Acadie-Bathurst Titan struggle to draw fans

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan are struggling to attract spectators, only months after the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team almost left the northern New Brunswick community.

The Titan have the lowest attendance in the QMJHL this season, and for most games the K.C. Irving Arena is less than half-full.

Paul Hachey, a longtime fan of the team, said this is the first season since the Titan came to Bathurst in 1998 that he hasn't purchased season tickets.

He still goes to some games, but for him and many others, the allure has faded.

"I don't think they will have the numbers that were here [for the] first two or three years," Hachey said.

"I don't think we'll ever get that back because if you think about it, the first year, it was such a novelty, everyone got excited."

The franchise threatened to leave the city in March and relocate in St. John's.

After St. John's city council made the necessary approvals to welcome the team to Newfoundland and Labrador, Titan opted to change its management structure and revamp its image in an attempt to attract more fans in Bathurst.

Record to blame for poor attendance

Luc Foulem, a team spokesman, said the team's performance on the ice this season could be partly to blame.

"We have some key injuries to our veterans, which has left a number of young players to handle the load," Foulem said.

"The results on the ice were not necessarily what we anticipated at this time and that definitely has an impact. People want to see a competitive team on the ice that can win every night."

The Titan are currently fifth in the six-team Atlantic division with a record of 10 wins and 14 losses.

Despite the on-ice struggles and the problems filling the rink, Foulem said selling or moving the team is not in the works right now.

He said the team is rebuilding and the new managers are working to find ways to get the arena packed again.

"We've had a number of meetings with the business community and the different city councils in the area to look at ways and means of generating the interest in the team this year," Foulem said.