Clash at Cascades boxing events are coming to an end in October.
The Langley City Boxing club made the announcement earlier this month, saying they can no longer afford the venue.
Langley City Boxing coach, James Allison, said he has been told by the Coast Convention Centre that October would be the last event due to increasing fees for the facility rental.
With past events, Langley City Boxing has paid a lower rate since they are a Langley-based community group.
Allison explained he was told the boxing club would have to pay the full rental rate in order to continue hosting Clash at the Cascades facility.
“This makes it impossible for the series to continue. We let kids under 12 attend free and are very liberal with admission, so we include the kids and families.”
Gateway Casinos, the parent company of Cascades Casino, said in an email statement that the fee increase for the boxing event is set to happen in 2019.
“While we can no longer sustain their current rate we will be working with the organizer of this event to discuss available options to continue our support of their event,” wrote Tanya Gabara, Gateway Casinos public relations.
“The organizers were notified in August that the rental rate for their type of event would be increasing for any events booked in 2019.”
Allison said when the Cascades Casino and Coast Convention Centre was working to get established in the City, a ‘spirit of giving back to the community was part of the culture.’
The feelings started to change, explained Allison, when the Clash was hit with another fee increase three years ago.
“When we started the Clash, we could put on a show for about $2,500. This has increased to about $5,500 since 2010. I can’t help but feel the casino is now established, so it is throwing the local kids to the curb, no longer in need of the good will.”
Garbara noted the casino has reached out to the Langley City Boxing organizer to discuss the situation further.
“Our general not-for-profit rate is 25 per cent off of the applicable room rental with the purchase of a minimum amount of food and beverage. We have reached out to the organizer to discuss options for future events.”
Allison said he’s disappointed because the club has seven young athletes who are close to being fight ready, but will not be able to participate in a Clash show.
As an amateur boxer, Allison said he never had the opportunity to fight in Langley.
“It has been great over the years to see these youngsters fight and compete in their home town. It is very unfortunate to see it stop.”
After hosting more than 50 events at Cascades, the final Clash boxing night is set for Friday, Oct. 26.
“We will try and find an alternate way to keep the series going,” said Allison.
The Langley City Boxing club confirmed Cascades Casino has reached out to request a meeting.
