Councillors support planning for downtown arena and convention centre

City councillors have put the wheels in motion to begin planning for a new downtown arena and convention centre in Saskatoon.

During Tuesday’s governance and priorities committee meeting, councillors voted 10-1 in favour of directing city staff to factor a facility into future downtown planning, and to also investigate an entertainment district surrounding it.

Sarina Gersher was the lone vote against the plan, saying she has reservations about timelines and how a project would be financed.

“I felt there was still uncertainty about what proportion of funding would have mill rate implications,” Gersher told 650 CKOM following the meeting.

“Something I heard a lot about on the door step was the extent of capital projects being undertaken.”

A private study back in March estimated the cost at between $325-million and $375-million.

The process endorsed by the committee requires City Council approval at its Nov. 19 meeting.

-With files from Erin McNutt and Brent Bosker