Phil Day
02-18-2004, 09:27 PM
DISCUSSION WITH KEN OHTAKE - PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH ATHLETIC LEAGUE
Ken pointed out that these comments are his and not those of the Church
Athletic League.
The anticipated purpose of an LVEC and community arena users are simply not
compatible. Community users need no more than 300-500 seats and low fees.
He sees an LVEC as an entertainment centre - not a hockey rink The League
might rent the LVEC one day a year, for championships. The more the LVEC is
used for comunity users, the more money it would lose, for the rental would
have to be subsidized to make it accessible . Generally speaking Ken does
not expect an LVEC to figure anywhere in the plans of the Church Athletic
League.
On the Arena's study - Ken does not support a three-pad ice facility. He
feels that a rink is a commitment to a neighbourhood and that commitment
should continue to be made.
Asked if he saw the proposal for the three-pad facility in conflict with the
LVEC he responded that this would happen only if they were competing for the
same dollars. If the LVEC is to be built with public dollars alone, we might
be in trouble.
In addition, co-locating a 4500-6000 seat LVEC with 2 or 3 community ice
pads would result in conflicts between the two classes of users. For
example, equipment toting hockey players arriving for their 50 minute game
will be annoyed to find that they have to carry their bags several hundred
yards while the patrons of the 2 hour concert have used the closer parking
spots. (See with the Sarnia Sport and Entertainment Centre about their
problems.)
Ken pointed out that these comments are his and not those of the Church
Athletic League.
The anticipated purpose of an LVEC and community arena users are simply not
compatible. Community users need no more than 300-500 seats and low fees.
He sees an LVEC as an entertainment centre - not a hockey rink The League
might rent the LVEC one day a year, for championships. The more the LVEC is
used for comunity users, the more money it would lose, for the rental would
have to be subsidized to make it accessible . Generally speaking Ken does
not expect an LVEC to figure anywhere in the plans of the Church Athletic
League.
On the Arena's study - Ken does not support a three-pad ice facility. He
feels that a rink is a commitment to a neighbourhood and that commitment
should continue to be made.
Asked if he saw the proposal for the three-pad facility in conflict with the
LVEC he responded that this would happen only if they were competing for the
same dollars. If the LVEC is to be built with public dollars alone, we might
be in trouble.
In addition, co-locating a 4500-6000 seat LVEC with 2 or 3 community ice
pads would result in conflicts between the two classes of users. For
example, equipment toting hockey players arriving for their 50 minute game
will be annoyed to find that they have to carry their bags several hundred
yards while the patrons of the 2 hour concert have used the closer parking
spots. (See with the Sarnia Sport and Entertainment Centre about their
problems.)