The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer The days of the Flin Flon Bombers could soon be numbered. That came from team president Hank Kosar at Wednesday night's annual general meeting as he announced ticket sales and support has fallen to the way side. 'It's time to either step up to the plate as a community or time to move on and let this organization go somewhere else,' said Kosar, addressing attendees in the Green Room of the Flin Flon Community Hall. Last year the Bomber organization sold 409 season tickets. To date, the team has sold 215 for this season. Though that looks good on paper, Kosar says it can be deceiving. 'It takes this club $600,000 a year to operate,' he said, including operating costs in the off season. The Bombers have started numbering their tickets, meaning each ticket is only good for that particular game, a move that has turned away many longtime fans. 'I understand people are upset there were numbers on the tickets,' Kosar said, 'and when we made the decision a few years ago that was going to be the way we were going to go.' The Bombers last season held a season ticket campaign to see if they could sell 800 season tickets _ the amount needed to run the club. 'We said if the people are that upset about it, we'll take those numbers off,' said the president. 'We've taken those numbers off and we're sitting at 215 tickets this year.' With roughly 20 people in attendance, double last year's AGM, Kosar said he hoped the room passed along the message that the Bombers are in need of support, and help. 'If the people of Flin Flon don't want a Junior hockey team, tell us,' he said. 'Because there is a lot of hard work that goes into this team, a lot of hours put in by these people and for us to be beating our heads against the wall, it ain't worth it.' While taking the numbers off the tickets, the Bombers were still forced to raise the price of season tickets by $25 this year. 'We lost a lot of money last year,' Kosar said, pointing out the $61,000 loss. 'We have to operate this team _ our corporate sponsors are pretty much at their max,' he told an audience that included many former Bomber board members. Though the Bombers are successful in terms of sponsorship, due to their location they have the highest operating costs in the SJHL. 'If the people of Flin Flon don't want to step up to the plate, and I understand, it comes down to the fan paying at the door and paying for the entertainment,' Kosar said. A board member in some capacity for nearly 10 years, Kosar said the club has 'gone through some ups and downs and right now it's frustrating for me because all I see are people make excuses why they can't go to the games.' Season tickets now run at $350 per person _ which works out to $12 a game. Kosar says '$12 isn't much for a cost of three to four hours of entertainment.' With the future of the Bombers in the hands of the community and its fans, Kosar said if Flin Flon is the hockey town it says it is, it needs to step up. '...winning is perfect...but it's the core hockey hans we need to get back to the rink,' he said. Roger Armstrong, who was among the attendees, spoke out in regards to the numbered season tickets and the loss that move created. 'It may take a while longer to get (those) season ticket holders back, you know,' Armstrong said. 'We don't have a while,' Kosar quickly answered. Armstrong pointed out the club had been previously selling 800 season tickets when the decision was made to have numbers put on the tickets. Kosar denied the 800 number and said the organization hadn't sold that many tickets in over four years. 'What was the number before that? They were over 800,' said a voice from the front row. '...just because you take the dates off doesn't mean they are all going to come back right away,' said Armstrong. Kosar said the organization doesn't 'have two or three years for people to come back.' The president urged those in the room to spread the word about the state of the organization. Kosar apologized to the room for 'going off' but said 'I'm trying to point out reality.' Heading into the AGM the Bombers sat with 215 season tickets sold. 'Flin Flon is notorious for being a last-minute town,' said Kosar. 'It's just worrisome that we're sitting in the 200 range.' The Bomber AGM also heard from head coach and GM Mike Reagan, team governor Dan Reagan, David Brooks, and named a new board for the 2012-13 season. Please see Monday's Reminder for further coverage of the meeting.
