Parking, hotels and space: How Saskatoon city council will pick a downtown arena site
Saskatoon City Council has approved the criteria to be used in selecting a site for a downtown arena and convention centre.
"This is going to be a big discussion," Mayor Charlie Clark said at Tuesday's council meeting.
"I think having a transparent process to lay that out and to find the best ways to work with the community, given the timelines we have and the summer, it's going to be really critical that we're as clear as we can with the public and creative in how we engage with them and ensure people understand the direction we're heading and can weigh in on what they believe is going to be necessary to make this as successful as possible."
The city hired two external advisory firms to gain insight into design and technical considerations, according to an administration report to council.
Administration then landed on a list of criteria to rank site options:
- Available land area to support a new arena and supporting infrastructure
- Strength of the transportation network to support an arena facility
- Opportunity for influencing adjacent development/infill and alignment with city plans and long-term vision for the downtown
- Distance from an updated convention centre or potential new convention centre, which would be adjacent to TCU Place
- Proximity to existing hotels, entertainment establishments and businesses
- Potential effect on residential areas and properties
- Proximity to future Bus Rapid Transit stations
- Proximity to existing parking facilities
- Projected site servicing and development costs
Each arena site option will be assessed on whether it would be big enough for a modern 15,000-seat bowl capacity arena, the report says. Those determined to be too small would be eliminated from further consideration. The remaining sites would be ranked in accordance with the evaluation criteria.
The results of this evaluation process will be included in the information presented to the public as part of the engagement process set to start in July.
"The development of an animated event and entertainment district, anchored by a new arena and convention centre, and linked to the rest of the city by the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, will stimulate the economy and bring renewed energy and life to Saskatoon’s downtown," the report says.
"Therefore, the selection of the site of the future downtown arena should consider an array of factors that will have a real influence, not only on the physical location of a new arena, but also support animation of an event and entertainment district, and be a shared public space where residents feel welcome and have a sense of belonging."
When council makes the final decision on location, the information presented will include both the technical evaluation as well as the feedback obtained through public engagement, the report says.
New parking facilities must be built regardless of which site option council chooses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.