeting planning process towards the project subject to a due diligence process that includes negotiating and signing contracts for all the contractually obligated operating revenues to substantiate the assumptions made in the Nustadia Business Plan;

In addition to the former resolution of Council, a report to City council dated March 22, 2007 states (an excerpt, emphasis added):

City Administration and the Moose Jaw Warriors recognize that the primary reason the City of Moose Jaw is contemplating the construction of a new arena is to meet the facility standards of the WHL to accommodate the needs of the anchor tenant, the Moose Jaw Warriors.  As a result, prior to proceeding with construction of a new facility, it is necessary for the anchor tenant to commit to a long term lease.

3 years after council adopted the resolution, no signed contracts exist for the Warriors to be tenants in a new facility. The City has met with the Warriors President, Mr. Darin Chow, and General Manager, Mr. Chad Lang about lease agreements, but have not been able to reach a signing.  Mr. Chow is not only President of the Warriors, he is also a member of Moose Jaw City Council and a proponent of the downtown Multiplex.

Ensuring the Future Financial Viability of the Warriors

Under the Nustadia Business Plan, the Warriors as the anchor tenant in the downtown Multiplex are required to pay $130,200 per year rent to the City of Moose Jaw. Compare that to what they paid for the last year on record.

For the last 3 years they have paid a steadily decreasing rent to the City of Moose Jaw.  In addition to the increased rent they are required to pay by the Nustadia business plan for the downtown Multiplex, the Warriors have pledged an additional $200,000 per year for 10 years to help build the Multiplex, making the total payable to the City $330,200 per year which is more than 10 times their current rent in 2007.  Warriors fans should be asking themselves "how will this impact ticket prices?"

It has been said that building the multiplex will ensure the future financial viability of the Warriors.  You decide if paying the City 10 times their current rent will put them in a better financial position.

One of the arguments for building the downtown Multiplex is that our Civic Centre is just too small.

On March 26, 2002 the Moose Jaw Warriors played the 1st round playoff against the Regina Pats in the Civic Centre with an attendance of 3,240.  On April 13, 2002 they played the 2nd round playoffs  against Red Deer to a crowd of 3,191.  Two of their best attended games in recent history.  Now take a look at their current season.

Warriors Home Game Attendance for 2008 - 2009 * see footnote

For the season to date there are only two games with an attendance above 2600 (underlined). The Warriors average attendance is 2,309. Far below the capacity of the current Civic Centre, far below their best games in 2002 (3200 each), and nowhere near the 4,500 seats they are requesting for the multiplex.

* This is the reported number, not the actual attendance at the games. The reported number includes all the discounted season tickets sold, game night walk-up tickets, no-shows and promotional tickets given away for free. Even though these numbers are very low, those in attendance are reporting significantly lower attendance than announced.

Nustadia report excerpt included with Council March 22, 2007. Mentions the Warriors rent requirement, the primary reason why Moose Jaw is building a new rink, and the requirement of a lease signing before construction can begin.