Three-way proposal to build multi-sport arena

When the 2009-10 season opens, Red Deer Curling Centre members should be turning into a new location to toss out-turns.

Plans are nearly complete for the construction of a new building on the provincially owned Michener Centre grounds, a multi-use facility that will house not only 10 sheets of curling ice and an accompanying clubhouse/lounge, but also a hall that will accommodate up to four additional sports clubs.

“The Curling Centre people have been in communication with the city and vice versa for a number of years looking for a proper location (for a new facility),” City of Red Deer Recreation, Parks and Culture Department manager Greg Scott said Tuesday.

“We’ve sort of focused in on some of the Michener lands area, but there’s still a lot of work to be done with the province. We’re kind of in the throes of that at this particular time. We want to put our best foot forward with the province, but everything is looking good.”

Scott wouldn’t put a timeline on the possible completion of the land deal, the potential start of construction and the financial details concerning who is paying for what.

“That’s difficult when you’re dealing with two different levels of government as well as getting everyone aligned properly. It takes time,” he said.

Red Deer Curling Centre building committee chairman Reg Radford said the bottom floor of the new facility will cover about 4,500 square feet, including the sheets of curling ice. The second floor will feature the curling club lounge and possibly more space for another sports club.

The Red Deer Tennis Club has already agreed to purchase the existing Red Deer Curling Centre building for $1 million.

“Even though the front end of the building (which was constructed in 1996) is probably worth $1.5 million, we’re a sports group and we’re helping out another group,” said Radford. “We agreed to sell for that amount.”

With the sale proceeds from the existing structure and the finances raised via a building fund established in 2002, the Curling Centre group expects to direct roughly $2 million towards the estimated $6 million price of the new facility.

Radford said the move to a new building was necessary in order to attract more high-profile events.

“It’s really exciting when you look at all of the things we can do (with a new rink),” he said. “We don’t have many of the big events here now because it’s too hard to control the (temperature of) ice surface.

“The new building will have a brand new ice plant and with the insulation factors and the humidity and temperature controls inside the building, it will be first class.”

The new building will have the capacity to expand to 16 sheets of curling ice, Radford noted.

“That was one of our reasons for moving from the downtown area,” he said. “We couldn’t have expanded to more than 10 (sheets) where we are.”

Contact Greg Meachem at sports@reddeeradvocate.com