“We have got a basic idea. I suspect soon we will see some cost estimates and that’s where the rubber will start to hit the road.”
Mayor Gerald Aalbers says two more surveys are already being planned as Council continues to get feedback on the proposed Lloydminster Place event centre.
At this week’s GPC session, Council also benefited from having a look at some new drawings and there was discussion as to the best layout for permanent seating with the ability to expand to cater for larger events.
“The drawings that came out today will help answer a lot of people’s questions. It’s more than 2000 seats. So there are 2000 permanent seats in the facility. There’s also going to be some retractable seats on both ends of the bowl as it was referred to, as well as additional seating in the boxes and potential to even add more.”
Overall the mayor says they are looking at a nearly 3000 seat arena for a hockey game, and from the perspective of staging a concert, about a 4200 seating capacity.
Aalbers indicated that Lloydminster Place can attract a class B act, but the jump to the class A league of entertainers would need seating for many more thousands of spectators and that’s not in the City’s scope.
“We can’t compete with the Toronto’s or Vancouver’s, but we can do a great job from being Lloydminster; in between and picking those B and C class acts and having a terrific facility to host it. That was one of the other design features.”
Aalbers added to get the most use of the arena the design will have to cater to a multi-purpose application.
Administration was directed to bring the design update to Council for a further decision.
More information including viewing the drawings can be found on the City’s website.