Arena deal in place...Almost

Skyhawks G.M. Guy Blanchard addresses the media. He told the press that an arena deal is close to being done but it will rely on decisions made by city council and the NOJHL. Photo by Eric Boutilier.

The North Bay Skyhawks and the city of North Bay have reached a tentative three year arena deal with the city of North Bay. Skyhawks General Manager Guy Blanchard made the announcement Friday afternoon at a press conference in the Hall of Fame room at Memorial Gardens.

“This agreement is based on a partnership with the city whereby their revenue is based on a percentage of the gate,” Blanchard read in a statement to the media.

Blanchard, who was not joined by any city staff during the media conference, believes there are still some minor stumbling blocks, but he believes the deal is about 90 to 95 per cent complete.

The two issues he calls “minor” that need to be ironed out are city council approving ice availability next April for the Skyhawks playoff schedule and the NOJHL approving an interlocking schedule with one or both of the other Ontario Junior A leagues.

“They feel (city council) it is important and us too, that we need to bring a different type of entertainment here to North Bay that will maintain our fan base which is what they are concerned about,” Blanchard said.
Ottawa league a viable option

Blanchard’s intentions are to have the Skyhawks play five home and home series with teams based out of the Ottawa area's Central Junior "A" Hockey League, as part of their regular season schedule next fall.

“It is certainly favourable to have an interlocking schedule with them according to the commissioner over there that I spoke with this morning,” Blanchard said.

The Ottawa league will discuss the Skyhawks issue at a meeting on May 4th. However the Skyhawks cannot make a deal without approval from the NOJHL.

NOJHL on life support?

The Northern Ontario league is having an emergency meeting on May 7th, where they will discuss the possibility of as many as three teams folding in the off-season as well as North Bay’s interlocking request.

Blanchard said Sudbury, Rayside-Balfour and Manitoulin all have serious issues to deal with in the off-season.

“If the teams drop from 8 to 7 to 6, we really don’t know what’s going to go on and it might effect here and that hurts everyone,” said Blanchard.

Blanchard also told the media that there will be no ticket increase next season which is good news for fans that could be watching a different brand of hockey next fall.

Not a done deal

While Blanchard’s mood was very upbeat he did insist that both the playoff ice time and the interlocking schedule could still become deal breakers.

“There is nothing signed until both these issues are dealt with,” said Blanchard.