A last ditch effort to keep the West Kelowna Warriors where they are is underway.

Alex Draper, the team香蕉视频直播檚 director of business operations, is among a group of dedicated locals putting their time toward drumming up interest for a new ownership coalition.

香蕉视频直播淲e have a couple irons in the fire, but we need more investors,香蕉视频直播� said Draper, who started the effort in earnest last week.

香蕉视频直播淧eople started expressing interest and we thought, 香蕉视频直播榣et香蕉视频直播檚 do what we can then we can look in the mirror and say we did the best we could.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

In addition to private investors looking into the feasibility of a group-ownership plan, Draper said they香蕉视频直播檝e also had support from the City of West Kelowna.

Bob Kusch, West Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Parks, Recreation and Culture Manager, on Tuesday submitted a report, that recommended council approve the application of 香蕉视频直播淗ome of the 2016 RBC Cup Champions香蕉视频直播� decals on all city vehicles should the West Kelowna Warriors remain.

香蕉视频直播溝憬妒悠抵辈ウThey are seeking support from the city to express pride and support for the franchise and recognize the teams香蕉视频直播� achievements,香蕉视频直播� read Kusch香蕉视频直播檚 report.

香蕉视频直播淭he new proposed ownership group believes, that by doing so, the city would assist in their efforts to increase the fan base.香蕉视频直播�

Draper said that香蕉视频直播檚 just the tip of the iceberg. The city has also told them it香蕉视频直播檚 open to releasing advertising space to the team in Royal LePage Place that could offer an additional revenue stream.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e told us, 香蕉视频直播榃e want you guys here,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Draper.

Draper acknowledges that keeping the team local isn香蕉视频直播檛 going to be easy, but there香蕉视频直播檚 precedence with three community-owned teams in the league.

香蕉视频直播淔or these teams local investment has come together and they have a local board that can pass laws and that kind of thing,香蕉视频直播� he said.

While the specifics are far from being hammered out, Draper said it香蕉视频直播檚 clear there香蕉视频直播檚 a contingent of hockey-minded residents who want it to happen and he wants to help.

香蕉视频直播淭he other day a 10-year-old in Kelowna minor hockey come up to me and ask, 香蕉视频直播榠f the Warriors leave am I still a Warrior?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he said.

香蕉视频直播淵ou hear that kind of thing and you have to do what you can.香蕉视频直播�

The plan to move the team to Delta is still moving ahead, but Draper said that if something happens to keep the team local the current owner would support it.

香蕉视频直播淗e always wanted to keep the team here, the three or four years he was selling it we hoped it was going to be to a local investor,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Warriors香蕉视频直播� owner Mark Cheyne signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership of the club to a Delta businessman last month, with the move subject to approval by the league香蕉视频直播檚 board of governors.

The team was a money-losing venture since moving to West Kelowna from Langley in 2006, Cheyne took over sole ownership of the club in 2009.

With an RBC Cup championship run last season, Cheyne hoped the club香蕉视频直播檚 financial fortunes would finally take a turn for the better. But with community support for the team and attendance remaining stagnant this season, Cheyne said the writing was on the wall.

香蕉视频直播淲e were never even close to breaking even once and after awhile it香蕉视频直播檚 just no fun anymore,香蕉视频直播� Cheyne said. 香蕉视频直播淭he last few years, you look for that light at the end of the tunnel, and when we won it all last year, we hoped that would be it.

香蕉视频直播淚 was told once you get by Vernon, once you get by Penticton, once you win something big, it香蕉视频直播檒l turn around,香蕉视频直播� Cheyne added. 香蕉视频直播淏ut the light at the end never came.香蕉视频直播�

To get in touch with Draper email alex@westkelowna.ca.