YORKTON - The Yorkton Junior Terriers are floundering financially.
“There’s a legitimate risk we might not finish the season if things don’t turn around,” said team president Corvyn Neufeld in an interview with Yorkton This Week.
Neufeld said the Terrier executive met recently and there was “no money,” meaning “we can’t pay bills.”
The situation of running in the red is not new to the franchise. They were in debt before COVID shut down the league, but government support because of the pandemic had erased that red ink.
But, the team slipped right back into a deficit situation, and was in red years before that too.
“This club has been here before,” said Neufeld. “It’s a struggle to run a Junior hockey team and it’s not getting easier.”
As it stands the Terriers have an annual budget of about $700,000.
The problem comes down to fan support.
“We’re averaging around 650 per game, and we need around 1000-1100 to break even,” said Neufeld.
Neufeld added it has been years since the crowds were that big on average; “I don’t know. Probably before my time and I’m in my sixth year.”
The crowd decline is not a new thing.
“This attendance slide started before COVID,” he said, adding “COVID accelerated everything … The bottom line we need more people in the building.”
So is declining attendance a Terrier issue, or a league wide SJHL concern?
Neufeld said he couldn’t comment on the financial situation of other teams, when he looks at score sheets “nobody is getting a full building. I can’t image we’re the only one that’s struggling.”
What the Terriers desperately need is a cash infusion, and they need it now.
“We’re working on some things,” said Neufeld.
The first of those efforts is putting 2024-25 season tickets on sale immediately – and at reduced price – to get some cash now.
An adult season ticket is $200, or about $7.70 per game, said Neufeld, adding you take that with a reserved seat, or as a 26-ticket flex-pack so you can use the tickets as you wish.
A family package – two adult and two youth tickets – is $400.
Neufeld said the tickets are affordable and will mean much needed cash, adding they have set a goal of 1000 by the end of February.
“It’s way more than what we normally sell, but it would get us out of the deficit we’re in,” he said.
Of course seeing season tickets now to pay bills means the team will have a reduced cash flow to start next season.
“That’s always a concern,” said Neufeld, who added the executive is working on some fundraising ideas for summer that they hope will generate enough money to be at least break-even next season.
So have the Terriers considered charging players to play here – something some other Junior teams in other league have implemented.
“There's been a bit of discussion about that,” said Neufeld, adding that discussion has happened both at the team level, and as a league.
“My understanding the league doesn’t want to go that way.”
While Neufeld said the situation is dire, he believes fans will rally to support the Terriers.
“I believe in our community,” he said, adding “I can’t imagine a case where the Terriers are not part of Yorkton.”
