Winnipeg to close 3 arenas, replace with multiplexes

The City of Winnipeg is planning to close a number of its older arenas and replace them with centralized multiplex arenas.

The Old Exhibition Arena in the Burrows Area, Roland Michener Arena in Transcona and Vimy Arena in Lakewood are all on the chopping block.

They are expected to close after new multiplexes open in Garden City and Transcona in 2014.

On Thursday, city officials announced a $9 million upgrade for the East End Community Centre in Transcona and a $17 million multiplex arena project in Garden City.

On Friday, Mayor Sam Katz said the city will be putting up almost $1 million to build an outdoor rink and upgrade outdoor playgrounds at the Freight House in Point Douglas.

The closures of the arenas have some area residents concerned children in the community will be left underserved.

"I don’t think it’s very fair. Kids today, they get in a lot of trouble. They need the arenas," said Ed Boudreau.

Boudreau used to play hockey at the Roland Michener arena, and he’s not happy that the city will soon close it down.

Boudreau has lived in the area for over 25 years.

"I don’t mind them expanding the arenas but don’t start closing them down," said Boudreau.

Not financially-feasible to restore old arenas: city

Katz said making multiplexes and shutting down old arenas makes fiscal sense.

To renovate the Michener arena, the city would have to pay $5 million to $8 million dollars.

"You’re much better off building new than putting that kind of money in," said Katz.

Katz said the problem comes from the city not properly maintaining the arenas.

"There was a period of time, and you can see it, where there was a lot of building going on but nobody was planning to put away money for maintenance," he said.

"That made it very, very difficult."

Katz said the city will not close any of the arenas before a new rink in the same city quadrant is up and running.