We’ve noted in this space before (a couple times, actually) that the Vancouver Giants were having a tough time filling the Langley Events Centre since the team vacated the Pacific Coliseum a year and a half ago.

This year, that trend has continued, even as the Giants are one of the best and entertaining teams in the Western Hockey League.

Indeed, the G-Men are third in the west after spending the last few years scraping the league’s basement. What’s more is that Ty Ronning (son of local fan favourite Cliff) is on an absolute tear, and is a virtual lock to best Evander Kane’s long untouched team record for goals in a season (48). Ronning currently has 42 with 25 games left in the season.

Another star forward, Tyler Benson, drafted in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016, has 43 points in 34 games. The dup, along with other talented youngsters like James Malm and Dylan Plouffe, have made the Giants fun to watch for the first time in awhile.

Last summer, in the wake of the team’s worst season ever in terms of attendance (and a pretty terrible one on the ice, too), majority owner Ron Toigo said that all the Giants needed to do in order to draw a fanbase at their new arena was win.

Well, they’re winning, but still losing at the box office. The Giants are still, in the midst of one of the best seasons in the last few years, averaging their lowest-ever attendance.

Things have gotten so desperate that the team is literally offering free beer. Seriously.

The team is offering one free beer (or pop to minors) to all attendees of tonight’s game against Spokane. 

Talk about desperate measures. We’ll see if it works, or if Toigo and company will have to be forced to admit that their 10-year (!) lease of the Langley Events Centre was a bad call.