Over the coming days, MyMcMurray is profiling and publicizing the four shortlisted companies that the Municipality has selected for the downtown arena project. Their responses to a Request for Expressions of Interest were tabled as part of the provincial hearing on expropriation.
One of the shortlisted companies to build the downtown arena says it can bring the Western Hockey League to Fort McMurray.
Global Entertainment Corporation made a joint expression of interest with Western Asset Management when the city first put out word about the arena.
“Through Global’s professional hockey connections, the Consortium could negotiate the delivery of WHL hockey to Fort McMurray,” reads its expression of interest. “Unfortunately, this window of opportunity is immediate and if the project’s construction must be delayed due to problems assembling land in the downtown core, then this opportunity will not be available. In the future, such opportunities may arise again – or not. What we do know is that there is an immediate opportunity to negotiate for a WHL franchise that could be taken advantage of if a site can be secured in the short term.”
Global manages 18 rinks that have minor pro hockey teams in the U.S – it’s based in Arizona.
It says it would use Stuart Olson Dominion Construction to build the facility – that’s the same company that built the Suncor Community Leisure Centre, as well as GM Place in Vancouver.
It would also add a hotel tower and a convention and trade show centre to the site – and says there could someday be a downtown light rail line.
“This line could be linked to a future line that traverses parallel to Highway 63,” it says. “Having an LRT line as part of this project may prove to be less expensive than acquiring land for surface parking at the facilities.”
Read the full pitch by clicking here.
April 16, 2013
