Harvie: Gades need $250,000 to continue

So how much money is it going to take to rescue the financially struggling Richmond Renegades and keep them afloat for another season?

According to Allan B. Harvie Jr., president and general manager of the Southern Professional Hockey League franchise, from $250,000 to $280,000.

Harvie announced at a press conference Tuesday at the Coliseum, where the team plays its home games, that he would ask the SPHL permission to suspend operations for one year -- unless it received an infusion of capital from a major investor or the sale of the team in the next few months.

"It's such a nebulous number," Harvie said yesterday, "because it depends on how many of our sponsors come back and at what level and how many of our season-ticket holders come back. That will determine how much of a [cash] shortage there's going to be.

"But in looking everything over, from best-case and worst-case scenarios, we would have to pick up somewhere in the quarter-million mark. Between $250,000 and $280,000."

Harvie is hoping someone will step forward as an investor or buyer, and he said he has been speaking about that possibility on a regular basis with a Toronto businessman who is moving to Richmond.

"We're trying to make that happen this week -- next week at the absolute latest," Harvie said of a potential deal with the businessman, whom he declined to name.

"He has asked me not to say anything," Harvie said. "I've known him for a couple of years. He's been involved in sports and marketing and entertainment for a long, long time."

Harvie said the reason he's being forced to suspend operations is a lack of major sponsors willing to commit for next season, along with the small number of fans buying season tickets for 2009-10.

Fewer than 20 people purchased season tickets for next year, Harvie said. He added that the team has refunded the money to the few who had bought the season tickets.

In the 24 hours since the news conference, Harvie said. he has received "a tremendous response, and almost all of it positive about helping. A lot of people are angry about losing the hockey team, and to me, that's a positive response. It's been unreal. I've yet to get something that said, 'Good riddance.'"

Asked if the purpose of the press conference was to gauge local interest in the team, Harvie said, "I don't play to the media. I can't do that. The purpose of the conference was exactly what we said. 'People, here's our plan.' I wanted to be up front with everybody.

"Unless we get a major infusion of cash, we've got no other choice but to hang it up for a season and see what the economy does."

Harvie said he has talked with several potential investors who have said they would be willing to contribute money toward the amount needed to keep the team in business. He's also considering more promotions for the final three home games next month, where large crowds could help the bottom line financially.

The Renegades have averaged 3,151 fans for 27 dates in the 10,626-seat Coliseum.

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or .