Regina’s REAL District sale plan draws support, calls for caution

A proposed partial sale of Regina’s REAL District to Brandt is drawing both optimism and calls for caution, as council prepares to debate a deal that could reshape how the site operates.

The non-binding agreement would see Brandt purchase several key buildings at the REAL District for roughly $6.4 million, with the city saying the move could save taxpayers money and shift risk to the private sector.

Read more:

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• Struggling REAL asking for $12.7 million from Regina city budget

From groups already using the facility, the reaction has been largely positive.

“It’s exciting for the community, for the city of Regina,” said Mike Reich, owner of Queen City Young Guns Hockey Academy.

“It could bring a lot of good things to the entire community, and hopefully the youth sport community too.”

Reich said his group has spent the past few years building relationships inside the facility, and he believes new investments could help it grow even further.
“We found a way to work together with the other groups that are in there,” he said. “We’re developing young athletes, and it’s been good.”

He added that potential upgrades to aging infrastructure at the facilities could benefit both users and fans.

“For them to be willing to give that type of commitment to do some upgrades, I think that’s definitely promising,” Reich said.

At city hall, some councillors are also backing the proposal, pointing to what they see as a shift in responsibility.

“We have to really ask ourselves, is events something that the city should be involved in?” said Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo.

Bezo said the decision ties into a broader debate around municipal government priorities.

“When I campaigned, I talked about getting back to basics,” he said. “We didn’t really talk about event planning.”

Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich said what he’s heard from the community so far has been encouraging.

“The feedback I’ve been getting has been really, really positive,” he said.
Rashovich said he’s confident in the work done so far on the proposal, which has taken the city’s administration six months of effort.
“I have no hesitations of moving ahead,” he said.

He said the deal could allow the city to redirect more of its resources toward infrastructure and other long-term needs.

But not everyone on council is ready to move forward.

Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak said there are still significant gaps in the information that was provided.

“There’s a lot to be digested,” she said. “I still have lots of outstanding questions and concerns.”

Zachidniak said she wants a clearer understanding of the full financial picture, including the costs, risks and long-term implications for taxpayers.
“I’ve not seen any total of all of the costs that the city will be responsible for,” she said.

She also raised concerns about the process, noting the proposal came forward without a broader public offering or competing bids.

“We don’t really know if this is a good deal or not, because we don’t have anything to compare it to,” she said.

Zachidniak said the scale of the decision means council needs to proceed carefully.

“This is a major decision that will impact the city indefinitely,” she said. “We have to do this properly.”

Council is expected to hear public feedback at upcoming meetings before making a final decision on the proposal.