Event centre project gains steam: consultants like waterfront for new arena-convention hall.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: THUNDER BAY - Conference news

The consultants behind Thunder Bay's plan to build an arena and conference centre are recommending a downtown location near the city's waterfront.

"The downtown/waterfront site is exceptional in terms of character and potential," said Conrad Boychuk, the city's consultant and senior director with CEI Architecture, in a news release.

The report of the second phase of a feasibility study for the proposed event centre heads to council this fall.

Boychuk said the north end Port Arthur location, next to the Prince Arthur's Landing revitalization project, would make the biggest splash in putting Thunder Bay on the map.

"A new event centre on this site would result in a truly unique entertainment venue that will garner national attention, build on the success of Prince Arthur's Landing, and promote Thunder Bay as an event destination."

The city's north end has been designated as an entertainment district in Thunder Bay's renewal plan.

The plan is for a 5,700-seat multi-purpose facility with an attached 50,000-square-foot conference centre including meeting rooms and banquet hall seating for 1,000.

The projected pricetag is an eye-popping $106 million, which includes a 200-space parking garage.

The report recommends moving forward with an initial report for expressions of interest from the private sector.

If council approves the location, the next step is getting into more detailed design of the facility and a strategy on how to fund the development. The city has placed $25 million in an interest-bearing account.

An earlier application to the federal P3 Canada Fund was rejected, but city manager Tim Commisso said there are other funding programs and public-private arrangements available, including selling the building's naming rights or having a management firm run the facility.

"We'll look at all these options," said Commisso. "I think the province and federal government recognize Thunder Bay as an urban centre and realize the benefits going on with a growing economy and new industries coming in."

Such a facility would need a main tenant such as an Ontario Hockey League or American Hockey League franchise.

"We're getting multiple interest from all areas, including Lakehead...