Sudbury councillors approves Little NHL bid, despite reservations

Sudbury city councillorsat Monday's community services committee meeting voted to support a bid to host the Little Native Hockey Tournament, despite concerns the event would demand much of the city's hotel space.

If the city's bid is successful, the event would be held over the next two March Breaks, in 2017 and 2018.

Science North and Dynamic Earth count on March break for 10 per cent of their annual business.

Ward 5Coun.Robert Kirwan supported the bid, but expressed concerns about the event clogging up hotel rooms for two March Breaks in a row.

Kirwan said other tourist destinations could lose out on business because there would be no where else for people to stay.

"We have to be careful what we wish for because the worst that could happen is we get awarded it," he said.

"We will be disadvantaging people who live in this city all the time, and we're not going to gaining a big profit from this."

But Ward 10 councillor Fern Cormier said he couldn't disagree more.

"Give me a break. We talk about economic stimulus, economic development and tourism and promoting it," he said.

"This is it on a silver platter."

He added the event shouldn't be a problem for Science North.

"They can market themselves to these thousands of people. This [is a] captive audience that is the exact right age range that will attract them through the doors of Science North ... I guarantee you, if they do it properly, they'll experience more than a 10 per cent bump."

Sudbury is one of six communities that's been invited to submit a bid . City tourism staff estimate the Little Native Hockey League Tournaments could draw more than 7,000 people.

Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer said it's an opportunity the city shouldn't miss.

"The attendees spend money. Lots of money. We can't afford to turn this down."

In the end, councillorsat the committee meetingvoted unanimously to support the bid, which is due next Feb. 1.

Little Native Hockey League Tournament facts:

• Largest First Nation organized hockey tournament in Ontario
• Tournament takes place five days over March Break
• 160 youth teams
• 2,200 participants
• 5,000 supporters
• Whole tournament would draw about 7,200 people in 2017 and 2018
• Potential economic impact for Greater Sudbury estimated to be more than $6.5 million. Dollars spent at hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.
• The event required full use of all 1,600 hotel rooms within the city in previous years, as well as rooms in surrounding communities, such as Sturgeon Falls.
• Little NHL Executive Committee has invited six communities to submit a bid for the event, including: Toronto/Mississauga, Niagara Falls, London, Sarnia, Sault Ste Marie and Greater Sudbury.

Source: City of Greater Sudbury