Post by Kevin on Feb 20, 2008 1:04:07 GMT -5
From the St. Catharines Standard Website
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=908501&auth=Matthew+Van+Dongen
Mayor in talks on new home for IceDogs
Posted By Matthew Van Dongen
Posted 5 hours ago
Mayor Brian McMullan is talking with private investors interested in building a new downtown arena for the Niagara IceDogs.
The mayor met with the anonymous local group Monday to discuss the potential of a new “spectator facility,” McMullan said at a St. Catharines Downtown Association meeting Tuesday.
It’s just an idea at this point, stressed McMullan, who wouldn’t reveal any more details about the potential investors or their plans.
“It’s very preliminary, but I’m always willing to talk about exploring new opportunities,” he said after the annual general meeting at the downtown library.
“Why not start the discussion now?”
The city’s new Ontario Hockey League team has a five-year lease to play out of the aging, 3,000-seat Jack Gatecliff Arena.
Most modern OHL arenas have at least 5,000 seats.
IceDogs owner Bill Burke has said he’d like to see a new arena built eventually, if fan demand warrants it.
“There’s certainly no urgency right now, but I’m excited to hear there is conversation about it,” Burke said Tuesday.
Burke said he isn’t part of any group pitching arena ideas, but he has heard “discussions are going on.”
“I think it’s outstanding,” he said.
“I think (a new arena) would be great for the community, the city, the region.”
McMullan agreed, but added he envisions a facility catering to more than hockey.
“I’d use the term spectator facility, something you could use for concerts and home shows and a variety of events,” he said.
However, McMullan said the local group specifically approached him because of “the overwhelming success and optimism” surrounding the OHL hockey club.
“People see their success and they want it to continue,” he said.
McMullan said it was too early to divulge any details about the investors’ arena ambitions — like who would pay or how much.
But he did say much of their Monday conversation revolved around different arena funding models in communities such as Sault Ste. Marie, Oshawa and London.
In the Sault, about $7.4 million of the $25-million cost of a new 5,000-seat arena was covered by the provincial and federal governments.
McMullan is arranging to meet with the group again in March to talk in more detail about what members envision.
Burke said he thinks the Niagara Region can support a 5,000-seat arena, noting the club has sold out seven of its last 10 games.
“Almost all our walk-up tickets are standing-room-only right now,” he said.
“A larger arena, in general, makes everything easier. The hallways are bigger, the concessions are bigger, the seating is more comfortable.”
Both men said they want any new facility to be built downtown.
“The economic spinoffs, without question, would have the greatest impact in the downtown,” McMullan said.
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=908501&auth=Matthew+Van+Dongen
Mayor in talks on new home for IceDogs
Posted By Matthew Van Dongen
Posted 5 hours ago
Mayor Brian McMullan is talking with private investors interested in building a new downtown arena for the Niagara IceDogs.
The mayor met with the anonymous local group Monday to discuss the potential of a new “spectator facility,” McMullan said at a St. Catharines Downtown Association meeting Tuesday.
It’s just an idea at this point, stressed McMullan, who wouldn’t reveal any more details about the potential investors or their plans.
“It’s very preliminary, but I’m always willing to talk about exploring new opportunities,” he said after the annual general meeting at the downtown library.
“Why not start the discussion now?”
The city’s new Ontario Hockey League team has a five-year lease to play out of the aging, 3,000-seat Jack Gatecliff Arena.
Most modern OHL arenas have at least 5,000 seats.
IceDogs owner Bill Burke has said he’d like to see a new arena built eventually, if fan demand warrants it.
“There’s certainly no urgency right now, but I’m excited to hear there is conversation about it,” Burke said Tuesday.
Burke said he isn’t part of any group pitching arena ideas, but he has heard “discussions are going on.”
“I think it’s outstanding,” he said.
“I think (a new arena) would be great for the community, the city, the region.”
McMullan agreed, but added he envisions a facility catering to more than hockey.
“I’d use the term spectator facility, something you could use for concerts and home shows and a variety of events,” he said.
However, McMullan said the local group specifically approached him because of “the overwhelming success and optimism” surrounding the OHL hockey club.
“People see their success and they want it to continue,” he said.
McMullan said it was too early to divulge any details about the investors’ arena ambitions — like who would pay or how much.
But he did say much of their Monday conversation revolved around different arena funding models in communities such as Sault Ste. Marie, Oshawa and London.
In the Sault, about $7.4 million of the $25-million cost of a new 5,000-seat arena was covered by the provincial and federal governments.
McMullan is arranging to meet with the group again in March to talk in more detail about what members envision.
Burke said he thinks the Niagara Region can support a 5,000-seat arena, noting the club has sold out seven of its last 10 games.
“Almost all our walk-up tickets are standing-room-only right now,” he said.
“A larger arena, in general, makes everything easier. The hallways are bigger, the concessions are bigger, the seating is more comfortable.”
Both men said they want any new facility to be built downtown.
“The economic spinoffs, without question, would have the greatest impact in the downtown,” McMullan said.
