If North Bay is truly going to chase the golden goose that is sports tourism, two fundamental roadblocks need to be addressed.
One, infrastructure must be not only be improved but better maintained. To that end, the City has spent more this year ($39.6M), and will spend even more ($44.2M) in 2017 on roads than ever before in its history.
Two, those hockey tournaments and figure skating competitions that make up a sizable portion of sports tourism revenues must be held at modernized arenas free of mould, and out of harm's way from snow accumulation on the roof.
Three suitable sites are being discussed at a staff level, and sources say that there is no consensus on which way to proceed.
One possibility is a new build on land adjacent to the Steve Omischl Sports Complex, which could provide an economic injection to an area of the city that has seen multiple businesses relocate or close altogether.
"I still think, even though the Omischl Complex is out there, if it was built down there, it would change the whole complexity of that facility," said King.
Another scenario would see an addition with two ice pads constructed on the Thompson Park side of Memorial Gardens.
"There is a faction that is starting to favour the back-side of Memorial Gardens being blown out," and two pads being added there, added King.
Finally, although it is thought to be a less-likely option, a new arena could be built on the land surrounding the current West Ferris Arena.
"We have seven acres on that site. The problem with it, is how do you build on an existing site? If you've got enough room to do it side-by-side, and that's how the Cassellholme build will take place, then you use one while you build the other, and then demolish," said King.
"We've got a process we have to go through with the public so that we understand what people think we should be doing. We have to narrow down what it's going to look like, where it's going to be built, and how it's going to be built," explained King.
Talks with representatives from the college and university regarding a possible arena being built at the rear of the Commerce Court campus have not advanced beyond the preliminary stage, and there is a feeling that the City may be better off to stand alone when it comes to a new arena.
When staff's progress in finalizing the 2017 capital budget was presented to the Mayor and City Councillors Tuesday evening, one glaring revision stood out to several around the table, especially Coun. Mark King.
"The number one priority in my mind will be the West Ferris Arena, I think a lot of the Councillors are on board with that," said King.
"One of the things about West Ferris Arena, and I think it's going to become more evident over the next few weeks, is that more broadly across the city, sports infrastructure, because it's been convenient to save by deferring maintenance and repairs and necessary expansions, I think we're about to realize that we're further behind than we thought we were," said Mayne.
In previous drafts of the budget, $1.5M had been earmarked for renovations and maintenance to the West Ferris Arena. In the updated version of the City's spending portfolio, zero dollars have been allocated to the aging arena, and the money that had been pencilled in has now been placed in the column for upgrades and repairs to King's Landing.
"The amount of money that is in the capital budget for King's Landing (which was named after King's late father, Don) is not going to fly. We have gone overboard. I can see it being repaired, I don't see any reason why we can't make it work," declared King after the budget meeting.
It is no secret that West Ferris Arena is on its last legs, and is reportedly only viable until 2019. Besides the snow accumulation issues, the foundation is said to be cracking as well. If the City is no longer willing to put any funding into it, then surely the reasoning behind the move is that a new arena is close to being approved?
How the arena will be paid for is another major question.
Margaret Karpenko, Chief Financial Officer for the City, said, "This 10-year plan does not have any plans for the West Ferris (Arena) challenge, and our report does suggest that an independent financing plan...would have to be generated to support the West Ferris project.
"In that plan, my preliminary thoughts are that we would once again use some reserves. So, between the two plans, our capital reserves would be significantly reduced," advised Karpenko.
Said King, "We have to look at the real things that make for a better city, and one of them is arenas. I know we're going to get ourselves in a situation at West Ferris if we don't decide soon."
