By Ephrem Gallant, North Bay.
See related: New twin-pad arena a reckless over-expenditure
And: New community centre and arena to cost between $30 million to $32.5 million
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I’ve followed the process of replacing the West Ferris Arena. My preference would have been to repair or replace in kind the existing arena. Since that was off the table, I awaited the design proposed for the Omischl site.
The site selection process used was confusing and difficult to follow. Some of the public/private options eliminated were never available for public review or scrutiny. I will not dwell on that issue. It is the footprint (the side by side double-rink design) that was used to select or eliminate alternatives that intrigue me. Imagine my surprise when the preferred design offered up was so radically different.
Touted as a “unique trident design which lends itself to the surrounding terrain” and includes a walking track was unexpected. Indeed, I doubt that there is a similar design in all of Canada. From that perspective, this trident design is better described as a “one-off”. What looks unbalanced, impractical and inefficient on paper will not change once constructed. The maximum seating capacity of these two NHL sized ice surfaces (450) is less than the one small rink (700) that it is replacing. How does that help boost your stated Sports Tourism agenda?
To return to a viable, practical, economic design solution might I suggest the following;
- redesign the arena using a traditional side by side double rink design under one roof.
- eliminate the walking track.
- increase and balance the seating capacity.
- include one large meeting room in the new design.
- orient new design with an eye to future rink expansion.
- include the appropriate number of change rooms for baseball, football, soccer, etc.
Citizens must live with this arena’s design and expenditure for many years.
The walking track is an unnecessary luxury and your first principals were to replace one small rink with two larger ones. There is already a discussion of replacing the “Pete Palangio Arena”. If this “unique trident design” is oriented in its present manner for geotechnical/foundation concerns and cannot be altered or expanded upon, you have chosen the wrong site.
Ephrem Gallant, North Bay
