樱桃视频angling for sledge-hockey facility
David Burke and John French
Staff writers
An Olympic deal currently under discussion could produce money for a second ice arena in Squamish.
Whistler Mayor Hugh O'Reilly said this week a deal under consideration with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) may lead to a second ice sheet at Meadow Park Sports Centre and 樱桃视频Mayor Ian Sutherland confirmed that the District of 樱桃视频is doing due-diligence work on a potential new arena in Squamish. If a new ice sheet is built in 樱桃视频it will be the main sledge hockey venue at the 2010 Paralympics.
O'Reilly stressed that officials with the District of 樱桃视频(DOS), the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and VANOC have not signed off on the deal.
But he said he thinks it's the plan that's most likely to come to Whistler Council next month, probably on Aug. 15. He added that he thinks it's a plan that would work well for the entire corridor.
VANOC has offered $20 million to go toward the construction of the sledge hockey facility. Until now, the RMOW was thought to be holding most of the cards, as long as officials in Whistler gave VANOC a definite location by the end of the summer.
O'Reilly declined to say how much of the money would go to the various facilities under the plan, but estimated that twinning the Meadow Park ice facility would cost $8 million.
Another possible destination for some of the money is the athletes' centre at the Olympic and Paralympic athletes' village in the Lower Cheakamus.
"The majority of the money is staying right here in Whistler," O'Reilly said.
Sutherland said 樱桃视频made it clear to VANOC months ago that 樱桃视频wanted to host a venue.
"We also wrote Whistler to say we could help out if things didn't pan out as outlined in the bid book," said Sutherland.
The Bid Book that went to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2002 tentatively placed the sledge-hockey arena in the Village next to the Vancouver 2010 Info Centre.
While many in the business community have said they wanted the 2,500- to 5,000-seat arena in the Village as a way to promote a lively atmosphere, others in the community have expressed a desire to see it at Meadow Park.
O'Reilly said officials have also looked at locating it near the athletes' village/new neighbourhood that's in the works in the Lower Cheakamus.
But he said he sees twinning the ice facility at Meadow Park has a number of benefits.
"There are obviously some real efficiencies to twinning Meadow Park," he said.
He said a "sharing of legacies" with 樱桃视频would bring benefits to the entire corridor and he pointed out a new arena will help in Squamish's attempt to attract a Junior A hockey team to town.
"Everyone knows that the key is to make sure that these facilities make long-term sense," he said.
Sutherland is also mindful of long-term sustainability.
"To make an arena more viable economically on an operational basis, having a Junior A team as a tenant is a good thing," said Sutherland. "We've had conversations with the B.C. Hockey League letting them know we are interested. They are keen to see 樱桃视频have a team."
The only way a Junior A team will come to 樱桃视频is if there is an arena the team can call home.
"We've committed that we will move on this as quickly as possible," Sutherland said. "We'll do that ahead of the Whistler timeline."
Sutherland warned that once the due diligence work is completed by consultants hired by the DOS, it may be determined that the proposals is too risky in the long term. If that conclusion is made then 樱桃视频will pass on the opportunity, he said.
According to Sutherland, the DOS will give VANOC a decision on Squamish's participation in the deal some time next month.
One big concern amongst the members of Whistler Council is the tight timelines associated with the decision-making process. Some members of Whistler Council want a public consultation meeting on the proposed deal before Whistler Council makes a final decision.
Sutherland indicated that 樱桃视频Council will try to offer as much information to 樱桃视频residents before a final decision is made on Squamish's participation.
"We are operating under certain constraints placed on us by our other partners," he said. "Sometimes you have to make decisions that are best for your community.
"We are going to make the best decisions for the community."
