Future of Penticton Arenas

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Consultation has concluded

Penticton's arenas are operating at or near capacity and four are needed to sustain current levels of service and programs. With Memorial and McLaren Arenas in need of significant investment, Penticton must decide how to meet its arena needs for the future. The Arena Task Force was created to explore the options and prepare a recommendation for Council. Their vision proposes a new twin-surface, multi-sport facility on the SOEC campus, conversion of Memorial Arena to a dry floor facility and the eventual decommissioning of McLaren Arena. Staff are now working on a business case to study the feasibility of the vision and investigating funding options.

You can stay informed about the activities of the task force and share your thoughts through this site.

Penticton's arenas are operating at or near capacity and four are needed to sustain current levels of service and programs. With Memorial and McLaren Arenas in need of significant investment, Penticton must decide how to meet its arena needs for the future. The Arena Task Force was created to explore the options and prepare a recommendation for Council. Their vision proposes a new twin-surface, multi-sport facility on the SOEC campus, conversion of Memorial Arena to a dry floor facility and the eventual decommissioning of McLaren Arena. Staff are now working on a business case to study the feasibility of the vision and investigating funding options.

You can stay informed about the activities of the task force and share your thoughts through this site.

Consultation has concluded
  • Memorial Fieldhouse scores big with sports groups

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    An early concept of the Memorial Fieldhouse was well received by attendees at two drop-in sessions held this week. Over 200 people representing lacrosse, tennis, pickleball, roller derby as well as the community-at-large attended the drop-in sessions on May 29 and 30 to preview the concept and share their feedback. “It was encouraging to see a strong turnout and hear positive feedback from some of the people that would ultimately use the facility,” says JoAnne Kleb, Engagement Strategist.

    The plan for the Memorial Fieldhouse was developed as part of the City’s work to build the business case for the vision for Penticton’s arenas endorsed by Council last July. The vision proposes constructing a new twin surface, multi-use arena at the SOEC, converting Memorial Arena to a fieldhouse, and eventually decommissioning McLaren Arena. The concept will provide the details needed to develop an estimated cost for the conversion of Memorial Arena.

    “Unfortunately, having ice in Memorial Arena is affecting the structure of the building and its systems,” says Bregje Kozak, Recreation and Facilities Director. “By removing the ice and converting the building to a fieldhouse, we have an opportunity to extend the life of this historic building and meet a need for more indoor sport surfaces.”

    Some of the key changes to Memorial Arena proposed in the concept include:

    • the change rooms and Zamboni room would be removed and replaced with entrances to the building

    • the bleachers would be removed to expand the court surface to accommodate a variety of sports and court configurations

    • the track on the second level would remain for walking and viewing

    • a multi-use surface would be installed and would feature an LED lighting system to mark the lines of the court for the sport being played

    While most attendees supported the concept and the proposed LED sport surface, some attendees expressed concern about costs and parking. “The business case we are working on will provide residents with the details they need to properly consider this project,” says Kozak. “It will include the costs to build and operate the facilities as well as provide a plan for parking.” A parking study is currently underway to collect data to inform the parking plan as well as address immediate needs at the SOEC site.

    With the feedback gathered during the drop-in sessions, the concept will be refined in order to prepare the estimate for the work. The drawings are now available on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca for everyone to view and provide feedback before June 15. The business case is expected to be completed later this fall in time to make a decision before March 2019 when the City is required to confirm its plans in order to receive the $6 million grant for the project awarded to the City by the federal government.

    The City previewed the plans to convert Memorial Arena into a fieldhouse at two drop-in sessions held on May 29 and 30. Over 200 attended the sessions to see the concept and share their feedback. Attendees representing a wide range of sports supported the concept and now it is available online for everyone to view and comment on.

    The concept is needed to determine the costs for the work as part of developing the business case for the vision for the arenas project. Representatives from lacrosse, pickleball, tennis, roller derby and more contributed to the development of the concept at two workshops in January.

    Key features of the concept include:

    • the change rooms and Zamboni room would be removed and replaced with entrances to the building
    • the bleachers would be removed to dramatically expand the court surface to accommodate a variety of sports and court configurations
    • the track on the second level would remain for walking and viewing
    • a multi-use surface would be installed and would feature an LED lighting system to mark the lines of the court for the sport being played

    With the feedback gathered during the drop-in sessions, the concept will be refined in order to prepare the estimate for the work. Feedback on the drawings will be collected through shapeyourcitypenticton.ca until June 15. The business case is expected to be completed this fall in time to make a decision before March 2019 when the City is required to confirm its plans in order to receive the $6 million grant for the project awarded to the City by the federal government.



  • Reimagine Memorial as a ‘fieldhouse’ / Update on business case

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    Residents are invited to see an early concept of how Memorial Arena could be transformed into a fieldhouse, capable of supporting lacrosse, tennis, basketball, pickleball, roller derby and more. The concept was developed as part of the work on a business case to determine the feasibility of the vision for Penticton’s arenas recommended by the Arena Task Force and endorsed by Council last July. The vision proposes a new twin surface multi-sport facility on the South Okanagan Events Centre campus, renewing Memorial Arena as a dry floor facility and eventually decommissioning McLaren Arena.

