Council approves $3M in additional funding for new U of S arena

The new arena project on University of Saskatchewan grounds is getting a boost from Saskatoon city council.

Councillors approved the Home Ice Capital Campaign’s ask for $3 million Monday afternoon in a split vote, 6-5.

The money will be put towards Merlis Belsher Place, a $41-million multiplex arena that will feature two sheets of ice, 3,500 seats and two gymnasiums.

“It was a pretty impressive day in there,” said Dave King, co-chair of the campaign, after the meeting.

The former NHL coach compared the three-hour debate to an intense playoff game.

“We were in overtime there,” he said. “I was getting a little nervous. I’ve been in lots of these but this was something.”

King was joined by university staff, hockey parents and nearly a dozen children wearing minor hockey jerseys in the gallery to witness the debate.

At #yxecc. Home Ice Campaign will be asking for $3M more from council for new U of S arena. A few minor hockey families in gallery #yxe pic.twitter.com/jvj33Lc1zk

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) February 27, 2017

The $3 million had been requested by the campaign so they could close within $1.5 million of their $29 million fundraising goal.

Tim Hodgson, the other co-chair for Home Ice, said the approved funding could ensure a fall 2018 opening for the new facility.

“It was a real turbo-boost to get this additional money towards our campaign,” he said.

The funding from council was also presented as an investment to give Saskatoon families more access to ice time and gym space, needs identified in the city’s strategic plan.

The U of S already has an agreement to commit between 1,200 and 1,500 hours of ice time to the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association. Hodgson indicated any leftover hours could also be provided for community use.

“That is an important piece of the whole puzzle,” he said. “Our city has a lot of different potential user groups and I think they’ll all be beneficiaries.”

Split vote due to provincial budget concerns

The long debate saw some councillors battle over whether now was the best time to commit a large sum of money, given uncertainty over the provincial budget.

“This is a great project, but it’s the worst possible timing,” said Ward 3 Councillor Ann Iwanchuk. “It would be extremely fiscally irresponsible to pass this now.”

The veteran councillor seconded a motion by coun. Mairin Loewen to defer consideration of the funding until the city’s 2018 budget talks in the fall.

Supporters of the motion argued they would have more complete information at that point, but university representatives indicated a delay in the funding could delay the construction timeline of the arena.

Ward 5 Councillor Randy Donauer suggested the monetary concerns were secondary to the needs of the community. 

He said he was “embarrassed” after hearing from parents and a midget hockey player who said they have to drive to small towns just to get some ice time.

“What do parents need?” he asked. “They need to stop getting up at 6 a.m. and driving to these little communities.”

Now a midget hockey player speaking. Talking about late ice times, not getting enough sleep #yxecc #yxe pic.twitter.com/BTg858Bf4R

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) February 27, 2017

Donauer was joined by councillors Davies, Gersher, Dubois, Jeffries and Mayor Charlie Clark in striking down the motion to defer in a 6-5 vote.

A motion to bring the funding down to $2 million by coun. Darren Hill also failed with the same 6-5 split.

The same councillors supported the $3 million in funding with Hill, Loewen, Iwanchuk, Gough and Block opposed.