The Corner Brook Royals will now call Deer Lake home

a business man

- August 25, 2012 at 07:20:32

Of course it is all about the almighty dollar. What else would it be about? Moving the team to Deer Lake makes financial sense, as does moving businesses out of newfoundland for cheaper labour, as well as tearing down the cornerbrook mill because newprint is a dying industry. I am happy for the team and the players.

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Rangoo Hulan

- August 25, 2012 at 04:38:19

The imminent awarding of an NHL franchise to Corner Brook makes the Royals irrelevant to the cognoscenti of that little village.

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Don

- August 23, 2012 at 18:42:46

Not surprised,it is such a small issue in Corner Brook that it didn't even make large print in the local paper.Last year there was little mention of the royals in the paper after the games and was very difficult to get final scores.The fan base was mostly from the surrounding areas and Deer lake in particular. Corner Brook do not support.Welcome to Deer lake where there are loyal fans,win or lose.

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CB HOCKEY FAN

- August 23, 2012 at 15:56:46

Personally, I'm happy to see the team move to Deer Lake, and as horrible as that sounds, I simply mean that perhaps it might finally prompt some change in the Pepsi Center management's frame of mind, or hopefully the management itself. After dealing with the management at the center for many years, and being gouged at every turn for additional charges etc after receiving and agreeing upon a quote, and then receiving little or no service when renting the facility. Its time for a change. Send the GM to Deer Lake and keep the Royals here!

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Pointing Fingers

- August 23, 2012 at 11:57:26

Fingers could be pointed in all direction here. Cost of ice rental for one thing, maybe not enough fan support another and the price to ice a team. Either way, it's sad that a place the size of Corner Brook can't ice a team to make it work that they now have to downsize and make choices. What else could they do? Hopefully, fans will be able to continue and support, but then there's those who have no way to travel. Maybe a bus to bring you those who need a ride out to Deer Lake? Either way, it's a shame that Corner Brook has a beautiful arena that can't be utilized more efficiently. No doubt this will fall on the backs of the other arena supporters such as Minor Hockey and Figure Skating.

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steve

- August 23, 2012 at 11:40:08

shame on MUN. what other tenant do u have there???deer lake fans dont want the royals. they want the red wings.the royals have been terrible for YEARS. but prices keep going up and the team gets worse.u cant be last place every year and expect people to keep showing up.that doesnt happen anymore. deerlake was always first or winning championships. but even there fans stopped coming the last couple of seasons when they started to decline. the royals will not be successful in deerlake with a mediocre team, and thats just the plain truth

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  Jack

  - August 24, 2012 at 11:27:58

  Steve, Grenfell Campus - Memorial University doesn't own the Pepsi Centre. The City of Corner Brook and Western Sports and Entertainment own and operate the facility. The Pepsi Centre does have some permanent tenants including Forever Young Fitness Centre and Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame, and they could face significant rent increases. In the case of Forever Young, they will be forced to jack up memberships to cover rent increases, resulting in members flocking to rival facilities like the Humber Community YMCA. Since the Forever Young Fitness Centre's management has a history of treating their customers poorly, and threatening to call security on strength athletes like Powerlifters for no legitimate reason, just another reason they could lose membership levels. For a facility started by a Powerlifting legend, Terry Young, he would definitely be ashamed at Forever Young's management for being Anti-Powerlifter today.

Gerard

- August 23, 2012 at 11:20:05

Another reason to vote Greeley, Gary Kelly and Donna Luthor off Council in the next city election. Put that into your iPads or maybe you need a trip somewhere to think about it.

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  Jack

  - August 24, 2012 at 09:46:55

  Neville Greeley and his poor leadership skills are a reason why Corner Brook is heading downhill. Vote for someone else with leadership skill and competency for Mayor or Council. In addition, letting residents outside Corner Brook run for Council or Mayor is a better idea.

jerry rubia

- August 23, 2012 at 09:51:01

Wow,would have never thought the royal would go to deerlake.I would guess over the coursework a season Mr coates is going to save a lot of money,good for him.some one before me brought up player salaries,well there high with all the other teams,but u don't c grand falls wanting to go to gander or mount pearl or anyone else wanting to move.it comes down to the ridiculis price that the royal where being charged to play at the Pepsi center.some people wanna blame the city,but grenfell manages the rink now and not the city.don't get mad at the manager of the rink cause Hi bosses tell him what he can and can,t do so look no further the the greedy buggers at grenfell,they can say what they want but that's the way it is if it ain't have the balls to come out and tell us other wise

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thats corner brook

- August 23, 2012 at 09:49:58

No surprise. The city and it's people don't support anything so why should anyone be surprised by this move. Being a losing team didn't help their cause.

