Apr. 09, 2008 - Issue #651: Spring Style ‘08

Arena

Councillor opposed, area businesses stoic at potential new downtown arena

 Although dwarfed by its massive neighbour, the Coliseum Inn stands solidly across the street from Rexall Place. 

There’s a somewhat somber mood in the hotel, but it’s not the result of the recent report recommending a new downtown arena for the Oilers, but because the team’s playoff hopes were put out the night before by our Calgary rivals.
 

“It was painful,” says Salima Mawani, general manager of the Coliseum Inn. “It was definitely painful.”
 

She straightens her Oilers sweatshirt as she sits down and shrugs. “But there’s always next year right?”
 

In an area that seems to revolve around the 16 839-capacity venue that is home not only to the city’s beloved hockey club but also hosts concerts and other major events, the reaction to the potential of a new arena is surprisingly relaxed. 
 

Despite Rexall Place being a major source of business for the hotel, Mawani says she doesn’t see recent developments as something that will shut her hotel’s doors for good.
 

“We can’t be solely dependent on the Oilers and events,” says Mawani, who is part of an ownership group that bought the Coliseum Inn two-and-a-half years ago. “We’re trying to expand our revenue base because we need to have the ability to bring people to our business without a hockey game across the street. It just makes business sense not to have all your eggs in one basket.”
 

Last November the hotel renovated and renamed its restaurant the Safari Bar and Grill, and Mawani says they are trying to attract more corporate clients to the hotel.
 

Down the street at the Fireside Restaurant, owner Con Stavropoulos feels that while there will be some definite economic repercussions to the area, businesses will adapt and get through it.
 

“In 35 years, I’ve seen so many things change and sometimes change is a good thing,” says Stavropoulos, who built his restaurant about eight months before the arena was constructed. 
 

“Forty-two days of the year business is good. But that’s only 42 good days. What about the rest of the time?” he asks, shrugging his shoulders. “No business can survive on just that.”
 

Sitting in his Oiler-adorned restaurant, Stavropoulos says he thinks the future facility will face some serious difficulties because a downtown location won’t be as accessible as the current one. 

 

And that’s just how Tony Caterina, councillor for Ward 3, which includes the current Rexall site, feels as well.
 

“The facility is in the location that it should be in because all the infrastructure has been built around it,” says Caterina, who thinks the arena should stay in its current location, either rebuilt or refurbished. “To start all over again and to rebuild all that infrastructure, it doesn’t make any sense to me.” 
 

In addition to the road systems, LRT and parking already established, the councillor thinks the $150 million Northlands expansion nearby makes it more logical to keep the arena where it is.
 

Chairman of the Downtown Business Association (DBA) John Frederickson says that if it does come downtown, it’s important that the facility is located in an area where it can benefit multiple businesses.
 

“It needs to go in an area or district of downtown that is multi-purpose,” he says. “This complex can be the catalyst for further re-development. I think that’s really key.”
 

While no specific location has been proposed, Frederickson says three locations that are being looked at—land near the post office that is adjacent to Station Lands, land near the Baccarat Casino and land located near the Boston Pizza on 106 Street. All would be suitable spots because they are locations that could help the area.
 

But Caterina feels that if revitalization is the issue, areas other than just the downtown core must be considered.
 

“This came at a time when we’re putting in millions for the revitalization of 118 Avenue, and Rexall is an anchor for the east,” he argues.

Caterina says he was disappointed by the 38-page report because it finalized downtown as the arena location. 
 

“My understanding was that the instructions were to come back and to look at three, four, five different sites including the existing location,” says the councillor, sounding somewhat frustrated. “But that wasn’t the case. They came back determined that downtown was the only viable site.”
 

Jon Sand, general manager of downtown pub the Sherlock Holmes, says an increase in taxes would be worth the increased business and revenue from an arena nearby.
 

“I can’t speak for all this businesses down here but I personally wouldn’t have a problem with it,” Sand says. “Downtown is just now starting to become a destination again [and] the new arena would be the cherry on top of the sundae.”
 

Regardless of the obvious benefits a new arena would bring to the area, Caterina says he needs to see some solid reasons to justify such a move.
 

“Until somebody can prove to me with facts and figures that it’s a cheaper and better way to do it, I’m not going to change my mind,” he says with certainty. “It’s got to stay in the location it’s in, and that’s in Ward 3.”
 

Even though they are sure to take an economic hit when the hockey fans and concert-goers stop coming, Malawi and Stavropoulos are going to miss more than the consistent source of business.
 

“I’m an Oilers fan and it’s awesome to walk across the street and go see a game,” says Malawi, who has an autographed photo of Ales Hemksy on her desk. “I’m going to miss them personally.”
 

Stavropoulos, who is close to his 40-year anniversary at that location, says he doesn’t know if he’ll even be there by the time a new arena is built.
 

“I’ve had season tickets every year but lately, I haven’t been going because it’s too much noise,” he says with a smirk on his face, gesturing to his ears. “I’m telling you, I’m getting old.” V

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