Group chosen to build 5,000-seat theatre in Falls
Mississauga company Bird Construction is part of the consortium which will build a 5,000-seat entertainment centre in Niagara Falls.
The company is among principals known as Niagara Falls Entertainment Partners, which beat out four other conglomerates for the right to design, build and maintain the facility.
The winning bidder was announced by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. late Tuesday.
The theatre is expected to replace the 1,500-seat Avalon Ballroom at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, which has been limited by its size virtually from the day it opened in 2004.
By comparison, the new theatre will be equal in size to the 5,000seat Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, and will double the 2,500-seat Events Center at Seneca Niagara Casino.
OLG spokesman Rui Brum says the new venue will “accommodate larger concerts, shows and attractions that will draw more visitors to the city of Niagara Falls and OLG’s Niagara casinos.”
“We want to ensure the longterm competitiveness of Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.”
Mayor Jim Diodati says the new venue is expected to lure an additional million visitors per year to the city, and will be “a great attraction in itself.
“I’ve seen the (business) model, and it’s more shows, and more bigger shows.”
In a news release issued Tuesday, Bird Construction president and CEO Ian Boyd said the company will “perform the design and construction” of a project which will include a lobby, bar and concessions in addition to the theatre.
“This important project adds to our expanding portfolio of publicprivate partnership projects and further establishes the company as a key Canadian participant in this delivery model.”
Brum says other companies in the consortium will be announced once individual contracts are finalized.
Also yet to be announced is where the theatre will actually be located. Brum says OLG will provide “more details about the (project) once the procurement is complete.” Bird Construction says the consortium is expected to reach “financial close” by the end of the month, with construction to commence shortly after. Diodati is pleased a “Niagara-based group” won the bid.
“I know right off the hop, they get Niagara Falls.”