Parties pitch arena ideas: events centres among 16 big projects presented at city hall.

• Author: Macdonald, Darren
• Position: Sudbury

A whole slew of big projects and big ideas got a public airing Nov. 27 at a daylong session at city hall in Sudbury.

In all, 16 groups pitched projects in front of city council, ranging from ideas that have been discussed for years--a new main library and art gallery--to proposals that were presented publicly for the first time.

They include two plans to replace the downtown Sudbury Arena, with one group hoping to build a $60-million events centre on The Kingsway, a main east-west artery, while another called for a $70-million centre in the city's south end.

Developer Dario Zulich is heading up plans to build the True North Strong Sports and Entertainment Centre on 100 acres in the Jack Nicholas Business and Innovation Park along with partners Perry Dellelce and Andrew Dale. Zulich said the sorry state of the 64-year-old Sudbury Arena has meant Sudbury has missed out on hosting major concert, sporting and other events.

"We shouldn't let that happen anymore," he said.

Zulich's group presented a business plan that would see the facility build as a P3 (public-private partnership) project. Local taxpayers wouldn't have to provide money up front, instead the city to provide "the security and borrowing power behind the project rather than capital investment."

In turn, the group would operate the facility for 30 years, then turn it over to the city, under a similar arrangement as the $60-million biosolids plant completed last year.

The site is close to downtown, is properly zoned for the development, has plenty of space for parking and other commercial developments, including a 200-room hotel.

"It's two minutes from Costco," Zulich said. "Our centre will attract people from everywhere ... Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and North Bay ... All roads will lead to Sudbury.

"We're not asking for money," he said. "We're just asking council to make this a priority ... Greater Sudbury needs a centre like this. And I think Greater Sudbury wants a centre like this."

"It's a business model that works," added Tom Anselmi, the former president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "This project can finance itself ... It's an extraordinary opportunity."

Fabio Fiumana of McCor...