2004 – 2014 Arena Strategy: A Vision for City of Edmonton Operated Arenas

Recommendation:
That the 2004-2014 Arena Strategy: A Vision for City of Edmonton Operated Arenas be approved.

Report Summary

The 2004 - 2014 Arena Strategy: A Vision for City of Edmonton Operated Arenas (Arena Strategy) continues to be based on the principle of working closely with arena users to manage City of Edmonton arena facilities in a manner that considers the needs of all stakeholders. This Arena Strategy was developed in consultation with arena users through a series of stakeholder committee meetings, surveys, Web site review mechanisms, and public meetings.

Report

Background

  • The original Arena Strategy (1992-2002) was approved by City Council on March 16, 1993. It included a commitment to review the strategy after a ten-year period.
  • The Community Services Department established a Staff Working Committee and an Arena User Committee, representative of arena users, in April 2001. These committees worked together to develop the 2004 - 2014 Arena Strategy.
  • To help develop the Arena Strategy, representatives from non-ice sports, including lacrosse, ball hockey and in-line hockey were included in the User Committee.
  • The scope of the new ten-year Arena Strategy continues to include all areas of operation at City of Edmonton owned indoor arenas.

Elements retained from previous Arena Strategy

  • A rental fee subsidy for minor groups during the winter season.
  • A fee structure that includes good, fair, and marginal times will be retained with user group involvement in the arena allocation processes.
  • The “Fair and Equitable” allocation model, based on user demand and entitlement, will continue to be used to establish the number of hours available to arena user groups.
  • Allocation Committees representing minor sport, adult, community league, joint use and Community Services Department booking requests will continue.

Alterations to previous Arena Strategy

  • Rental fee changes and new development timelines based on utilization rates were not included in this Arena Strategy as they are not consistent with the Department Fee Policy and process for capital development. They also were not utilized in the manner contemplated in the previous Arena Strategy.

New Elements added to 2004 - 2014 Arena Strategy

  • The 2004 - 2014 Arena Strategy is expanded to include summer operations. Representatives from non-ice arena users (lacrosse, ball hockey, and in-line hockey) were included in the User Committee.
  • A new Advisory Committee (Arena Users Committee) will be formed with an expanded mandate. This Arena User Committee will now be used as a consultation group on arena operation and development initiatives, as well as having an ongoing role in allocation and pricing reviews.
  • A Special Groups Allocation Committee will be formed to better meet the needs of arena users who participate in provincial/national or semi-pro leagues (college hockey, Edmonton Chemos). These users have special facility requirements that will be addressed and reviewed in the pre and post-season meetings of this Committee.
  • The Arena Strategy includes an increased preference for Edmonton residents to access municipal arenas. User groups must now be at least 75% Edmonton residents (up from majority) to be eligible for the initial arena booking process.
  • User groups must be at least 75% minors to receive the minor sport ice subsidy (up from majority).
  • Rental fees will be established in a manner consistent with the Department Fee Policy. This policy considers four key factors (capacity, public good, cost, and market forces).
  • The Partnership Model, and links to the upcoming Facility Master Plan, are affirmed to guide future facility development. The 2004 - 2014 Arena Strategy “defers” to the Facility Master Plan for recommendations on new development and does not contain any specific recommended capital projects.
  • Some arena user groups have introduced the idea of a capital development surcharge for discussion. This will be further discussed by the Arena Users Committee and will be presented to City Council for approval should there be a desire to proceed with a surcharge dedicated to support capital projects.

Justification of Recommendation

  1. The Arena Strategy review process involved a comprehensive consultation of current and past Arena stakeholders with Community Services staff working closely an Arena Users Committee. The 2004-2014 Arena Strategy involves only minor changes since the original Arena Strategy, and has retained the key elements that has produced the “fair and equitable” distribution of City Arena times since 1993.

Background Information Attached

  1. 2004- 2014 Arena Strategy: A Vision for City of Edmonton Operated Arenas

Background Information Available on Request

  1. 1992 - 2002 Arena Strategy

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