    “If it doesn’t make sense to have ice in Memorial Arena, this is a great option to give new life to the building, preserve its history, and extend its usefulness for another few decades,” says Mayor Andrew Jakubeit. “Penticton is fortunate to have this unique and iconic building with a high ceiling that can accommodate a wide range of sports and uses. It is really an asset and could be a major attraction for the city year round.”

    The concept will be available for viewing on May 29 and 30 between 5 pm and 7:30 pm at Memorial Arena during the scheduled lacrosse practices and games. Representatives from several user groups as well as the public provided input into the concept at two focus groups held in January. Display materials will be posted to shapeyourcitypenticton.ca for comment following the events.

    “We needed the concept to determine the costs and potential revenue from converting Memorial into a dry floor facility,” says Bregje Kozak, Recreation and Facilities Director. “It’s one more step in the City’s process to determine the future of arenas in the city.”

    Business case progressing

    Work is proceeding on the business case on other fronts as well:

    • In February, the City learned its application for a grant was successful earning $6 million towards the project. Work to identify other funding sources such as local philanthropists, sponsorships, additional grants and other innovate funding arrangements is now getting underway.

    • Earlier this month, the City exposed the arches at Memorial Arena to test the condition of the wood beams and determine what repairs may be required as well as the costs. Results from this study are now being compiled and will be communicated when they are available.

    • This summer, the City is planning to update the parking study completed for the SOEC to gather current data about available parking and parking needs at the South Okanagan Event Centre complex.

    • A full review of the costs to operate the facilities and potential revenues over the life of the project is also underway.

    The plan is to complete the business case in the next few months with the goal of sharing the results early this fall.



  • $6M for arena vision

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    Penticton is one step closer to realizing the vision for the future of the community’s arenas. The City has learned that its application for a $6 million grant from the federal Gas Tax Fund was approved on the condition that all funding sources required for completion of the approved project are secured by March 31, 2019. Staff applied for the grant last year in support of the vision for a new twin-surface, multi-use facility at the South Okanagan Events Centre and the renewal of Memorial Arena as a dry-floor facility recommended by the Arena Task Force. The process followed by the City, including heavy involvement of the community through the Task Force as well as through the engagement program, was cited as one of the reasons why Penticton’s grant application was successful. Read the media release here.



  • Get involved in the future of Memorial Arena!

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    The City is hosting workshops to explore reconfiguring Memorial Arena for dry floor uses. Representatives from lacrosse, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, roller derby, skateboarding and MORE are invited to participate in one of the following workshops:

    Jan. 25 6 pm to 9 pm 249 Westminster Avenue

    Jan. 26 9 am to 12 pm 249 Westminster Avenue

    In addition to getting a better understanding of the potential uses and demand for space, attendees will also help identify the requirements for the space and participate in a design exercise. Email getconnected@penticton.ca if you would like to participate. Please note these are structured workshops, registration is appreciated.

    Information gathered through the workshops will be part of a business case underway to study the feasibility of the vision for the future of Penticton’s arenas. The vision proposes a new twin-surface, multi-sport facility on the SOEC campus, conversion of Memorial Arena to a dry floor facility and the eventual decommissioning of McLaren Arena. Go to shapeyourcitypenticton.ca for more information.


  • Business case for future arena use set to kick off

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    Work on the business case for the future of Penticton’s arenas is getting underway. Sierra Planning and Management has been hired to study the feasibility of the vision for Penticton’s arenas adopted by Council this past July based on the work of the Penticton Arena Task Force. The vision proposes a new twin-surface, multi-sport facility on the SOEC campus, conversion of Memorial Arena to a dry floor facility and the eventual decommissioning of McLaren Arena.

    “The business case is the next step towards making a decision on the future of Penticton arenas and making the vision a reality,” says Mayor Andrew Jakubeit. “This is potentially a $34-million dollar investment so we need to support it with proper analysis and confirm it is the right plan for the community for the next 50 years.”

    The scope of the business case includes a more in-depth study of the total lifecycle costs to build the new facility and reconfigure Memorial Arena as well as estimate revenue and operating expenses. It will also explore potential operating efficiencies from locating the facilities at SOEC and include a detailed parking and traffic study.

    “Next to financial impact, one of the most common questions from residents about this proposal is the impact on traffic and parking in the area,” says Mayor Jakubeit. “This work will help to answer whether or not we can take advantage of locating these facilities on the SOEC campus.”

    Also on the list of activities for the consultants is to further develop the funding strategy and assist in finding grant opportunities. The City is still waiting to learn the outcome of the application for the $6 million infrastructure grant that was applied for in 2017. Results are now expected to be announced in early 2018.

    “There have since been new grants announced from the federal government that are an even better fit and offer greater funding,” says Bregje Kozak. Director of Recreation and Facilities. “We are continuously looking for new opportunities for non-tax dollars.”

    The goal is to complete the business case this spring at which point the results will be shared with the community. Various user groups and stakeholders will be invited to be involved in the work as the need arises.

