Lime Ridge arena bid takes a hit
Report urges city to reject idea of new building on the Mountain
The idea of a new arena at Lime Ridge Mall appears to be all but dead.
And with it, the Hamilton Bulldogs look to be headed elsewhere.
A staff report that will be presented to councillors next week recommends against considering Bulldogs owner Michael Andlauer’s proposal for a new 6,000-seat arena at the
Mountain mall. The report from the Economic Development and Planning Committee says that while the Mountain area is an appropriate spot for intensification, an arena should not be part of that.
“Staff is recommending that no further action be taken with regards to the new arena proposal,” the report says.
That being the case, a clearly frustrated Andlauer says the time has come to start considering other cities for the team.
“There’s been lots of empty promises,” he says. “There’s been nothing concrete. What am I waiting for? I will look at my options. Absolutely.”
The businessman has proposed contributing up to $30 million toward construction of a new $72million arena attached to the mall. He would then manage it for at least 20 years, which would remove that cost and responsibility from the city. Cadillac Fairview would also lease the land on which
it would sit to the city for 20 years at $1 a year.
The proposal Andlauer made to council in October also included an 1,800spot parking garage and partnership with Metrolinx to connect Mountain commuters to GO service. The total cost for the whole package was estimated at $126 million with the balance being taken on by the city and possibly other levels of government.
All of this would allow the aging FirstOntario Centre — which will require millions in maintenance and upgrades over the next few years — to be demolished and the land upon which it stands sold which would generate an infusion of cash for the city and create additional taxes.
Andlauer says he thought he was bringing forward a solution to a number of civic issues that would cost taxpayers nothing after the initial capital outlay. Yet, he says when he spent three hours in front of council in October, he was made to feel like he was just wasting peoples’ time.
“Focusing only on downtown,” he says. “That’s their only thing ... We’ve been downtown for 16 years. I haven’t seen that having a building downtown has made it any better.”
In rejecting his idea, staff cited a belief that there would be no savings from a Mountain arena, such a facility wouldn’t be much of an economic catalyst, moving an entertainment venue out of the downtown would fly in the face of the city’s strategic plan, and building a facility with fewer than 10,000 seats would hamper the city’s attempts to attract major events.
Throw in some public transit concerns, a lack of hotel rooms, some uncertainty over other plans and a belief that Cadillac Fairview will redevelop the mall with or without a rink and they reached their conclusion.
So, between his dissatisfaction and the report’s conclusions, is this the end of the Lime Ridge idea?
“God, I hope so,” says Ward 8 Coun. John-Paul Danko. “Hopefully this is the final nail in the coffin so we can get back to some more productive work.”
Ward 14 Coun. Terry Whitehead, on the other hand, says he’s in favour of updating FirstOntario Centre into something modern and unique. But if council decides to build a new arena of 10,000 seats or fewer instead, “downtown is not the place to be.”
Meaning there could still be a battle around the council table. But could there possibly be enough votes on the yes side to push the idea forward? Ward 7 Coun. Esther Paul — who’s in favour of the Lime Ridge site — says no way. “In my opinion, it’s dead,” she says. So, again, end of story?
Maybe, but there’s one more catch to this.
A report from Ernst and Young that was submitted to the city about options for a new arena — or a renovated FirstOntario Centre — made clear that no matter what was done, it was essential the city have a tenant for the building. Occasional concerts and shows weren’t going to do it.
But now that Andlauer is on the precipice of being snubbed and is talking about looking for a new home for his team, what happens? Hamilton has an old building that needs millions in repairs but there may be no tenant for which to repair it. Chicken, meet egg.
Danko says he’s not worried about that. With the city’s size, another AHL or OHL team could surely be found as a replacement.
Even if it wasn’t, the Ernst and Young report clearly said concerts were the money makers. That won’t change.
As for Andlauer, he says he’s thoroughly disappointed in the process and what he sees as something of a foregone conclusion. One final question then: Three years from now, where will the Bulldogs be?
“Ask me that in a couple months.”