[upinottawa]

I may be the last person in support of a downtown arena, but I think that having Windsor's premier arena out at the track will benefit no one other than the owners of the track. There will be little spin off benefit for the city.

People of Windsor: drive the 180 kms to London. Check out their new arena. See what it has done for that city!


Raceway arena idea resurrected
Mayor confirms new offer to build facility on land next to track but mum on details

Roseann Danese, Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Windsor Raceway wants to slide back into the arena debate.

Mayor Eddie Francis confirmed Tuesday the city received a new offer from the raceway, renewing its interest in building an arena on land next to its track. A new partner has been added to the raceway proposal to help pick up the funding shortfall that caused the deal to fall through a few months ago.

"They're now proposing to deal with some type of partnership," Francis said. "They made a proposal on paper and they asked me to submit it to the administration."

Sources say the proposal for 6,500 seats includes a $15-million capital contribution from the city, along with $3 million that has been accumulated in the Chimczuk museum fund.

Francis would not release details of the raceway offer. He said the proposal includes a second ancillary ice pad and will deal with the issue of building a two-pad arena on the east end to address the problems facing aging Riverside and Adstoll arenas.

Francis said it is now up to city staff to prepare a report that will come to council in June.

Last month city council voted to further study building a 6,500-seat arena on the city's east side, with three additional community pads that would replace the older arenas in the area and a community centre to replace the Edward Street centre.

PRICE TAG

That concept comes at a price tag of about $55 million. Despite the price, councillors were uncharacteristically in agreement the project should be pursued.

That may have spurred the raceway group into action, sources said. Windsor Raceway president Pat Soulliere did not respond to a request for comment. Windsor businessman David Batten, who is involved with the Jebb Group, referred all questions to the mayor. The proposal may still include a Gretzky-99 restaurant, which was one of the features proposed several years ago during another round of failed negotiations.

Don Sadler, executive director of parks, said a 6,500-seat arena alone can cost roughly $30 million.

Councillors have been sold on the idea of consolidating a community centre and the older east-end arenas under one roof to save operating costs. "That was very appealing to council," Francis said. Windsor Arena loses about $300,000 per year while Riverside Arena loses about $86,000 annually. A consolidated centre would turn a small profit, according to figures presented earlier to city council.

Francis said council will likely be presented with the two options: build a four-pad arena complex under one roof somewhere in the east end or partner with Windsor Raceway for a two-pad arena on land owned by the track.

The city will have an extra $15 million in 2008 after other projects are paid off. In 2009, $23.5 million will become available and in 2010, $36.4 million will be free to use on arena infrastructure.

Sadler said councillors may have to choose between the two scenarios: "It all boils down to what makes the best business case."

The first raceway proposal included offering the city free land for the facility. An arena on the east end would likely require the city to purchase the land.

CHIMCZUK FUND

Retired autoworker Joseph Chimczuk left $1 million to the City of Windsor when he died in 1990. In his will, he instructed the city to use the money for a museum, archives and library. The money was invested and has now grown to about $3 million. It has never been spent. Over the years, groups have asked the city for the money to fund everything from a science centre to municipal archives and a library.

© The Windsor Star 2006