City Government

City to Begin Public Consultation on Potential Downtown Arena

October 28, 2010

Starting October 28, citizens will have the opportunity to gain more information and provide feedback on a proposed downtown sports and entertainment facility.

Four public open houses are scheduled in November, and an online questionnaire and information web page launched October 28 at www.edmonton.ca/downtownarena.

At a meeting July 21, City Council directed that a broad public consultation take place on the Katz Group proposal to develop an arena and entertainment district in the downtown.

“The City of Edmonton is committed to gathering meaningful input from the public,” says Lorna Rosen, the City’s Chief Financial Officer, speaking on behalf of City Manager Simon Farbrother. “The results of the public consultation process will be summarized in a report that will be used by City Council as part of its analysis and decision-making.”

Public open houses and discussion groups will be held:

November 9, 15, and 17, 2010
Grant MacEwan University
Robbins Health Learning Centre
10910-104 Avenue

November 10, 2010
Santa Maria Goretti Community Centre
11050-90 Street

The sessions have two parts:
5 - 7pm Information Open House
7 - 8:30pm Facilitated Discussion Groups

“The City is also continuing its work on a number of other activities related to a potential downtown sports and entertainment facility that will be consolidated for review by Council in mid-January,” adds Rosen.

Discussions are ongoing between the City, the Katz Group and Northlands on a business model framework for the possible financing and operations of such a facility. Work continues on answering the questions asked by Council after the July 21 meeting. And, the review of the Katz Group rezoning application for the downtown lands is also continuing.

For more information:

Robert Moyles

Corporate Communications
3rd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
T5J 2R7

Title	Director of Strategic Communications
Telephone	780-496-8278 780-886-3877 (cell)
Email	robert.moyles@edmonton.ca