Unfortunately for the Devils organisation they are caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of finances and facilities.
Plans are in place for a new facility, hopefully arriving within the next two years. Therefore, despite the fact the current facility is a crumbling, dangerous mess, who in their right mind would willingly spend money on making it nice and lovely only to have it demolished again in 6-10 months time. (Let's for now, ignore the fact the current facility has stood a crumbling, dangerous mess for 7 years already and focus on the current plans).
Its very difficult as a business to look at spending money, when plans for replacement and refurbishment are all up in the air. Would you spend 2K on your car's MOT if you knew you were getting a brand new one for Christmas? Highly unlikely.
On the other hand, the current economy is having a crushing effect on many businesses, not least something like the notoriously non-profitable business of ice hockey. We are all being squeezed and we make decisions based around that. My view is that if you can't afford to have the luxury (and it is a luxury) of taking yourself and your family to the ice hockey, then simply do not go or make compromises i.e go once every three weeks instead of every two weeks.
The Devils organisation have clearly made a decision to keep the DCF running and to have junior and development teams (something that was looking like it was about to be thrown down the pan only a month or two ago). Within this decision, they need finances to continue. They seek to increase their income in order to produce a quality product for the future. To allow opportunities for children and young people to aspire and to grow. Its these types of organisations and charities that produce Olympic atheletes of the future and right now, that seems to be something very close to a lot of British people's hearts. I'm sure I am correct in saying that we as a fan base all want to have a quality product on the new ice pad in a few years time? We all want that competitive team? Hell, we all want it now. But now it is not sustainable. Plans must be conducted in achievable, baby steps otherwise we all fall into the mud together.
I'm not doubting the difficulty, and probably the sheer guilt they must be feeling (I know I would), at having to ask their fan base to contribute more financially towards a growing future when the facilities themselves are still waiting to be improved. BUT - they are a business, and this how businesses run. Generally, they have to generate more income before they can improve. You wouldn't re-decorate your house when you're already in debt would you? No, you'd wait, and save, until you could afford it.
I only hope that the new facility will be worth the wait, the hassle and the expense.
I would like the car parking fees clarified, as the £1 has always been a DONATION. Probably the easiest way of demonstrating a protest with regards to this is that every single person parks in Morrisons car park, leaving the rink car park totally empty. My point, don't complain and then bend over and get spanked willingly. There are other options.
