One step closer to Aud expansion
Posted Nov 7, 2011 07:46:24 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Rangers organization is looking forward to next Monday’s council meeting.
The ‘Aud Report’ has passed through a Community and Infrastructure Committee meeting.
The recommendation sees the City of Kitchener secure a $10 million loan on behalf of the Kitchener Rangers, which the team will repay over the next 15 years.
Rangers COO Steve Bienkowski told 570 News he’s very excited, “I think it’s a great move for the Rangers and our fans and obviously I’m very pleased that council has seen it as a good move for the community too. We’ve had lots of partnerships together, this is just another example.”
And with 6 votes in favour, 2 against and 3 absent, it’s looking good for Rangers-nation next Monday, because with 11 votes around the horseshoe, 6 is what it takes to pass a recommendation.
Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr told 570 news he’s confident the 6 people who voted in favour of the report today will be in support next week, “it depends if some people happen to be away during that council meeting; the numbers could change, but I feel quite confident we will be moving ahead in that direction.”
Even with the 6 votes likely in hand to pass this recommendation into ratification, Rangers President Craig Campbell told 570 news his level of excitement is tempered pending the final decision. “there is still some work to do in the sense that council has to have a final vote, so until that happens we really can’t say much more. I’m hoping they do, but until then we’ll see how it goes.”
Bienkowski said he thinks the business case he presented to staff was strong, and is most thrilled that there will be no tax rate increase to the residents of Kitchener, “at the end of the day we’ll have an improved facility with no increase to the [tax] rate payer and that was our goal.”
Bienkowski said there are now some busy times ahead, including the finalization of the design.
If all things work out next week at council, the plan is that by next October some 1, 000 extra tickets will be available to Rangers fans. The expansion also calls for a third-level concourse, a fourth-level media room and loft-style suites, more washrooms, consessions and renovated team space. The added seats would see the capacity for hockey games including standing room go up from 6,600 – 6,800 to 7,600 – 7,800.
