PMC replacement, twin pad need separate sites, Millen says
Greg Millen has seen first-hand how entertainment centres have revitalized downtowns across North America.
The “Hockey Night In Canada” analyst, who has resided in the area since playing for the Peterborough Petes in the 1970s, is elated Sierra Planning and Management recommended the city target downtown for a Memorial Centre replacement.
He also thinks Morrow Park is the perfect location for a twinpad arena that can grow into a larger multi-sport complex.
Millen, who has sat on two arena committees in the past 18 years, doesn’t want the two projects combined and is concerned city councillors suggest the new PMC also go to Morrow Park.
The Market Plaza site across from Little Lake is ideal, he said.
“I’ve been very fortunate to travel around North America and see the influence and fantastic impact buildings have created being in the downtown,” Millen said. “I could name city after city. Some of the entertainment centres were built in really tough spots that are now vibrant areas with restaurants and people all around and no more crime in the area.”
He’s seen it in Columbus, Nashville, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Winnipeg and Newark, N.J., to name a few.
“Ottawa made a mistake. They know it and they have to get downtown,” Millen said.
Oshawa, Kingston and London are examples closer to home.
“It’s staring us in the face. If people don’t see it, they need to get out and do their homework,” Millen said.
“If they could get it to Little Lake, can you imagine how beautiful it would be as the gateway to our city. Imagine a facility like that and the entertainment and different types of uses it would draw to bring business to our city.” Council should look beyond the cost to acquire and cleanup the site.
“We have to start thinking big, big, big picture. Not blinders on, here’s cheap land let’s do it here,” he said. “That’s been the mistake of the past.”
It will take a mix of private and public money, he said.
“At some point, our government is going to have to put some plans in place to rejuvenate our economy. There is going to be an opportunity shortly for these type of things,” Millen said.
“Just remember this. (In 2003), we could have had a new building for $35 million. If we wait again and it’s $80 million or $100 million now, and we wait another 10 years, you might as well double it again.”
Parking shouldn’t be a concern, he said.
“You have to think a little differently, out of the box, about parking. You really don’t want parking at an entertainment centre downtown,” he said.
“Scotiabank (Arena) in Toronto doesn’t have any (public) parking spots. Montreal hardly has any. You want people to find parking and then walk to different restaurants, walk the downtown, take transit so it creates a flow of people who stay,” he said.
That’s why he’s opposed to Morrow Park for the major facility. “People drive there and then they leave. They don’t stay,” he said.
It could also be a home for the arts. “We have a lot of musical and arts organizations in town looking for a home and they just don’t have one right now,” he said.
“One thing that has to really be emphasized is this is not an arena. This is an entertainment centre. The Petes and Lakers only take up a very small amount of time an entertainment centre is used in a community. Very small.”
Millen doesn’t want a second ice pad at the entertainment centre.
“Historically, it’s been a bad idea,” he said. “Imagine having a big event at the entertainment centre and then having a bunch of kids with hockey bags in the same area trying to get into the facility?”