How might Regina and Saskatoon pay for new downtown arenas?
CBC
Plans to construct new arenas in Saskatchewan's two largest cities bring up a familiar question: who is going to pick up the cheque?
Regina and Saskatoon are planning to build entertainment districts in their respective downtown cores, with an indoor arena as the central feature in each.
While construction has not yet begun, discussions on potential fiscal solutions are already happening.
Saskatchewan's Minister of Government Relations Don McMorris confirmed in an interview that he has already had discussions with Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and Regina Mayor Sandra Masters about the potential projects.
"There certainly hasn't been any ask of the provincial government yet. They just want us to know that the initial planning has started," McMorris said.
Planning for these projects is already well under way.
Regina city council has endorsed a recommendation that it build a new arena somewhere in the city's "greater downtown" to serve as a replacement for the Brandt Centre.
An initial estimate for the minimum cost of the new arena is $156 million. However, a report found that if the project is built more than a decade from now, the cost could increase by 80 per cent due to inflation.
Saskatoon has spent $42 million purchasing multiple properties near the Midtown shopping centre, where the city envisions a new entertainment district will be located.
Estimates on the potential cost of construction are not available, although the city has said a funding strategy would be in place by the summer.
Saskatoon also recently issued a tender for a negotiation advisor as it works secure a private business that would operate the entertainment district.
Any more details on potential negotiations are contained in documents that would require CBC to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
When funding is discussed, all answers point in one direction: cities can not do this alone. The municipal, provincial and federal governments — and potentially private entities — would need to open their wallets to help get these projects across the line.
"I think it's fair to say that a facility in either Regina or Saskatoon wouldn't get built unless there was, you know, the three levels of government involved at some level," said McMorris.