Skip to content

What is the plan for an aging Pete Palangio Arena

'I don't think Pete Palangio past 2025 I think you are running on fumes after that'
20191120 pete palangio arena mendicino
City councillor Dave Mendicino wonders what will happen to Pete Palangio Arena in the next 5 to 7 years. Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.

Many residents have been made aware that West Ferris Arena is nearing its expiry date

But City Councillor Dave Mendicino believes the aging Pete Palangio Arena, which opened in 1972, is not getting younger. 

"Last week we had an unexpected event here at Pete Palangio arena where the pipe coming into the building broke and basically, we could not make ice with the ice plant and the alarm went off," explained Mendicino, who is a member of the community services committee.  

See related: Water leak closes arena

Like many other buildings, Pete Palangio arena has aging infrastructure and he believes by 2025 the same conversation council discussed the past four years about West Ferris, will come up for the twin pads at Pete Palangio Arena. 

"Pete Palangio past 2025? I think you are running on fumes after that," said Mendicino. 

He believes it will be up to the next council to decide its fate.  

"This council has done a great job bringing the twin pads to fruition," said Mendicino. 

"We have hired the architect and engineer and we are going to be building two pads at Omischl which are long overdue. But certainly, it is going to be the next councils that have to turn their eye to Pete Palangio and start making plans because you cannot replace it in one to three years, it's a process.   

"We are looking at an 18-month build for the two pads we are doing now.  The next council is going to have to start thinking about what they want to do with Pete Palangio arena." 

Mendicino says the capital budget has $2.3 million allocated over 10 years for Pete Palangio Arena.

"That is almost divided equally throughout the 10 years and that is not taking into account any unexpected issues like what happened last week, so the next council will have to turn their eye to this facility and decide if they want to keep it going or if they want to start making plans to replace it," he said.  


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.
Read more

Reader Feedback