Task force recommends Charlottetown build new sports, event centre

A task force recommends the development of a 5,000-seat multi-use sports and event centre (MUSEC) in Charlottetown.

The much-awaited report, released Thursday, calls for a facility capable of hosting major national events and more frequent regional scale sport and non-sport events.

The bulky report from a task force committee appointed by city council in the spring of 2016 recommends the MUSEC 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 to 500 range.

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

The task force recommends Cody Banks Arena be re-purposed for dry-use recreation and consider ways to ensure the facility remains a revenue-neutral facility for the city on an operating basis.

The report recommends the Eastlink Centre, currently home of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Charlottetown Islanders, be re-designated as a community ice arena.

City council needs time to review the report, says Coun. Kevin Ramsay, chair of the advanced planning, priorities and special projects committee.

“We felt it was important to release the report immediately to our partners and user groups and we look forward to receiving community feedback on the document before the city takes a strong position in any particular direction,’’ he says.

The task force spent the last 18 months examining the feasibility of establishing a new sport and entertainment facility in the capital city and creating a succession plan for aging and challenging facilities for city council to review