Time is right for events centre
Published Wednesday June 8th, 2011
Public meetings to share opinions on proposed downtown facility will be held June 16 at Moncton City Hall
by alan cochrane
Times & transcript staff
Mayor George LeBlanc made an impassioned pitch yesterday, asking the people of Moncton to share his vision for a $100-million sports, entertainment and community centre that would be busy 360 days a year and become a focal point of downtown development.
"Some may suggest the time is not right, that we have a significant infrastructure deficit and this is a want, not a need. To that I say,
a prosperous and vibrant downtown is a need, not a want," LeBlanc said yesterday as he addressed the annual general meeting of Downtown Moncton Centreville Inc.
"There will always be reasons to wait and not do it now, but I say this is the time, the time is now. If not now, then when."
Speaking to about 100 downtown business and property owners, LeBlanc's presentation included an editorial cartoon from the Times & Transcript showing the downtown centre built onto the back of a tortoise. He joked that the turtle could become the mascot of the centre.
He said the downtown centre would be much more than just a sports and entertainment arena. It could be surrounded by apartment buildings, a seniors' centre, an office tower, retail stores, a museum, art gallery, parking garage, a hall of fame and a tribute to Moncton's heritage. He even suggested its architectural design pay tribute to the old Moncton railroad station that stood for many years before it was demolished to make room for the current Via Rail station behind Highfield Square.
LeBlanc said the Moncton Coliseum is 40 years old and inadequate for many of the events coming to the city. It is too expensive to repair and upgrade and building a new one on the same location would do nothing for downtown redevelopment.
He said the new downtown centre would be the key to revitalizing the downtown.
"Moncton is at an apex, and I would say that it is the most successful city in New Brunswick and one of the most successful cities in the entire country," LeBlanc said.
"We have our financial house in order. We've reduced the tax rate three years in a row. Moncton has a 6.5 per cent growth rate, making our region among the top 10 fastest growing urban centres in the country, way above the national average, but in order to keep growing we have to build this city. I can assure you that your city council is treating this very seriously and it is council that must make a decision. But in order for council to make an informed decision, we need to hear from the community."
The mayor announced that a new round of public consultations on the centre will begin with a meeting next Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. He said people will be given a chance to share their opinions on the centre.
The mayor praised Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. and the hotel association for promising financial contributions of $2.5 million and $7 million (through a hotel levy) over 10 years respectively toward the multi-use facility.
The city has applied for federal funding, is discussing the plan with the provincial government, analyzed potential sites and is now preparing a business plan for council to review, but it will still be a challenge to find a way to pay for the centre with minimal impact on taxpayers.
The topic of a downtown centre was front and centre at yesterday's DMCI meeting. Board president Louis Leger said Moncton has generated a lot of praise for hosting big events in recent years but the city's economy is largely dependent on a vibrant downtown as a place to do business. To this end, Leger said the time is right for the downtown events centre. He also announced that DMCI will form a new economic vibrancy task force that will work toward attracting more business and development to the downtown.
DMCI executive-director Anne Basque said the downtown has made improvements over the last year and will continue to work toward more growth and development. She attended a recent conference for downtown developers in Chicago where a common theme was the need for safety, cleanliness and vibrancy.
And although it falls just outside of the downtown Moncton core, LeBlanc said he will continue to work to find a way to save the historic Moncton High School building. He also wants to address the situation of downtown buildings and storefronts that are sitting unused.
Personal note - George LeBlanc obviously "get's it".
This has to be a multifunctional facility and development. The big thing right now in cities such as Edmonton, Winnipeg and most recently Hamilton is to have a downtown "entertainment district" centred around the main sports arena for the city. We can accomplish the same thing here (albeit on a smaller scale).
Imagine a new 10,000 seat downtown arena with an attached convention facility and hotel, fronted on the street by a selection of restaurants, pubs and retail stores. Throw in a transit hub, a nearby parking garage, a large open public space and possibly a museum and art galleries and this project would be truly transformative for the downtown core!
The Wildcats have a minimum of 39 home games a year (with up to 16 more in the playoffs). Throw in an NBL franchise with perhaps 20 home games (plus playoffs), a dozen concerts a year and a few major conventions and this facility could be busy over 100 nights a year. Think of what this would mean for the city!
Let's git'er done Moncton! 
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