Sudbury council to face off over arena changes

Sudbury city councillors will debate the future of the city's 14 arenas Monday night after a new report that suggests three rinks in the outlying areas should be closed and replaced with a new, two-pad arena.

Three rinks in Sudbury's outlying areas could be closed, replaced

CBC News Posted: Jan 21, 2013 8:59 AM EST | Last Updated: January 21, 2013

The Levack arena in Greater Sudbury is home to many die-hard hockey players. One Sudbury councillor says he's hoping to find some way of keeping the Levack rink open. Erik White/CBC (Erik White/CBC )

Sudbury city councillors will debate the future of the city's 14 arenas Monday night after a new report thatsuggests three rinks in the outlying areas should be closed and replaced with a new, two-pad arena.

City staff members suggest closing the arenas in Levack, Chelmsford and Azilda. The new arena would be in Chelmsford.

Time to ice Sudbury Arena?

City staff suggest keeping most arenas in Sudbury open and spending millions on repairs in the coming years including about $4 million in estimated maintenance to the 61-year-old Sudbury Arena.

City councillor Fabio Belli said he now plans to push harder for a new arena.

"There's a lot of people in the private sector that are interested in getting this ball rolling and I think there are quite a few councillors that are ready too," he said. "It's time to build a facility that people will be proud of."

A staff report estimates a new arena for the Sudbury Wolves and other major events would cost $66 million.

It also suggests the Carmichael Arena could be closed and a new two-pad Sudbury Arena built for $70 million.

For hockey parents like Shane Brouse who regularly watches his five-year-old son skate on the same ice he learned to skate on the idea the city would even think of closing the arena in Levack to save money is hard to understand.

"I know I pay a lot of taxdollars, I haven't seen roads repaired or my arena fixed up in years," Brouse said. "I don't know where it's going."

Dowling resident and ringette organizer Lucie Poulin said she thinks the city could go further and build a big complex with six ice sheets as long as it's in the right location.

"Find that one spot, that site that's going to get everyone together instead of against each other," she said.

Councillor Claude Berthiaume said he thinks hard feelings will be hard to avoid on this issue.

"Closing arenas is like closing a church," he noted.

Berthiaume, who represents both Chelsmford and Levack, said hes hoping to find some way of keeping the Levack rink open something thats "good news for one part of my ward, but bad news for another part of my ward."

Berthiaume stressed that no final decisions have been made and any decision could be many hockey seasons away.

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