Twin-pad arena saves taxpayers $438,000, gets pizza reward

All the bills have been tallied from the Sault's new twin-pad arena and city council will learn Monday that they add up to $32,371,590.

That's $438,000 under the Northern Community Centre's final approved budget of $32,809,500, and city councillors will be asked to return $100,000 of the savings to the arena to provide a pizza oven for the facility, together with associated venting and hood infrastructure in the bar preparation area and a solid surface (using excess millings from the city's asphalt operations) to create a service area east of the building.

"The response to the opening of the NCC arena has been very positive," says Brent Lamming, the city's deputy chief administrative officer for community development and enterprise services.

"The NCC has seen many events along with expanded ice time for users within its first year," Lamming says in a report prepared for Mayor Shoemaker and city councillors.

"There has been an estimated positive economic impact of at least $1.6 million with the events held to date drawing people to the community."

"This was accomplished during the pandemic when delays and escalation in materials were normal in industry. Other municipalities have seen tenders come in much higher recently for arena projects. With the city contributing $13.9 million, in conjunction with the Strategic Priorities Infrastructure grant of $18.33 million, the project represents very good value for municipal money funds, Lamming said.

Lamming says NCC benefits include:

• grand opening on March 6, 2023 – well attended by the public and students
• new home rink for Sault College Cougars Men’s and Women’s Hockey
• U18AAA Hockey Championship (2024) Playdowns (2023)
• U15AAA Ontario Hockey Championships
• Regional Ringette Championships
• NOWHL Championship Tournament and Skills Competition in March 2024
• Steel City Hockey Tournament resumed for the first time in five years
• dog show hosted by the Sault Kennel Club (exhibitors from all over Canada and the U.S.)
• Bon Soo programming
• Korah Collegiate students using classroom space on the second level (room rentals remain available for weekends and evenings)
• opening of a full-service pro shop to serve the public
• expansion of ice time for women's hockey, ringette and youth hockey programming
• opened throughout the summer to service ice demand
• new shinny and puck times for youth
• reopening of the canteen on the main level and bar service area on the second level to accommodate larger events and programming
• walking programming available daily on the new rubberized track
• extended parking to accommodate over 300 vehicles
• implementation of an electric ice resurfacer with another on order

Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.