$275K consultation cost for Sudbury events centre 'part of the process:' mayor
Bigger not shying away from scope of project, says city needs to do 'homework' first
Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger is defending a decision to spend $275,000 for consultation on a new events centre.
Bigger said the process is not different from any other procurement that the city undertakes.
"We certainly need to do the homework and have the expertise from the industry that will give us all the information we need to make that decision," Bigger said.
"This is a significant decision and we take it very seriously."
Bigger said a consultant will study the business case for a new arena and prepare a request for proposals.
"What they'll do is they'll help us review all the existing information that we have and help staff to further research and analytics on the best opportunities for an events centre-type facility," Bigger said.
What about the Zulich acquisition?
Although Bigger said he can't speculate as to when the process would wrap up, Bigger said the proposals are expected to be issued by the city in 2017.
He also said that he does not think Dario Zulich's purchase of the Sudbury Wolves will affect the process.
In addition to owning the Ontario Hockey League franchise, Zulich is behind one of the new arena proposals.
With files from Olivia Stefanovich. Edited/packaged by Casey Stranges