Replacing Memorial Centre should be a priority
It appears consideration for a new Memorial Centre/ Entertainment Complex is off city council’s table, if in fact it was ever really on it.
The money the city is dumping into the current Memorial Centre in the form of a new video board, upgraded air conditioning, a new lighting system and, of course, the proposed new arena floor, they obviously have no immediate considerations of replacing the aging structure.
With Ken Doherty, department head of community services responsible for arenas, libraries, museums and the like, pouring cash into that deepening money pit on Aylmer Street, the new library, he displays no interest in entertaining any long range plans for an arena/entertainment centre.
Even with the crowds the Peterborough Lakers, on their successful run to another Canadian title, and last year’s Petes playoff run, drew to the Memorial Centre, their convenience holds little favour with Mr. Doherty and his expanding book shelves. Also, the need to give the Centre’s showgoers a better listening and viewing venue along with the new cohort of fans supporting Cody Crowley’s boxing cards, is ignored.
Council spent more time and consideration on some backyard chickens recently than they did to the users and supporters of the Memorial Centre. The closing of the Centre in 2019 looms much larger as we see the increased use of the Centre. Mr. Doherty quickly found an alternative for the closed library during its rebuild but little effort is evident to accommodate the thousands of fans and local teams that will be shuttered out of the Centre to do a questionable replacement to the Centre’s floor.
Now is the time for the supporters of the many and varied events in the Memorial Centre to start asking some serious questions of councillors as they gear up for next year’s election.
If council feels the few cosmetic changes to the Centre make up for a 61-year-old structure in dire need of replacement in the near future, they should be made aware of by users of the building that they are sadly uninformed.
Watching fans, especially us older ones, trying to navigate those aisles without the benefit of handrails is just an accident waiting to happen. The crowded lobby and concourses plus the long lines for canteen service and washrooms during games give more reasons for fans not to attend games. And for dressing room facilities -- what the Mann Cup Lakers (and visiting OHL teams) are required to dress in would tax a peewee team for room. Also, there is poor access to the floor for large show stages and little storage for flooring, extra seats and, of course, the lacrosse carpet.
Looking around the area, places including Kingston, Oshawa and Cobourg have new facilities with features that cater to the enjoyment of the patrons paying the fare.
It appears the city is on the cusp of some serious growth. With the Highway 407 extension, a new casino and a new building for the canoe museum, and of course a new library for those coming to the city to read, it is incumbent on council to start planning for the replacement of the Memorial Centre to bring that aspect of the community into the 21st century.
Sports teams have brought plenty of recognition, fame and money to the city over the years, especially those that use the Memorial Centre. Council’s recent rebate of some of the outlandish costs they had inflicted on the Petes and the Lakers, was just addressing an injustice while the long overdue upgrades to the Centre are just window dressing.
This Centre’s sports teams and their fans deserve better; they have stepped up, now it is the city’s turn.