Joint downtown arena and convention centre to be examined in upcoming study

TCU Place has teamed up with SaskTel Centre to look at their aging facilities and whether new ones need to be built.

A company will be chosen this fall with final recommendations to be made in 18 months.

“We compete with regional facilities, and facilities across the country that are newer, and we need to position ourselves so we remain competitive,” said Will Lofdahl, SaskTel Centre CEO.

Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison agreed Tuesday, saying the city’s economy will suffer without a plan for aging entertainment facilities.
 
He said Saskatoon would certainly be left behind.

“And we are,” Atchison said. “Saskatoon has one of the oldest facilities in SaskTel Centre.

All of the great names that come through Saskatoon comment that the facility doesn’t represent the citizens as best as it could.”
 
Atchison said SaskTel Centre isn’t the only facility showing its age.

TCU Place was expanded in 2007, but the city is quickly outgrowing the space.

“They’re looking for larger numbers of square footage than what we currently have in Saskatoon, so we’re missing out on a lot of conventions,” Atchison added.

The study allows for recommendations to move TCU Place, if deemed appropriate.

“But it needs to stay in downtown. That’s where the business district is,” Lofdahl added.

Lofdahl said the RFP has been tailored to give the selected consultant the broad brush strokes in which to create their recommendations.

“We’re not trying to direct them. We’re trying to find the right person to do the job with the right skill set, and the right experience, so they can lead us in the path that we need to go,” Lofdahl said.