Rush won't ask Civic Center for cash for November

Good news for Rapid City's minor league hockey team. Good financial news.

Team management told Rushmore Plaza Civic Center officials Tuesday that the Rapid City Rush will not need any cash assistance for November after leaning on on the Civic Center for help in October.

The municipally-run Civic Center agreed to offset losses for the team -- up to $350,000 per year for three years -- in a unique public-private arrangement. The tax-subsidized center wrote a check for $73,500 to cover October shortfalls.

Civic Center Officials say the money they are paying to the team is money the center makes off the team and that keeping the Rush in town makes good business sense. They say that helping the team through some lean times will pay off for the taxpayers in the long run.

Civic Center leaders were pleased the team didn't need help for November and said they are confident things will work out in the long run.

"This team has a strong enough following that it is not gone and there is no reason to expect that it can't be turned around," said Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Executive Director Craig Baltzer. "We just need to make some of the right moves there and make things happen. And I think that will will get there."

Black Hills Fox News asked the Civic Center for some numbers. How much money does the center make on the team? On Tuesday officials showed us some figures. So far this season direct revenue to the Civic Center from the team has been $188,803.96.

That means that after the $73,500 payment for October losses, the center is ahead $115,000 on the season.