INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Eagles senior men's hockey team will soon be entering its 75th anniversary season and they are already making early waves to ensure local hockey fans know they mean business on and off the ice.
The team, which was hit hard financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, has restructured its board, and just signed a new three-year sponsorship deal with a corporate sponsor that will cover the $2,000 annual cost of having its team logo installed at centre ice in the Innisfail Twin Arena’s blue rink.
On July 25, the sponsorship deal was brought to town council at its regular meeting for approval.
Meghan Jenkins, director of community services, told council the town currently installs logos for the Eagles, Innisfail Minor Hockey Association (IMHA) and Innisfail Figure Skating Club outside the centre ice circle at no charge.
However, paid ‘in ice’ advertising is not an option the town has offered in the past and the new Eagles initiative could present a future revenue opportunity, said Jenkins.
She said staff contacted the IMHA and skating club to gauge interest and provide fair opportunity to all parties.
In addition, a monetary cost for the installation of $2,000 per year was proposed.
Jenkins said the IMHA and skating club were interested in the idea but were not in a financial position to pursue it.
“The proposed rate is quite low based on some general comparisons to other arenas that offer this type of advertising, with the centrr ice logo often being associated with the sponsorship of an entire ice surface,” said Jenkins.
“Staff did feel it was a reasonable amount to compensate additional time for installation and removal. and to provide some level of benefit to the town at this time.”
Jenkins told council that administration has started work on a sponsorship package for the Innisfail Twin Arena that will expand sponsorship opportunities beyond the rink board and into the blue surface. She added this could include commercial ‘in ice’ advertising in the future.
The new three-year deal between the town and Innisfail Eagles Hockey Club is for $2,000 per year payable by Aug. 15 for each season. As well, the sponsor is responsible for the cost and provision of the logo.
The Eagles requested a provision for a refund in the event their season is impacted by unforeseen circumstances that results in an arena closure for extended periods of time, such as COVID-19 or mechanical failure.
Council unanimously approved a motion to support the three-year sponsorship agreement.
“We're very pleased that council approved this. We wanted to do something special to represent our 75th year playing senior hockey in Innisfail,” said Kent Wing, the Eagles’ director of hockey operations.
“We’re going to have our Eagles logo made up and we’re going to have a little spot in the bottom corner that says 75th year that can be taken off for the next couple of years.
“We approached the town, and they've been really good to deal with. We've had a lot of back and forth, a lot of good communication and thoughts with them over this and we're getting it done.”
As for the $2,000 for each of the three years of the sponsorship deal, Wing said the corporate sponsor came forward on his own to support the hockey club.
“He's working with us really diligently and he approached us more or less to do it,” said Wing. “We needed a corporate sponsor to pay the $2,000 and they're signing a three-year sponsorship deal with us to cover that cost so that we're able to do it.
“This just shows that we were making steps in the right direction this year with our restructuring of the board. We're trying to be more community minded, and moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the Innisfail Eagles Hockey Club held its annual general meeting on June 25 and restructured its board.
Brian Spiller is continuing as the team’s president. There are three vice-presidents, including Wing, general manager Ryan Dodd, and Jason Reckseidler, director of marketing.
Randy Graham has retained his role as past president. Mike Bennett is the team’s treasurer and Andrew Scherer is the board of directors’ new secretary.
The other team directors are Vern Loughlean, Grant Pushie and Ray Reckseidler.
