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Saskatoon city administration has prepared two reports outlining very different options on the future of the Downtown Event and Entertainment District.
The entertainment district project includes an arena and conference centre in the city’s core, along with improvements to the surrounding areas. City councillors are expected to consider options around the management of the facility at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
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“The reports focus on how the City can continue progress toward building a vibrant Downtown, including work on a long-term funding strategy regardless of Council’s decision on a proposed Private Partner agreement,” the city noted in a news release issued on March 18.
The first report will provide additional information requested by council around a proposed private partnership agreement with Oakview Group 360, a Denver-based venue-management firm. It’s expected to include financial projections, fees and commissions, performance management data and other reporting.
“The agreement will also address important community benefits including maximizing economic opportunities for traditionally marginalized groups, employment that will work with existing employees and unions and benefits for community non-profit events,” the statement read.
A second option will outline a “city-building” initiative, but no additional information on what that might mean was included. Trevor Jacek, SaskTel Centre’s finance chair, and Elanne Krainyk, TCU Place’s board chair, have both requested permission to speak at the meeting.
In a statement issued in January, Jacek signaled his organization would be eager to run a new arena and conference centre in the city.
“We’re confident that the SaskTel Centre team can effectively operate the (Downtown Event and Entertainment District) if the City decided to not engage a third- party operator and are grateful that we were able to share that message with the Mayor as well as City Councilors, Administration and members of the business community that attended the event,” he said in the statement.
TCU Place CEO Tammy Sweeney backed that idea.
“If we can raise local capital to be able to match or exceed what Oakview Group is bringing to the table, and we have the expertise to run it… then it makes sense to stay local,” she said.
Without sharing names, Sweeney suggested local groups had already stepped forward and offered to do just that, and she said they may bring even more money to the project than OVG 360.
However, the recommendation from administration is that the private partner framework with OVG 360 be approved, and that the city move forward to negotiate a “master agreement.”
No matter which option is approved by councilors, the city said work will continue toward making the entertainment district a reality, including working with other levels of government in efforts to secure funding.
At this point, no funding for the project from either the provincial or federal government has been approved.
