Downtown business groups excited about proposed arena sites

Business leaders in Saskatoon are optimistic after seeing the two sites proposed for a new arena in Saskatoon, but they’re keeping quiet on which option they prefer.

Jason Aebig, CEO of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, said the two options put forward  are clear front runners out of the five initial proposals for technical, infrastructure and positioning reasons.

He said the chamber “obviously strongly supported that decision.”

The two proposed sites for the downtown arena are the north parking lot of Midtown mall, and the city yards on 25th Street East next to the Saskatoon Police Service headquarters.

Aebig said there are positives and negatives to each site, though there is a preferred site that the CEO said does seem to “tick more boxes” than the second. The next step, Aebig said, is finding out what the community thinks — particularly the business community – and which of the two options they prefer.

“We need this feedback first, before we offer up any firm recommendation to the council,” he said. “At this point in time, we’re leaving it open to our members.”

Brent Penner, executive director for DTNYXE, Saskatoon’s downtown business improvement district, said he’s also got a favoured option, but he’s keeping his opinion to himself for now.

“I have my own preference, certainly,” he said. “I’m sure that we’ll be coming out very soon with our view or our position on which site we think might be better than the other.”

Penner said it’s exciting that there are finally physical sites to consider after the years of work already invested into planning for a downtown arena and event centre.

“It’s been years in the making already,” he said.

Aebig also said the excitement was building, because of the long road that led to the current debate over physical locations.

“It has the potential to absolutely transform our city,” Aebig said.

Both Aebig and Penner said they’re looking forward to the public getting excited and weighing in on the ultimate decision.

Public consultations should last four to six weeks, Aebig said. Both DTNYXE and the Chamber are hoping to begin engaging with people on the topic next week.

Aebig said a 20-member task force, made up of business leaders and owners, has been assembled to take a “deep dive” into the possible locations and tease out the potential opportunities and challenges unique to each.

The chamber CEO anticipated his organization would have a recommendation on their preference for the site in three to four weeks to present to city council. DTNYXE could have a position statement prepared as early as next week.

“My hope is that there’s excitement generated from this,” Penner said. “I think there’s some interesting information that will come out next week when this report goes to council.”

Penner said that information will likely include more than what the city has shared so far, and should generate even more excitement.

Design renderings for the new arena are set to be unveiled Monday at City Hall.