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Minor Hockey Parent

- August 23, 2012 at 00:21:35

I'm guessing that the cost to keep this building afloat will likely be put on the shoulders of the minor hockey parents. Most of us work 2 or more jobs and try to keep their kids in sports so they could be active, meet new friends, be competitive in life, and to keep them out of trouble or the like. This has been forseen for some time now over the past few years, there has been tournaments ( Provincial and local) held at the Pepsi Centre where even having asked for toilet paper to be put in the washrooms was a problem that was on going for years. And getting help from Minor Hockey to help fund Provincial Tournaments was a definate, Not going to happen.So where is all this money going? As one reader before me had wrote, bonuses, make all the difference and not the kids. As well there should be a whole new City Council that care more for our kids in the Minor hockey association and other local sport associations than what they can get from their citizens that will keep them more in touch with their friends with new phones and such.Hats off to the Tim Hortons sponsorship, there would be no sports for alot of local kids if not for your help.

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Jack

- August 22, 2012 at 22:50:05

In light of the increasing costs to rent ice time at Pepsi Centre, the City of Corner Brook should address this problem so that what happened to the Royals, which is mainly Ross Coates' fault, will never happen again. Hope this move will not result in increasing ice rental costs for Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Broomball, and Hockey Programs due to lost revenue. With the Pepsi Centre Arena being a likely venue for the 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Speed Skating and Figure Skating events, lets hope Western Sports and Entertainment will keep ice rental fees manageable.

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sally

- August 22, 2012 at 22:31:43

I am a loyal fan of the Corner Brook Royals. Call them what you like but hats off to Ross Coates who is trying his hardest to keep a time. Although games will be played at the Hodder I will most likely attend all games. For the management of the Pepsi Centre................NO COMMENT GO Royals GO!!!!!!!

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  Steve

  - September 2, 2012 at 19:47:16

  Sally i have to agree with you i was a DL fan until they folded and the past two years i was a royals fan and like you i will also travel to the hodder and cheer on the western royals come on guys bring home the hardwear

peter barry

- August 22, 2012 at 21:44:03

what not play saturday night in corner brook and sunday in deer lake

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peter barry

- August 22, 2012 at 20:49:01

i am one royals fan who did go to every game and i for one do feel betrayed.good luck but you dont turn your back on the royals fans who supported the team.

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Mike

- August 22, 2012 at 20:38:46

I won't say I'm shocked. Mr. Coates is trying his best to salvage a team and a season for hockey fans on the West Coast but I cannot see this ending well. Loyal Royals fans will feel betrayed and Red Wings fans will probably chaff at having the Royals playing out of their barn! Best of Luck Mr. Coates! I hope the Royals can have a successful season in their new home.

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Frances Wheeler

- August 22, 2012 at 20:02:51

It all comes down to the almighty dollar. If so much money wasn't paid out in player salaries that would be a big savings. What happens to the young fellows who work their butt off all the way up through the minor hockey system? They don't get a look-in to play with the Royals. Sad. Very sad.

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Hockey fan

- August 22, 2012 at 19:16:07

I can't say that I'm glad that the team is moving to Deer Lake, but I do agree with the decision due to the cost. For a city the size off Corner Brook, a senior hockey shouldn't have no problem what so ever but in my opinion, the city off Corner Brook did not and do not support the Royals. The prices have been on the up rise for ice rentals for the past five years if not longer, but why. Nothing has changed. So it must be the lack off big venues maybe to make a go I will the summer months. Winter months u can't get any ice until at least 12 at night. Someone in the office must want bigger bonous. Anyway, this is my opinion. See who agrees/disagrees.

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  elaine

  - August 23, 2012 at 01:09:19

  I was not surprise with this decision. As GM for the Junior Royals for a couple of years , I dealt with the Pepsi Center. It was hard to get ice and you were paying high fees for ice rental and the equipment , ie sound equipment , Many times if you were in the main arena and you had a out of town team in , there were no music or PA system because management had everything locked up and they were the only one with the keys. too bad, It was like we were not member of the stadium,. until they sent out the bills. . We have a beautiful stadium and cannot have a senior hockey team play in it because of the cost, wow something is wrong here. The cost was the reason why the Junior Royals moved last year to Deer Lake. Good luck.