PENSACOLA, FLA – In a unanimous vote this morning, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners gave the go ahead for hockey to return to the Pensacola Civic Center this fall, provided the team can meet a season ticket sales mark.
The commissioners voted to accept a lease agreement negotiated between SMG, the Civic Center’s management company, the county and representatives for prospective team owner Tim Kerr to put a Southern Professional Hockey League team into the building for the 2009-2010 season. The commissioners then put a stipulation that the team sell 1,250 season tickets within 90 days starting May 15 or the deal would be null and void, amending an agreement on sales of 1,000 season tickets within 60 days that had been put into the negotiated lease.
The lease calls for the team to pay $2,000 rent per game as Kerr had made in his original request to the commissioners on April 3rd. The three-year deal also calls for the county to retain all food and beverage sales revenues as well as control of over 900 of the parking spaces with a minimum of $5 charged for each space. Additionally, if the average paid attendance falls under 2,500, at the end of the season the team will pay $1 per person per game to make up the differential. SMG will also have the right, with sufficient notice, be allowed to reschedule hockey games to allow other events, such as concerts, of sufficient size to use the Civic Center.
In return, the team will be allowed to sell unused ad space on the center ice scoreboard and other permanent signage with the county receiving 35 percent of the proceeds. The team will receive 100 percent of souvenir sales and temporary sign and banner advertising including those put on the boards and the zamboni.
The deal could pave the way for other cities along the “I-10 corridor” to join the SPHL in the coming weeks.
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