    Bregje Kozak, Director of Recreation and Facilities stands in front of the location envisioned by the Arena Task Force for a new twin-surface, multi-purpose facility. Work on a business case for the proposed facility as well as the conversion of Memorial Arena is kicking off.


  • Arena Task Force recommends option for grant application

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    The Arena Task Force is recommending that Council direct the Strategic Priorities Fund grant application towards the option of a twin surface, multi-use arena on the west side of the South Okanagan Event Centre site. If successful, the grant application could secure up to $6 million to invest in Penticton’s arenas.

    With this option, minimal repairs would be performed on Memorial Arena and McLaren Arena to keep the buildings operational and safe for the next several years while the next phase of reviews and approvals are completed. Once the new facility is built, Memorial Arena would be converted to dry surface to support activities such as lacrosse, pickleball, and soccer while McLaren would be decommissioned. The option is estimated to cost $33.9 million and would help meet Penticton’s arena needs for the next 50 years.

    Staff’s report is now available at penticton.ca. Council will review the recommendation for the grant application at a meeting on July 25 between 6 pm and 8 pm in Council Chambers.


  • Results of Arena Task Force community feedback form

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    Results of Arena Task Force community feedback form

    Over 560 feedback forms were received following the release of the arena studies at the Open House on June 28. The survey was intended to gather feedback from the community on preferences for the future of Penticton’s aging arenas now that the findings of the studies are in. A summary of the results were shared at the Council Information Session held yesterday. You can read the full results here.


  • Arena Information Session added for Council on July 12

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    Arena Information Session added for Council on July 12

    The Arena Task Force is organizing a special information session for Council on July 12 and the community is encouraged to attend. The meeting will run between 3 pm and 5 pm in Council Chambers and will follow the standard format for Council meetings. Staff and Arena Task Force representatives will present the study findings and then answer questions from Council and the community. Residents who are unable to attend in person can watch the Live Video Stream and post questions at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca/arenataskforce.

    Work on the recommendation for the Task Force is starting today at their regular meeting at City Hall at 6 pm. This is the first of two meetings the Task Force is planning to develop a recommendation. The second is planned for July 17 at the same time. The community is welcome to observe these committee meetings.


  • Tight timing as Arena Task Force works toward grant application deadline

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    The opportunity to secure up to $6 million in grant funding to replace or refurbish our arenas is driving the activities of the Penticton Arena Task Force. The Task Force has mapped out the steps needed to prepare a recommendation for the grant application and review it with Council before the July 30 deadline. Some of the key dates and activities coming up for the Task Force include:

    • An Open House is planned on June 28 between 4 pm and 8 pm to share the draft findings of the McLaren and Memorial Arena Study and the New Arena Feasibility Study. Task Force members will be on hand to discuss the studies and hear the feedback from the community. The studies will also be available for review on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.

    • The Task Force will participate in workshops in early July to develop the draft recommendation. Dates are still being determined. These workshops are open for viewing by the public.

    • Following the workshops, the draft recommendation will be released to the community to review and provide feedback on through shapeyourcitypenticton.ca and community events. Task Force members will be at the Community Market on July 15 and 22 to hear feedback on the draft recommendation.

    • There will be a Special Meeting of Council on July 25 to review the draft recommendation. City staff will revise the grant application to reflect Council’s decision in advance of the July 30 deadline.

    Although Council will make a decision on a recommendation to include in the grant application, this is not the final decision on the plan for Penticton’s arenas. More information on funding options including the outcome of the grant application is needed before a decision is made.

    Residents are encouraged to mark the dates and activities in their calendars and get involved in the community events.


  • Arena Feasibility Study contract awarded

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    The contract to study the feasibility of building a new arena on the SOEC site has been awarded to a team of consultants led by Sierra Planning and Management. The City received 10 responses to the RFP issued in April. A group of Penticton Arena Task Force members and staff reviewed the submissions according to several criteria including project understanding, methodology, experience, and fees.

    “We were very pleased with the number and quality of responses received,” says Stewart Ladyman, Chair of the Arena Task Force and member of the group that reviewed the submissions. “We were especially impressed by the local expertise included on the successful team.”

    Joining Sierra to complete the study are:

    • Dialog Design (prime architect)

    • Greyback Construction (construction costing)

    • International Coliseums Company (arena specialists)

    • McElhanney – Penticton Office (civil and structural engineering)

    • Meiklejohn Architects (local representative and primary for parking, traffic, site circulation etc.)

    The consulting team will complete the study at an anticipated cost of $58,000 and will have until the end of June which is expected to extend the timeframe of the Task Force.

    The feasibility study is the second study commissioned by the Task Force to provide the information necessary to identify and evaluate the options and develop a recommendation for the future of Penticton arenas. The first study is already underway and will provide a more detailed analysis of the Memorial and McLaren Arenas. It is being performed by Carscadden Architects and involves many of the consultants who completed the original analysis of the buildings’ systems. This study will provide greater accuracy in the cost estimates to repair or upgrade the arenas and provide 5, 10 and 20+ year investment options to determine how each improvement will extend the life of the asset. Once the studies are completed, results will be shared with the community.