City seeks sponsors for Grace Hartman Amphitheatre

The city is hoping to create some competition for sponsorship rights for the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre.

Meeting earlier this month, members of the community services committee agreed to issue a tender to see whether there is interest in the businesses community to pay to have their name appear at the Bell Park facility.

Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann said a business is already interested in sponsorship, but it's worth finding out if there are others willing to pay more.

Rebuilt in 2011, there are plans to add 500 more seats to the amphitheatre and a roof, at a cost of $5.2 million. However, there is only about $1.4 million in capital funds available, leaving a deficit of about $3.8 million. While sponsorship money would unlikely raise that much, it would help the facility's bottom line.

A recent review of the business plan found that while annual expenses were estimated to run around $189,550, actual expenses were $242,614 in 2012, the first full year the renovated facility was open, declining to $218,298 this year. Revenues were estimated at $60,000, but only reached $42,154 in 2012, before recovering to $60,842 in 2013.

While supportive, Ward 10 Coun. Frances Caldarelli said the expression of interest should make it clear that 'Grace Hartman' has to remain part of the official name. Hartman was the first female mayor of Sudbury.

“Maybe we can make it the Pepsi Grace Hartman Amphitheatre?” she quipped.

@darrenmacd