Moncton downtown centre plans unveiled

About 200 people attended a meeting at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton Monday night to see what the new centre will look like inside and out.

For anyone looking for big city exclusivity, the arena will have a club where up to 800 special ticket holders can watch an event. There are also 13 private suites.

Jim Swords, an architect with Populous design, confirms the arena will have 9,000 seats, high ceilings, and a large load-in area, to allow for major sports events, and big rock concerts.

"It's going to be really multi-purposed … anything you can put in Toronto, or Ottawa or Quebec city, or Vancouver you can bring here."

Swords is also proud of what is going outside the building.

"The civic plaza is really the greatest feature of this building because it's going to have an ice rink outside the building … and it will also be used in the summer time for special events and outdoor concerts."

The managing company, SMG Canada, expects to hire 20 full-time people, and hundreds of part-timers.

Ken Noakes, the regional general manager, said SMG makes an effort to hire local people whenever possible.

"We also try to source as much as we can when it comes to things like food products, beer suppliers.

"We like to be local. We understand that it is a community facility and you don't want to bring in another blueprint in from another market and drop it in Moncton," said Noakes. "We want it to be a Moncton building."

After the presentations, members of the audience were invited to ask presenters questions in the lobby.

Alan McGrath, president of the local transit union, took the opportunity to ask what plans the city is making to help city buses move people in an efficient way. McGrath is also Codiac Transpo bus driver.

His concern is that a plan is in place for opening day to save time and money.

"You end up building something and you don't want to end up tearing it apart you know a year later or whatever."

"Do it right the first time."

McGrath said he is in favour of the centre, and is looking forward to seeing some of his favourite bands in Moncton, rather than driving to places like Bangor, Maine.

"I was just there two weeks ago, to see Mötley Crüe."

McGrath filled out one of the comment cards that was being circulated during the presentations.

He also said, he plans to attend an information workshop the city is holding on Nov. 25. It is open to the public.