Led by ex-NHL coach Gary Green, the city has found its partner for a proposed new event centre.
The announcement, made with great fanfare Tuesday at city hall, would see the Winnipeg Jets shift their American Hockey?League farm team from St. John’s, N.L.L to Thunder Bay, pending the construction of the 5,600-seat, $106.1 million facility.
The next steps are in the hands of the federal and provincial government. The city has squirreled away about $30 million to cover its share of the cost of the building, which would also include 50,000 square feet of convention space.
Mayor Keith Hobbs, who has said he wants to see shovels in the ground by 2017, said he expects both the province and Ottawa to make funding announcements in the near future.
The partners chosen by city officials come with incredible credentials. Global Spectrum operates the arena in London and has ties to several others across the country.
True North Sports and Entertainment brought the Jets back to Winnipeg and have played to sold-out crowds ever since.
The impact this facility could have on Thunder Bay would be phenomenal.
The money invested by the federal and provincial governments would be money well spent, bringing hundreds of jobs to the city and indirectly creating hundreds more. It’s time for them both to come to the table.
