Venue Detail
Florida Everblades
Revenues From Sports Venues Pro Facilities Report
February, 2011
Florida Everblades
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11000 Everblades Pkwy Estero, FL 33928 Phone: 239-948-7825 Fax: 239-948-4415 URL: www.floridaeverblades.com
Owner
KTB Sports
League
ECHL Eastern-South
Venue
Germain Arena, 17595 Tamiami Trl, Estero, FL 33928 Owner: KTB Sports Managed by: Team Built: 1998 Capacity: 7,000 Concessionaire: Team Suite caterer: Team Soft drink: Coca Cola Beer: Multiple
Naming rights
Sold to: Germain Motor Co. Price: $7, 000,000 Term: 20 years Expires: 2019
Ticket prices
Season tickets range from $342 to $1,140 Single tickets range from $10.00 to $31.00
Attendance
2007 average attendance: 6,248 2008 average attendance: 6,033 2009 average attendance: 5,633
Luxury Suites
Quantity: 26 Term: 3 to 7 years Price: $45,000 to $45,000 Seats: 10 to 10
Financing
The $22 million venue was privately financed. Pct. public: 0
The Everblades was purchased by a group of investors led by NHL Carolina Hurricanes CEO Peter Karmanos. The group built a $22 million 7,500-seat arena in Estero, located in Lee County in the Fort Myers/Naples area. The facility opened for the 1998-99 season.
The venue also hosts the Florida Firecats of the af2 league. The Firecats began play in 2001. The NBDL Flames began play in 2004.
The venue features the Breakaway Sports Pub as a public facility. The Cyprus Club is for members paying $200 per year. Members, who can only come from season ticket holders, may bring three other guests.
The Germain Arena and the Everblades were taken off the market in 2005 by owner Peter Karmanos Jr. No reason was given for the action.
Those involved with the deal outside the owners said the deal was complicated and there were many synergies Karmanos enjoyed by owning the team, the arena and the NHL Hurricanes in Charlotte. The major/minor ownership allowed the NHL team to move players between the teams, boosting interest among fans in both cities.
Others suggested that Karmanos was seeking to sell the properties during the NHL labor dispute, but with that problem resolved, the pressure to sell ownings may not be as great.
The properties were being reviewed by investors Robert and James Brooks, co-owners of the ECHL Wheeling, W.V., Nailers.
The arena and team were put on the market in early 2005 by Karmanos, who also owns the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.
The arena opened in 1998 at a cost of $25 million. It is assessed at $16.6 million. Company officials say both the team and building are profitable. (Facilities, Financial, Ice Hockey, Professional Sports)