Another Ontario city has chosen a public arena instead of a P3 facility. Last month, the October 2006 P3 Alert reported on Windsor city council’s decision to build a new public ice rink. This month, the city of Niagara Falls rejected a proposal from JDS Delcor, a corporation controversial hockey commentator Don Cherry has a hand in. Instead, the city will build a smaller twin-pad arena for about $18 million.
The JDS proposal was for a much larger arena and would have cost nearly $46 million. JDS wanted to split the costs with the city, and then also have the city guarantee $1.8 million in yearly revenue. Thise revenue guarantee would have bought the city community access to the rinks.
“They still want us to pay rent on our facility,” Mayor Ted Salci told the media. While the mayor wouldn’t completely rule out a P3, he made it clear his goal now was opening a new arena by fall 2008 – work that must get underway now.
According to media reports, this wasn’t the first shot JDS’ first shot at a sweet deal. had taken. A year ago, the city ignored a similar proposal. JDS then took its show on the road to St. Catharines, where council voted down their pitch.
With files from the St. Catharines Standard