'Putting the cart before the horse?' Sudbury city council to vote on community arena takeover

The debate over the future of the community arena in Sudbury, Ont., is taking a turn.

A decision is expected on Tuesday evening in council chambers on whether a proponent for a new site should run the existing downtown facility. 

"I found this a little premature," Coun. Mark Signoretti said. 

"We need to evolve in the right way, and I don't think putting the cart before the horse is the right way of doing it."

Signoretti was referring to the fact that city council is expected to discuss the location of a possible new venue on June 27.

In his view, Signoretti said any decision about the business of the existing facility should happen after that meeting. 

Should arena management go up for bidding?

The Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club is asking to take over the operation and management of the community arena from the city, including responsibilities for event management and box office services. 

The team is owned by local entrepreneur Dario Zulich, who wants to build a new event centre and ice pad on the Kingsway, under the brand True North Strong — if city council goes through with building the $80 - $100 million project.

Since 2014, the city has been losing $541,482 on average each year operating the existing arena, according to a managers' report.

Under the proposed agreement, all unionized arena workers would continue to be employed by the city, but they would be provided with daily direction by club representatives. 

The city would continue to own its ice fleet resurfacers, and pay fleet for the machines. 

Coun. René Lapierre agrees with Signoretti that the club's request may be a little hasty, but he said he is more concerned with only providing one company the opportunity to be able to acquire arena management.

"I believe that maybe we should have an official full RFP [request for proposals] process," Lapierre said.

"It also ensures good openness and transparency for our residents, and a good use of tax dollars because maybe there's more savings to be had by a different company who does this full time versus the Wolves who don't really do this regularly."

Estimated $270,741 in annual savings under new operation

If the agreement with the Wolves is approved, the hockey organization estimates it will result in an annual operational savings of $270,741, which would reduce the 2018 municipal budget by $115,289. 

"I can't see another group doing that," Coun. Michael Vagnini said. 

"In my mind, as a chartered financial consultant, I see this as a good deal for the city."

Vagnini added that giving the hockey team the thumbs up to take over operations will help Zulich kick start his new National Basketball League of Canada franchise. 

"It gives them full control to make [the arena] more efficient and make the experience, in my mind, going to the games more of a pleasurable experience."

Vagnini added that he does not believe supporting the club's demand will give Zulich a leg up in his bid to run a new event centre. 

"This is just for the time that the Sudbury Wolves are playing in the barn," Vagnini said.

"I'm not a fan of any new builds because a standalone arena just doesn't make sense at this point in time with all the other things we have going on in the city.

"When we have infrastructure, our roads, water, wastewater in dire need of repair, for us to go out and spend $100 million on a new arena just doesn't make any sense to me."