Brampton Beast hockey club won one of the most important contests of its existence Wednesday, after city councillors agreed to give it $1.5 million over three years in public funds.

In an 8-2 vote, council agreed to a new sponsorship and advertising deal that would help the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) franchise mitigate projected losses for the next few seasons.

In January, the team came to city leaders with a request for an immediate cash infusion of $750,000 for operating costs in 2016-2017 as part of an agreement to cover the team’s projected losses next season to a maximum of $1.5 million.

That proposal has changed several times since then, with council voting on an 11th hour proposal Wednesday for $500,000 per year (plus tax) over three years “in sponsorship and advertising opportunities."

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In the meantime, staff will research the feasibility of the team’s other request, which is for the municipality to purchase the Powerade Centre from property owners RealStar.

Council made the decision following a marathon session that included a heartfelt plea by club owner Gregg Rosen to help the team make a run at growing pro hockey in Brampton.

“We need this partnership to continue to give to Brampton, to grow professional hockey in this city. This is your team," said Rosen who included in the proviso a commitment to match, up to $500,000, the City’s expenditure for the advertising and sponsorship package.

Rosen, along with Cary Kaplan, the team’s president and general manager, said the team is on the road to success but needs time and a new lease agreement to make that success happen.

Rosen owns a steel company in Kingston and said while he has a love and passion for the sport "he isn't willing" to continue to lose millions of dollars.

The team has lost $4 million in its first three seasons playing in the ECHL.