Sports groups respond to indefinite closure of arenas

Executive Prince George Recreation Hockey League
Executive Prince George Gentlemen’s League
President of PG Draft Hockey
Executive of Prince George Ringette
Executive of Spruce City Old Timers Hockey
President of The Northern BC Centre for Skating
President of the Prince George Figure Skating Club
Owner Cariboo Hockey LTD.
Prince George Minor Hockey

A tentative decision was made to have arenas open come August 4th, but last week’s announcement shot that idea down with the City stating that financial complications would lead to Prince George losing more money than it already is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the start of the pandemic, the City has been losing roughly $1 million per month and is estimating a potential 2021 budget shortfall of $9 million.

According to Mayor Hall in an interview previously with CKPGToday.ca, all civic sporting facilities are heavily subsidized by the taxpayer, to the tune of 40 to 50 per cent. Ultimately, if it costs a user $10 to use the pool, for example, the City spends an additional $4 to $5 to top up the cost of running the facility. And that number would grow exponentially with the rules from the Provincial Health Office.

With the additional measures that subsidy would jump to 70 per cent.

However, in this letter to mayor and council, the occupying sports groups are more than willing to discuss options in possibly undertaking any additional costs associated with opening up one or two arenas.

“We’ve already had discussions with the user groups. We’ve had some really good ideas that would certainly help the City recover a lot fo their costs that are in addition to what they’re already subsidizing the arenas with,” stated Allen Hines. “I talked to Mayor Lyn Hall about that when I spoke with him on Monday. These are ideas that we want to get together with all the user groups and make those decisions as a group in consultation with the representatives from the City as well. But we have some really good ideas.”

The list of organizations in agreement with the letter sent are really just hoping for one or two arenas to be opened as soon as demand makes it financially responsible to do so.

Hines says there won’t be enough demand to open up six arenas. They understand that as a users group. What they are calling for is the possibility of opening up one or two of the Kin Centres, stating that they’re likely the most cost-effective in terms of operational and cleaning costs.

“What we need is some ice surfaces for kids to get out and figure skate on, practice their speed skating, practice hockey,” says Hines. “Normal hockey play is not going to be available right away in September but we just don’t want them (the City) to close the door on the possibility of re-opening arenas like it sounds like they’re considering doing. The big concern is they’re attaching that decision solely based on the fact that the City is having financial difficulties.”

Hines says all of those involved in the sports groups included in on the letter are all taxpayers, which is why they’re willing to work with the City as a way to help them cover off the additional costs.

While there has been discussion around the privatization of a local rink, Hines admits they’re satisfied with the work the City has done with the arenas. Mayor Hall says the possibility of selling an arena to a private owner hasn’t been discussed as a proposal has not been brought forth to do so.

The group is hoping that anyone interested in the outcome of this matter, whether it be stakeholders or fellow taxpayers, will watch Monday’s City Council Meeting. The meeting will be live-streamed through the City of Prince George website.

by Ethan Ready

Sports groups respond to indefinite closure of arenas

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