Going, going, gone?

Next season would mark the 20th consecutive year that professional hockey has been entertaining and frustrating local fans.

But will the Richmond Renegades be around to celebrate that milestone?

Allan B. Harvie Jr., president and general manager of the 3-year-old Southern Professional Hockey League franchise, recently made it sound like the Renegades could be skating on thin ice.

"I've been looking forward to the 20th year here . . . for 20 years," said Harvie, 62, who brought in the original Renegades in 1990 and sold them three years later.

"Considering we've already lost the [Richmond] Braves, it would be a shame to see the only other [long-running] pro team in town leave. But the reality is that although I'm not in this business to get rich, I'm not in the business to lose my butt either."

After losing money the first year of this recent version of the Renegades because of startup costs, Harvie said he broke even last season when the Renegades averaged close to 4,000 fans.

However, attendance is down this year almost 19 percent. Harvie said some sponsors are not paying their bills in full while others aren't renewing for 2009-10 because of the economic downturn.

"If it continues as it's trending where it is right now, [his losses] will be in excess of $250,000," Harvie said.

Under those circumstances, Harvie and his partners might have a tough time putting a team on the ice next season.

Harvie said season ticket sales were down between 10 and 14 percent from a year ago.

"In June and July, we were trending up almost 30 percent in all areas combined, season tickets, sponsorships, special nights. Then the bottom fell out," he said.

Among the main costs in operating a franchise at this level, lowest on the minor-league hockey chain, is a $5,600 weekly salary cap for 18 players, travel expenses, workmen's compensation and housing for players.

Bill Coffey, director of hockey operations for the SPHL, said the annual cost of operating a franchise is between $850,000 and $1.2 million. Harvie preferred not to divulge his costs for one year.

"Allan's biggest problem is he has so many early dates when there's a lot of other sports still going on," Coffey said. "January and February are usually when hockey picks it up pretty good . . . draws its biggest crowds."

Richmond Coliseum is booked from mid-February to mid-March with other events.

The Renegades have seven home dates remaining, starting with tonight's 7:35 game against Twin City. Columbus, meanwhile, has 13 home games left.

While attendance for all six league teams is down from last season, the SPHL's overall average is off by only 2.5 percent, as the 24-week season heads into its final seven weekends.

Richmond is off the most (minus-730 per game) and Fayetteville, which led the league in attendance last season, is down by 532 fans. Twin City is off the least (-81).

"Most of these guys are not down that much," Coffey said. "Talking to them, most of them tell me their sponsorships are up. Next year, and this is truly a guess, I anticipate a 10 percent drop in everything. I don't think next year is going to be as good as this year because of the way things are going."

The state's economic budget woes have contributed heavily to the losses, particularly in group sales, Harvie said. Job cuts at some of the larger private companies in the area have had a significant effect on season ticket sales.

"If they have a choice between keeping your health insurance and keeping season tickets for their employees, then you know which one is going to go," Harvie said.

In an effort to attract more fans, Harvie lowered all upper-level seats to $5 three weeks ago, and the Coliseum cut prices on food and beverages. More people have filled those upper-level seats since the change.

"I don't want it to sound all doom and gloom," Harvie said. "We have a great core of season ticket holders with us. They've supported hockey as long as it's been here, and we appreciate that very much."

Harvie said among his alternatives are to keep going and see what happens with the economy, hoping the club will be able to increase sponsorships, group sales and season tickets.

Other possibilities are more dire: cease operations, relocate or suspend operations and resume when the economy improves.

"We haven't looked at shutting down or relocating," Harvie said. "I love hockey, and I want to see the team stay here another 20 years. There's nothing I'd rather be doing than running this hockey team.

"The best way to put it is we have seven home games left and what happens over these games, as far as attendance, will be a huge determining factor in the future of the Renegades."

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or jpackett@timesdispatch.com.