Redevelopment Plans
June 12 - Regina Leader Post
Federal government finally approves Regina's Evraz Place project
Redevelopment & Revitalization Plans
Evraz Place is Canada’s second largest event complex, spanning 102 acres in the heart of one of the country's busiest and most beautiful cities. It has been the home of many important agricultural, business, entertainment and sporting events dating back to the late 1880’s. Evraz Place is a registered not-for-profit and receives no subsidization for operating expenses from the public sector.
With close to 1,000 events every year, Evraz Place generates close to $75 million annually for the provincial economy and supports over 3,100 jobs in the province. In the past few years, three major businesses - all of them Saskatchewan success stories built on commitment to growth, community involvement and vision for the future – have invested in the event site. Those businesses are Saskatchewan Credit Unions, Brandt Industries and Evraz – an international steel-making company.
In order to remain competitive in attracting national and international caliber events to Saskatchewan, an ambitious Revitalization & Redevelopment Project for Evraz Place was unveiled in 2006. The plan was to serve not only as a dynamic and prosperous model of excellence in infrastructure development and revitalization, but to also incorporate energy saving components and contribute additional dollars and employment to the local and provincial economies.
Part of the project involved upgrading, expanding and/or renovating existing buildings in addition to the construction of new facilities. The construction component incorporates new energy-efficient technology and has a multi-use design to increase flexibility, sales potential and sales volume. Environmental issues would be addressed through implementation of accepted/preferred agricultural practices. Aging sewer, water, heating and electrical infrastructure was slated for replacement and/or upgrades.
Once funding commitments had been secured from all three levels of government, Evraz Place was ready to move forward with its Revitalization & Redevelopment plans. Upon completion of these plans, Evraz Place would be poised to become one of the most progressive and dynamic event complexes in Canada.
The implementation of Phase One of the Revitalization & Redevelopment Project began in July 2008. Phase One expands Evraz Place’s role in providing modern, new multi-purpose sport, recreation and tradeshow facilities and gives priority to a new community entrance from the north side of the property plus the addition of new parking capacity for sports clientele.
One of the most important components of Phase One is the construction of six multi-purpose arenas that are connected to both the Credit Union EventPlex and the Queensbury Convention Centre. The complex will feature six regulation size ice surfaces with the main arena providing seating for approximately 1500 spectators. The facility will also feature a full service concession, lounge, an on-site Tim Hortons and a retail/pro shop location. Design innovations will make these facilities especially suitable for spectator ice sports, but will also provide large spaces for Canadian Western Agribition, the Royal Red, Buffalo Days, the Western Canada Farm Progress Show and other major national and international events.
The Co-operators – a Regina-based community-minded company with strong prairie roots – recently announced its commitment of $1.3 million over ten years in additional funding to the construction of the multi-purpose arenas. In recognition of this funding commitment, the facility will be known as “The Co-operators Centre”. The complex will be a key component in bidding for regional, national and international sporting events. The facility’s connectivity to other venues provides Evraz Place with a unique competitive advantage in securing events like the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships. Beginning in January 2010, The Co-operators Centre will also be the new home of the University of Regina men’s and women’s hockey teams. The complex is slated for completion in December 2009.
The Brandt Centre has also undergone some recent upgrades. At a cost of over $1.2 million, a seat replacement was completed in 2007. In 2008, the facility moved to a fixed end wall scoreboard and the upper deck TV monitors were replaced with LCD screens. In the spring of 2009, another $4.1 million will be invested in east end seating expansion along with the installation of air conditioning and dehumidification systems.
