Council Affirms Support for Kingsway Entertainment District

The Kingsway Entertainment District has passed a decision point of Greater Sudbury Council with this evening’s approval of a final integrated site plan for the future Event Centre, Gateway Casino and associated hotel and restaurant development.

“This evening’s decision culminates over 10 years of planning to renew our community arena and to strengthen our quality of life and place,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger.

“It will benefit generations of residents as a choice destination for large concerts and sporting events. Congratulations and thanks are extended to Members of Council and to municipal staff involved in this project for moving forward with this vision.”

The first phase of the Kingsway Entertainment District consists of an Arena/Event Centre owned by the City of Greater Sudbury, a gaming complex owned and operated by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, a hotel complex, restaurants and an outdoor Festival Square that will connect the properties.

Municipal investment in the Event Centre, including infrastructure and roads, is projected to be $100 million. Private sector partner Gateway Casinos has committed approximately $60 million to build the new gaming and entertainment complex. Additional private sector investments are anticipated for hotel/resort development. 

The Event Centre will have 5,800 seats as a sporting venue and capacity of 6,500 for concerts. The current Sudbury Community Arena has 4,610 seats and capacity of 5,100 during concerts.

A key consideration in choosing the Kingsway as the location for a new Event Centre was availability of land for dedicated parking. The final integrated site plan for the Entertainment District has 3,475 parking spaces with room for additional overflow parking as the district expands in the future.

The next step to move the Event Centre forward is approval of a financing plan as part of the 2018 capital budget for the municipality’s portion of the Kingsway Entertainment District. Council approval of criteria to evaluate contracts for a design-build model of Event Centre construction will follow early in 2018.

More information about the Kingsway Entertainment District is available at www.greatersudbury.ca/eventcentre

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