Plans for new Sudbury Arena inch forward

City councillors have directed staff to investigate what would be involved in building a new Sudbury Arena while maintaining the 13 smaller rinks in the city.

Staff have also been told to explore options to increase ice time usage at the I.J. Coady Arena in Levack, rather than consider closing it and adding a new pad to the arena in Chelmsford.

Many people in that community feared the city was planning to close I.J. Coady, following the release of an arena strategy in January. While closing rinks in Levack and Azilda was listed as an option, members of the operations committee instead asked staff to look for ways to increase ice time usage in Levack.

But in his presentation this week to the committee, Steve Bastien, representing the I.J. Coady memorial events committee, implied the city was trying to suppress usage of the rink to justify closing it.

“People started approaching me and informed me that they have tried to rent ice time through the city and were told it was unavailable,” Bastien said. “I, personally, called in February and tried to book ice time from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and could not rent at the I.J. Coady Arena at that time but was told I could get it at the Chelmsford or Capreol Arenas.”

In response, Ward 2 Coun. Jacques Barbeau said rather than a conspiracy, the time restrictions are about spending taxpayer dollars wisely.

“We can't have staff on at any arena ... if there's only one booking,” he said. “That's not responsible government.”

Further, Barbeau said they have been looking for ways to increase the number of hours it's rented by sports organizations.

“To come back and accuse staff of coming back with false information, or that they gave false information, is completely wrong,” he said. “Nobody at council, nobody on staff is out to close an arena. We're looking for solutions to keep I.J. Coady open.

“But the facts are facts. The fact is there aren't a lot of ice rentals in Levack. As a council, we've said we want to work with the community to find ways to fill those ice slots.”

Ray Mensour, the city's manager of arenas, told the committee that public consultations – surveys and public meetings – found little appetite for closing existing rinks and building new ones. Instead, the public wants them to maintain existing ones, which will cost an estimated $24 million over the next 10 years. But there was one exception, Mensour said.

“When we asked them if they wanted Sudbury Arena replaced alone, as a standalone facility, the majority of the people – 67 per cent – said replace Sudbury Arena,” he said.

A new OHL arena would cost between $40 million and $70 million, Mensour said, and options including a private-public partnership will be explored.

Ward 1 Coun. Joe Cimino wanted to make it clear that a new Sudbury Arena won't be done anytime soon.

“We're not talking about tomorrow, we're talking years, we're talking a lot more public consultation,” Cimino said.

Mensour agreed, saying the process would take 2-5 years.

“When it comes to Sudbury Arena, what we've done is very preliminary so far,” he said. “We're basically waiting for council direction on how to proceed in that matter, whether it be replacing or repairing.”

In addition to moving ahead with critical repairs needed at the Chelmsford Arena, staff will implement incentives to encourage more usage in Levack, including discounts and offering more prime-time ice to groups outside the community.

In her comments, Ward 10 Coun. Frances Caldarelli wondered how much of an effort was made to survey non-arena users, since they pay taxes, as well.

“If we're mostly interview those who are heavy arena users, we're obviously going to get a slant on the results.”

But Ward 2 Coun. Claude Berthiaume said he was pleased arenas will be maintained, because ice rinks are a huge part of social fabric.

“Canada is hockey,” Berthiaume said. “Winter sports are very important for our residents.”

Ward 11 Coun. Terry Kett pointed out that while he supports maintaining existing rinks, New Sudbury residents don't have a rink.

“With a population of nearly 45,000 people, not one damn ice rink, except the one closed a few years ago, in haste, by the city that is now leased for a two-year term to a film company,” Kett said, in reference to the former Barrydowne Arena. “In that strategy do you have anything that says maybe the people of New Sudbury could get ... their arena back?”

Staff agreed to come up with details on what it would take to reopen Barrydowne once the lease with Northern Ontario Film Studios expires.