Irving threatens to sell Moncton hockey team

The Moncton Wildcats owner might sell the team if the Moncton Coliseum alters the rental agreement to make the club more expensive to operate.

The Wildcats rental agreement for the coliseum expires next May. Robert Irving wants to renew that same contract. He said if the terms of the current deal are altered, the team won't make enough money.

In that event, Irving would consider selling the city's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise.

"I would no longer be involved with major junior hockey," he said. "Talk to any person that's involved in sports. It's a major challenge. You need certain revenue standards to meet in order to be successful."

Irving said if he sells the team, the new owner would decide whether or not to keep the Cats in Moncton.

This past April, the city started charging a $10 fee for each child who uses city sports facilities. Coun. Steven Boyce said if the city can ask children to pay more, it should expect the same from the Wildcats.

"We gave a lot of concessions to this team in order to help them build," he said. "It's time to seek a fairer contract. This is the taxpayers subsidizing this team."

Irving has given the city until Monday to make a decision on the contract.