Mile One cuts nine jobs

Nine employees at Mile One Centre in St. John's received layoff notices Wednesday as a part of an ongoing operational review of the money-losing facility.

The cuts affect a wide range of jobs at the stadium, including box office, maintenance, administrative and management staff.

Tanya Haywood, the interim general manager of Mile One, said the review began with the appointment of a new board of directors a year ago.

"It was well-known that we had financial constraints and issues and [were] looking for subsidies from the city. So we were doing our best to improve on our operations. I guess compounded with that was the departure of the Fog Devils this year which had a huge impact on our organization and how we go forward," she said.

Haywood said it's not immediately known how much money the job cuts will save Mile One. St. John's Sports and Entertainment, which governs Mile One and the St. John's Convention Centre, ran a deficit of about $600,000 in 2007.

Haywood also said it's unlikely the facility will attract another team to replace the Fog Devils hockey team for the 2008-2009 hockey season.

The Fog Devils hockey team was sold to a Quebec-based owner in January. It has been transferred to Verdun.