The city says its excited about information it received during two months of public consultation about constructing a new multiplex arena.
From May 6 to June 24 the city held two open houses, two high school assemblies, an online questionnaire and a focus group to gauge public reaction about a proposed facility.
Community Services manager Greg Alexander said with 64 per cent of the general population in favour and 76 per cent of high school students on board, the consultations were successful.
"We think we got a good cross section so we’re quite happy," Alexander said.
The consultation brought 460 comments forward to the city ranging from affordability of a project to community pride. 17 per cent of those people were not in favour citing taxpayer impact and funding ability concerns while 15 per cent of students opposed the project for similar reasons.
The former Pool 6 site, Innova Business Park and the downtown north core were the top three sites preferred by the public.
Key interests were concerts and hockey for uses of the arena and 5,000 to 7,000 seats were preferred.
Alexander added that the process was not scientific.
"Even without it being scientific the vast majority of people are very supportive of the project," Alexander said.
Alexander said now the dialogue can begin and once the findings are presented to city council Monday night, the city can start to shape a Phase 2 feasibility study, which he hopes can be concluded within 18 months.
Funding requests to FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Corporation have already been sent by the city to fund the second phase study, which would look at the "tough questions" such as site selection and arena size, Alexander said.
