- Noor Javed of the Toronto Star: Markham city councillors want more answers and input from the public before they approve the proposed $325 million arena.
“I have a lot of concerns,” said Councillor Valerie Burke. “With everything else we discuss in council, we are given very detailed reports. But with this we have just been given a very rosy picture. We are not being given all the details of the deal.”
“Why is the municipality involved in this? If it’s such a great project, why isn’t the private sector all over it?” she asked.
The city had hired consultants to analyze many aspects of the deal, but they have not been made available to the public or councillors, despite requests. Presentations based on the reports were given by city staff instead. Don Hamilton is a councillor for the ward where the proposed arena is to be built,
“If I had to vote today, I would say no,” said Hamilton. “There is too much mystery, too much unknown and too much uncertainty, and the public is exposed to too much risk. It’s just too dangerous.”
Two open houses will be held next week in Markham to discuss details.
- Toronto Sun: Plans have been unveiled for Quebec City’s new 18,000 seat arena. Construction of the $400 million arena is scheduled to be done by the fall of 2015.
“We wanted to create a meeting place for social, sporting and cultural (events),” chief architect Francois Moreau said. “We wanted a unifying concept … with a contemporary design that will endure over time and that will be evocative for the people of Quebec.”
- James O’Brien of Pro Hockey Talk: Posted the video of what the new Quebec City arena is going to look like.