Show Support for a New Arena

[Kevin]

I have been speaking with a number of people in the community this week and everyone seems to agree that now is the time to show support for a new spectator arena. The general thinking is that if we start getting the city to talk about a new arena now, it will be 5 years before the rink is complete. It takes a lot of time to build a new rink. They will need to find land, test the soil, design the floor plan, tender out the contract and finally construct it.

Apparently at city council on Monday, Councillor Burch will try to get the other councillors to agree to begin planning for a new rink. He is going to propose that a new pool/spectator rink is built where the Jack Gatecliff/Rex Stimers arenas stand now. While there may be some issues with this proposal, the intent is to get the city talking about a new rink. I really think it would be helpful if we all e-mail the city councillors and show our support for this project. Council needs to know they have the support of the community for a new arena.

Here is a list of the councillor's e-mail addresses:

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

[back2back]

The Standard had a big article on the IceDogs today and it really stressed how well the IceDogs are doing in terms of attendance. Things seem to be really going well now so I agree that now is the time to get on the city about an arena. I'm going to send my e-mail now.

[ohlhockeyfan1]

For the first time ever, I have emailed the councillors and expressed my opinion. Usually I am in the quiet majority group. Hopefully enough people will decide to take action and a 5000 seat arena will be approved.

[excanucksfan]

I sent everyone an e-mail and have gotten a few reponses. Most of them say they would like to see the IceDogs get a new facility at some point in the future. I think the onus is on us to make the councillors see that at some point is actually right now. Waiting 4 or 5 years to start thinking about it makes no sense. I think our slogan shouldn't be "build it and they will come" because they are already coming but rather "build it now while they are coming". Lets face it, how long will the fans put up with the cramped quarters they play in now.

[puckhound]

Its interesting that the city of St. Catharines will soon be announcing suitable sites (10 to 20 acres) for a regional police station. Indirectly this will give us an idea what the city has as far as land resources go. We need to know what sites are available before the money issue even comes up. I assume that the city would want to keep the Icedogs in town rather then let them get away to NOTL (White Oaks area) or to Thorold (junction of 406 and 20). I think we're going to find out within the next year if they are interested in offering up the same land options toward a 5000 seat arena.