Concession rents waived and reduced at St. Paul arenas

Rent for the concession stand at the Clancy Richard Arena in St. Paul is being waived for the months of February, March, and May 2020.

Prior to the meeting, J and B Concession, which operates the stand in the Clancy, owed the town $4,250 in outstanding rent.

“They were just about to have the playoffs for the junior B, which is a pretty crucial time for J and B. And then minor hockey has their finals for the year as well. So that’s when they would have their bigger crowds, and their revenue generating opportunity. Then we weren’t able to have the rodeo and that is their bread and butter for sure,” said Harvey Smyl, the town’s director of parks and recreation.

The Town of St. Paul closed the arena for an extended period on March 14. Since re-opening, provincial guidelines have capped the number of spectators at Junior B hockey games to 100 people, and minor hockey to 50. According to Smyl, the usual attendance at a Canadiens game is 300 to 400 people.

“The minor hockey games that we have are generally just more of a service, you make very little money on that. The Junior B games is where she makes her money and then in the rodeo,” said Smyl.

In discussion, Coun. Gary Ward argued against waiving the Feb. 2020 rent because it was prior to the town’s closure of the arena. He said he had reviewed the number of games played and the ice is still being regularly used.

Coun. Norm Noel argued that even though the games are being played, “it’s very limited the number of people actually using the concession.”

A motion by Coun. Ron Boisvert to waive the outstanding rents for the Clancy Richard Arena carried with Ward opposed.

Concession rents reduced

Town council voted to drastically reduce the rents for the concession stands in the Clancy Richard and CAP Arenas.

According to the information presented to council at the regular meeting Monday night by the town’s Director of Parks and Recreation Harvey Smyl, J and B Concessions holds the contract for the Clancy and PS Catering holds the contract for the CAP.

Both businesses requested a substantial break on the rent because of how severely their companies have been impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.

Provincial guidelines have capped the number of spectators at Junior B hockey games to 100 people, and minor hockey to 50. According to Smyl, the usual attendance at a Canadiens game is 300 to 400 people.

The annual lease for the Clancy is $8,500 and the annual lease for the CAP is $3,600. Both contracts are paid in monthly installments throughout the ice season. J and B requested the rent drop to $200 per month and PS Catering requested the rent be reduced to $100 per month.

Smyl clarified the reduced rent would only apply until the end of the 2020/2021 ice season. PS Catering is currently in a three year contract with the town, while J and B Concessions’s contract expires at the end of the season.

Coun. Tyson deMoissac moved the town approve the lease amendments until the end of the 2020/2021 season. The motion carried with unanimous support.