BROOKS, AB (June 28, 2017) – The Brooks & District Junior ‘A’ Hockey Association, which owns and operates the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), has completely eliminated its cash deficit from the 2015-16 season, it was announced last night at the organization’s Annual General Meeting.
The organization’s year-end finances for 2016-17 showed that overall revenue increased by 8.6%, while pre-amortization expenses (excluding the amortized cost of the CRA video scoreboard which was paid in full in cash in 2015) were cut by 5.3%.
This created a positive financial swing of $166,125, turning last season’s pre-amortization deficit of $155,492 into a surplus of $10,633.
While many community-owned Junior A teams have, as of late, found themselves in dire fiscal straits, the effective management of team finances by Bandits staff, as well as keen monitoring by the Board, has allowed Brooks to remain as committed to the community-ownership model as it is to being one of the top organizations in the country.
The spike in revenue was made possible primarily by an increase in ticket sales, which went up by 5.2% on a per-game basis, the equivalent of 47 extra adult tickets sold per game. The organization also set a new all-time high in merchandise sales, improving 29.8% year-over-year, and increased net revenue on the annual Cash Raffle by 67%. Reduced cost to produce the annual Game Day Program, which once again sold out, as well as the team’s new Playoff Dinner, also contributed positively to the bottom line and helped to ensure the elimination of the deficit.
Careful monitoring of expenses saw travel expenses and money spent on supplies reduced by more than 20% each, while wage expenses declined more than 7%.
Challenges still await the organization on a few fronts, all of which present opportunity to even further improve the fiscal picture in 2017-18. Advertising revenue declined 2.8% year-over-year to the lowest total in the last 5 years, but with exceptional room for growth. The organization also did not have access to biennial casino revenue which will be available in the coming season.
Fiscal stability and rebuilding of organizational reserves will be priorities in 2017-18, especially as the team must prepare for an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 in added expenses when the AJHL switches to its new balanced schedule and eliminates the North and South divisions.
In addition to annual year-end reports, the organization also elected its new executive and board of directors. Returning as President for a ninth term is Paul Seaton, who will be joined on the executive by Vice-President Bert Scholz, Treasurer Murray Hauck, and Secretary James Mitchell.
Rejoining as a board member-at-large on a one-year term is Josh Argue, while new board members Mike Ibach, Tyler Wilmott, Duane Perkins, and Loretta Scholz were elected to the board on two-year terms. Board members Shawn Lachapelle, Reg Swartz, and Lindsey Lachapelle will enter the second year of their two-year terms.
The Association would like to express its deepest thanks to departing board members Tom McNulty, Shaun Veroba, Lorne Tremblay, Kelly Tanigami, and Fred Zimmer for their time and service to our organization.
The Board will assemble for its first meeting in early July as the Bandits prepare for another season of competitiveness, entertainment, and continued improvement.