Renegades’ future still up in the air

An announcement regarding the future of the Richmond Renegades will be made in the near future, according to Allan B. Harvie Jr., president and general manager of the Southern Professional Hockey League team.

Harvie wouldn't say yesterday what his plans are, but an effort to save the 3-year-old franchise over the past month doesn't appear to have raised enough money to keep it afloat financially.

Harvie announced at a news conference Feb. 24 that the Renegades would suspend operations after this season unless he was able to raise approximately $250,000 through ticket sales or new investors.

A "Save Our Gades" campaign was launched shortly after the news conference, with the intention of selling out the Coliseum for the final three home games. Even with tickets lowered to $5 and $10, the attempt fell far short of filling the arena.

The biggest crowd of 6,351 attended Saturday night's season finale but roughly a third of that was complimentary tickets, Harvie said.

For the season, Richmond averaged 3,302, a drop of 600 fans per game - roughly 15 percent - from the 2007-08 season. Harvie met with Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Wednesday to see if any of the stimulus money given to the state by the federal government might be available to keep the Renegades viable.

Harvie said Kaine told him there was none but advised him to check with the city's economic-development program to see if anything would be available there. Harvie already has been in touch with Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, who informed him nothing was available.

Harvie's contract with the Coliseum expires April 30, but he isn't expected to wait that long to tell the management there whether he wants to continue using the facility.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding the Renegades, the Coliseum already has begun filling weekend dates that would have gone to the team.

The Renegades wouldn't formally ask the SPHL to suspend operations until the summer meeting June 13-15 in Huntsville, Ala.

If Richmond suspends operations, it would become the second league team to do so. Twin City, which operated for two seasons in Winston-Salem, N.C., announced Tuesday that it is ceasing operations as of next Tuesday. Sources have indicated that owner Bob Kerzner is seeking a new home for the franchise for the 2009-10 season.

Without Richmond and Twin City, that would leave the SPHL with only four teams next season. However, the league is expected to add two, perhaps three, teams for the 2009-10 season. Augusta, Ga., and Pensacola, Fla., former members of the East Coast Hockey League, are believed to be interested in joining the SPHL.

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