Game plan for new Charlottetown arena

Task force recommends Charlottetown proceeds with 5,000-seat multi-use sports and event centre

A task force recommends the development of a 5,000seat multi-use sports and event centre in Charlottetown. The much-awaited report, released Thursday, calls for a facility capable of hosting major national events and more frequent regional sport and non-sport events.

The bulky report from a task force committee appointed by city council in the spring of 2016 recommends the centre be comprised of a main spectator seating bowl and ice surface as well as a second NHL-size ice surface dedicated for use by the community with seating in the 400-500 range. The cost of building the facility is estimated between $74 million and $81 million with an additional $2 million for 500 parking spaces. Development of the centre would require funding from all levels of government and probably community fundraising. Extra funding will likely be available through the 2023 Canada Games, which P.E.I. is hosting.

“Funding is going to be a major, major article in it,’’ says Coun. Kevin Ramsay, chairman of the advanced planning, priorities and special projects committee.

“There has to be major, major partners in it.’’

The task force committee debated at length the merit of separating out the investment plans for community ice arenas and the event centre, but ultimately concluded there is greater merit in addressing community ice needs and the event centre in a co-ordinated, single phase.

“Indeed, the financial analysis of the future operating costs of all arenas together demonstrates that a combined solution has the greatest capacity to lessen the city’s overall exposure to operating deficits for these facilities combined,’’ states the report.

The task force recommends the multi-use facility be built along Riverside Drive on the site of the old provincial department of highway garages. The committee noted if the city decides to implement the recommendations it will need to assess potential sites within the so-called Eastern Gateway development zone, including assessment of land acquisition costs, timing of acquisition, extra-ordinary site-related costs and site planning for the facilities.

“The city should determine its preferred site and work actively with its partners to realize a developable site and a supporting strategy to bring this site forward in a timely fashion,’’ the task force report advises.

“It is important from a funding perspective to have as much certainty as possible over the choice of location – it informs all aspects of the project planning process and without it, achieving a viable funding commitment is less likely.’’

The task force also calls for demolishing the Simmons arena and planning for other use of the lands as contemplated within the Simmons Sports Centre Master Plan.