THUNDER BAY -- The city needs to spend $350,000 to make a bid for the 2021 Canada Games.
A report headed to city council Monday outlines what Thunder Bay needs to do if it wants to bid for the games, which would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the city's 1981 games.
The money would need to be included in this year's proposed budget should council decide to put the city's hat in the ring.
About $300,000 of it would be spent this year on the $30,000 bidding fee, a temporary full-time job to oversee the bid, consultants to review facilities and cost estimates, marketing, video production, French translation, travel and community engagement.
If it makes a bid bust doesn't make the second round, the city is reimbursed $10,000.
Another $50,000 would be needed if it was chosen to move on. If the city did get the games, it would need to spend another $220,000 for a 'transfer of knowledge' fee but that would eventually be reimbursed.
Operating costs for the games would cost around $26.5 million.
Those would be covered but the city would need to contribute around $3 million to the games' $17 million to $20 million capital budget.
The city would also be on the hook for any financial losses but the report says the last four games made between $1 million and $3.3 million.
The two main concerns for the city's facilities are not having an adequate place for rowing events and the lack of an athlete's village. A number of city venues would need major renovations.
With around 6,000 volunteers needed, the games might put a strain on other events happening at the same time.
In 2013, Sherbrooke, Que. saw $165 million in economic impact when it hosted the games.
