The City is moving forward in the process to identify possible solutions for the replacement of the Sudbury Community Arena, at the direction of City Council and in line with the Arena Renewal Strategy, which was presented to Council in 2013.
In October 2013, the City of Greater Sudbury issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) from teams of designers, contractors and developers from the private sector and organizations interested in pursuing the design, construction, development and/or operation of a new premier ice facility. The EOI specified that the design of the facility must include at a minimum one NHL size ice pad (with additional ice pads as a possible option); seating capacity to host a Memorial Cup Event or other ticketed events; amenities associated with Ontario Hockey League arena; and the functionality to host major performances and events.
“This is a lengthy process, but we are making good progress,” said Catherine Matheson, General Manager of Community Development for the City. “The Sudbury Community Arena is one of the cornerstones for a healthy community in our downtown core. Both staff and Council are committed to ensuring that any facility that replaces it will meet our community’s needs, both now and in the future.”
The EOI, which was a no-cost process for the municipality, was presented to the Community Services Committee at its meeting last evening. In total, the City received 14 submissions to the EOI, with a diverse range of options and prices.
Moving forward, the next step is to engage a consultant to conduct a detailed business analysis of the submission received through the EOI. In addition, public consultation will be held prior to consideration of the Standing Committee and Council.