News 12 @ 6 o'clock -- December 1, 2008
AUGUSTA, Ga. --- The Augusta-Richmond Coliseum Authority says the Lynx is their only regular tenant and the biggest problem they've seen with the team is the lack of ticket sales.
The Authority says at about $10,000 per game, it'll cost the Lynx at least $300,000 to continue through the rest of the season. But they say if the Lynx leave they'll lose the revenue and jobs for most of their part time workers
"It's a lot of money. But there is a payoff for the maintenance, but I think they're good for us . I think we need to do all we can to keep them here," Richard Isdell of the Augusta-Richmond Coliseum Authority.
Some people say if the Lynx leave, it will open more dates for other entertainment at the arena; but Isdell says that may not be the case.
"I have questioned many times how many shows have called and we've turned them down saying oh there's a Lynx game on Saturday night so Diana Ross can't come here due to the Lynx playing. I have not found that to not necessarily to be true," said Isdell.
Isdell says he hasn't seen how the lynx have affected other entertainment from coming in. While it is expensive for both the team and the Coliseum to operate, Isdell says the Authority will do whatever they can to help keep the Lynx in Augusta.