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Committee gives Omischl the nod for new arena location

'The sheer cost that would’ve been involved in order to provide secondary entrances into the Thomson Field area, from the committee’s viewpoint, it would’ve been tremendously more expensive to provide that'
West Ferris arena empty
West Ferris arena. File photo by Chris Dawson.

The city’s special arena committee has come up with a recommendation on which of the two city-owned properties should be the preferred site for a new arena.

Chair Mark King says they’re siding with a double-pad at the Omischl Complex.

That decision was made at Wednesday’s committee meeting.

“The sheer cost that would’ve been involved in order to provide secondary entrances into the Thomson Field area, from the committee’s viewpoint, it would’ve been tremendously more expensive to provide that,” said King.  

King says other reasons they’re siding with Omischl over Thomson Field include the loss of facilities at that location.

“The trail network that runs through there, Thomson Field itself, that would’ve created some major issues as far as parking is concerned,” he says.

User groups such as the North Bay Battalion and the North Bay & District Trappers AAA Hockey Association have both strongly supported the idea of building a new facility behind Memorial Gardens.  

A new arena at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex would also help solve some of the issues with the outdoor facility which lacks any dressing rooms for football, baseball or soccer teams.  

An arena nearby could help alleviate that problem much like football teams used/use Memorial Gardens dressing rooms at Rollie Fischer field.  

See related story: OPINION: Central arena location has its benefits 

See related story: Butler weighs in on new arena location 

Despite that recommendation, Council still has the final say on all of the new arena location.  

They will also keep the three private options in play which include proposals from Pinewood Park Drive, Nipissing University and West Ferris Secondary School.

The new facility would replace the aging West Ferris arena facility on Gertrude.

 
 
 

Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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