Arena-related tender process coming soon

The city’s special arena committee previously recommended the Omischl Complex be the preferred city-owned site for a new arena.

The second part of the discussion involves the private proposals that have come forward.

They included one from a private developer on Pinewood Park Drive, Nipissing University and the Near North District School Board.

Community Services Committee Chair Mark King tells BayToday we should expect an update on the process soon.

“Staff have been working on that part of it, and it has to be separated, we should see something out very shortly, publicly, as far as that tender process is concerned,” he says.

King says there’s no question West Ferris Arena needs to be replaced, but he wonders how they’ll pay for what he says could be a $30-million facility.

“Depending on what provincial opportunities or federal opportunities are out there, we’re looking at about $1.6-million a year to carry that amount of money over a 25 to 30 year period,” he says.

Ultimately Council will decide where a new arena will go.