Post by excanucksfan on Feb 26, 2008 23:43:19 GMT -5
Direct from the Standards Website
Councillor wants to plan now for new arena
Posted By MATTHEW VAN DONGEN Standard staff
Posted 2 hours ago
St. Catharines Coun. Jeff Burch has asked for a study on potential economic spinoffs of a new downtown arena.
The request comes a week after Mayor Brian McMullan met with a group of local private investors interested in building a new “spectator facility” for the Niagara IceDogs.
Owner Bill Burke has committed to tiny, aging Jack Gatecliff Arena for five years, but wants a new 5,000-seat home for his Ontario Hockey League team eventually.
The time for planning is now, argued Burch.
“It’s not early at all,” he said Tuesday. “It takes a couple years to plan it, a couple of years to build it.
“If we’re serious about (a new arena) we need to get started.”
McMullan, Burch and fellow councillor Andrew Gill attended last week’s meeting with the anonymous local business people.
McMullan and Burch wouldn’t identify those involved, but The Standard has learned one of the potential investors is the owner of Gales Gas Bars Limited.
Bob Gale confirmed he attended the meeting, but added the group agreed to keep the details under wraps, for now.
“All I can say is a number of people are doing due diligence on this,” said Gale, who has in the past offered himself as a potential fundraising chairman for a new arena.
Gale has previously pointed to Brock University as a potential arena location.
He wouldn’t say what he suggested to McMullan, however, who has been vocal in his support for a downtown arena.
Burch wouldn’t say, either, but admitted “different people have different ideas” about the best place for a new facility.
“For me, it only makes sense in the downtown, given that we’re looking at downtown revitalization,” he said.
Early plans for a performing arts centre could fit ell with a new arena, he said.
“The facility wouldn’t just be for the IceDogs,” Burch said. “You could have indoor soccer, lacrosse, the opportunity for bigger acts to come in for concerts.”
If that happens, the two downtown facilities could share a box office.
All those plans are pie-in-the-sky, for now.
That’s why Burch wants city staff to crunch some numbers.
In particular, he wants them to look at potential downtown or near-downtown locations, the economic impact on the downtown and financing options.
“Obviously, the city can’t afford to do this on its own,” said Burch, who thought a 5,000-seat facility could cost upwards of $40 million.
“We’d need help from all levels of government, the corporate sector, a fundraising campaign.”
Burch’s request came in the form of a notice of motion, which means council will vote on the study in March.
Also Monday night, Coun. Joe Kushner asked for a report on the economic benefits of the newly-built four-pad arena.
Councillor wants to plan now for new arena
Posted By MATTHEW VAN DONGEN Standard staff
Posted 2 hours ago
St. Catharines Coun. Jeff Burch has asked for a study on potential economic spinoffs of a new downtown arena.
The request comes a week after Mayor Brian McMullan met with a group of local private investors interested in building a new “spectator facility” for the Niagara IceDogs.
Owner Bill Burke has committed to tiny, aging Jack Gatecliff Arena for five years, but wants a new 5,000-seat home for his Ontario Hockey League team eventually.
The time for planning is now, argued Burch.
“It’s not early at all,” he said Tuesday. “It takes a couple years to plan it, a couple of years to build it.
“If we’re serious about (a new arena) we need to get started.”
McMullan, Burch and fellow councillor Andrew Gill attended last week’s meeting with the anonymous local business people.
McMullan and Burch wouldn’t identify those involved, but The Standard has learned one of the potential investors is the owner of Gales Gas Bars Limited.
Bob Gale confirmed he attended the meeting, but added the group agreed to keep the details under wraps, for now.
“All I can say is a number of people are doing due diligence on this,” said Gale, who has in the past offered himself as a potential fundraising chairman for a new arena.
Gale has previously pointed to Brock University as a potential arena location.
He wouldn’t say what he suggested to McMullan, however, who has been vocal in his support for a downtown arena.
Burch wouldn’t say, either, but admitted “different people have different ideas” about the best place for a new facility.
“For me, it only makes sense in the downtown, given that we’re looking at downtown revitalization,” he said.
Early plans for a performing arts centre could fit ell with a new arena, he said.
“The facility wouldn’t just be for the IceDogs,” Burch said. “You could have indoor soccer, lacrosse, the opportunity for bigger acts to come in for concerts.”
If that happens, the two downtown facilities could share a box office.
All those plans are pie-in-the-sky, for now.
That’s why Burch wants city staff to crunch some numbers.
In particular, he wants them to look at potential downtown or near-downtown locations, the economic impact on the downtown and financing options.
“Obviously, the city can’t afford to do this on its own,” said Burch, who thought a 5,000-seat facility could cost upwards of $40 million.
“We’d need help from all levels of government, the corporate sector, a fundraising campaign.”
Burch’s request came in the form of a notice of motion, which means council will vote on the study in March.
Also Monday night, Coun. Joe Kushner asked for a report on the economic benefits of the newly-built four-pad arena.
