Feasibility of new Charlottetown sports, entertainment complex reviewed

A task force to look into the feasibility of establishing a new multi-use sport and entertainment facility in Charlottetown has been appointed by city council.  

The Charlottetown Multi-Use Facility Project Exploratory Taskforce will also create a succession plan for aging facilities for city council to review.

'I don't believe that the $1.5 million we're spending now on those other three ice pads is a wise investment."- Clifford Lee

The task force will examine marketplace and community needs, deficiencies in sport and entertainment capacity, and the operational costs of current facilities as they age. The group will look for partnership opportunities and ways to establish a facility that is competitive in the entertainment industry, while supporting existing and extended community recreational programming, said the city.

Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee stresses the city hasn't agreed to build anything, but wants to know what capital costs would be to build a new complex and the operational expenses going forward. 

Lee said the city is currently subsidising Simmons Arena, Coady Banks Arena and the Eastlink Centre to the tune of $1.5 million per year. He said the Eastlink Centre is 20-something years old and the other two buildings are older and their life spans are coming to an end. 

'Does it make sense?'

"Let's look at all the options out there before we go out and start to replace smaller facilities," said Lee.

"Does it make sense to build one facility with three ice pads?"

Lee said the city needs to create business plan that makes financial sense.

"Quite frankly I don't believe that the $1.5 million we're spending now on those other three ice pads is a wise investment and I don't think it's sustainable long-term," said Lee.

As the buildings age, he said, the expenses will continue to grow. 

The members of the taskforce are:

• Mike Hennessey.
• Brian Cameron.
• Spencer Campbell.
• Dennis King.
• Barb Stevenson.
• Mitchell Tweel.
• Berni Wood.

They are all unpaid volunteers. 

There is a budget of $100,000 for the task force for expenses such as accountants, engineers, drawing up plans, and possible travel to see other facilities. 

Report timeline

Coun. Kevin Ramsay said after the council meeting on Monday that there was no timeline for a report from the task force. On Tuesday, in an interview with CBC News: Compass host Bruce Rainnie, Lee said he now expects to see a report from the task force in one year. 

"This task force will build on work that was done in the past and look at the big picture. It just doesn't make sense to proceed with only part of the information. We need to take all factors into account before we move forward," said Coun. Kevin Ramsay, chair of the advanced planning, priorities and special projects committee. 

Ramsay said the City of Charlottetown probably couldn't establish a new facility on its own and other levels of government money would be needed as well.

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