MARKHAM, Ont. – The City of Markham has approved a multi-million dollar NHL-sized arena after debating on the issue until early Wednesday morning.
The debate ran eight hours and ended in a close vote of 7-6, in favour of moving ahead with the $325-million financing plan.
The proposed 20,000-seat arena would be built near the Highway 407 and Kennedy Road.
According to the plan, the city will borrow half the money initially and pay it back through a levy on new developments, parking revenue and ticket surcharges. The private developer has to come up with the other half.
While some Markham residents view this arena complex as a major economic opportunity, Mayor Frank Scarpitti said it will trigger spin-off activity.
He said the arena would create 1,600 jobs and bring more than $60-million of economic impact to the community.
“And that’s without an NHL team, if we ever were to get an NHL team then the economic impact would double,” Scarpitti said.
The arena would also be about a lot more than hockey, according to Scarpitti.
“We’ll be in a position to attract cultural events, rock concerts, trade shows,” he said.
However, some councillors and many citizens, including a group of builders and Markham City Village Ratepayers Association, oppose the plan. They say taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be used to help promote a private business venture.
The money from the city would, at least partly, be raised through a special levy.
“$5,000 on each new home, and $2,000 on each new condo that gets built in Markham over the next 20 years,” Scarpitti said.
Some critics argue the plan is backwards — building a project long before there’s any kind of a guarantee about an NHL team or any other major tenant to put in the building.
Opponents say the people behind the arena fear-mongered, saying if the city didn’t build the rink it would never get an NHL club, but there’s been no promise from the league that if it does expand that Markham would get a team.
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When is the GTA Centre rumored to be completed?
Guys, please forget that they are going to pin Markham Taxpayers to pay more. as our Mayor has said that it is for new buyers of home an condos. If we were to have Summer or Winter Olympics in Toronto, in the future, Markham Arena will be of help in hosting some game in that too. A lot of programs from overseas come to Markham Theater but are sold out so this Arena could help that too. Respectfully, if one is not a Markham resident, please keep your opinions to yourself as I have never said anything about Hamilton either.
Apparently there were over 60 speakers at the meeting. How many were for and how many were against? Which councilors voted for or against? Who was the deciding vote? At least we know a,most half council were against. Maybe a team will be available by 2033 . Mr Kelly says if you build it they will come. Maybe the old NHL players will come out of the corn and play.Oops! The corn,farmland, has already gone,thanks to development. Without sufficient roads cars have come. Maybe it will happen! What I do know is there are an awful lot of taxpayer that are not happy and come election time,they will be looking for big sweeping changes.Thank you.
Not going to happen! A lot of noise doesn’t mean shovels in the ground. The taxpayers of Markham have made it very clear we do not want to pay for this. There many other priorities for our money. The residents of Markham will vote out the politicians who voted for this white elephant in 21 months.
Lets get this straight. Reason Hamilton did not get an NHL team is because they’d have to pay 2 penalties for being close to Buffalo’s franchise and Toronto’s. A Markham NHL team would only need to pay 1 penalty to Toronto. This makes it more likely that Markham will get a franchise than Hamilton.
Maybe they can built the casino in Markham as well. Toronto is toooo congested as it is.
It’s a bad news. It will be a nightmare for Markham residents. The council is irresponsible. They are wasting tax money to support a private business. Why?
This is funny. What good shows do you think it will attract? Unless the venue gives promoters a FAR better deal than the ACC does.
Warning for the Cheer Leaders of Markham Arena!!!
The city of Markham will build with tax payers money. It will happen. I don’t know if Markham Mayor did take a look at our neighbour Torornto? They sold the SKYDOME to Rogers for pennies.(Considering the cost of $ 550 Millions to build) They couldn’t even run the place with the World Series Champions Blue Jays profitable!!!
I don’t think Toronto Maple Leafs will let another team within the vicinity of 20km. For they loose
their revenue. Mayor of Markham is seeing a big MIRAGE on the desert.
Please change the decesion, and save the Markham residents, Like myself.
Belive me City of Markham won’t be able to come up with the revenue for the overhead expenses to maintain the new arena.
It would be great to see an arena in Markham, it will attract some good shows and concerts and we wont have to deal with going downtown Toronto. This is a far more practical location them Hamilton.
Once again stumped by another political group and their spending of taxpayers money. Markham what are you thinking borrowing money to build a rink for a private party to pay half over 20 years with no tenant in place? Are you serious? The lock out was less than a month ago, did it teach you nothing? I say put the money to better use, I am sure if you asked the people you would hear a resounding no. Hamilton has talk about an arena for years now and still nothing. If you build it no one will come except the bank. Another example of people not esteeming money they don’t make or have to earn or account for. Shameful.
If Markham gets a real NHL hockey team, Toronto will want one too.
For those against the plan, I suggest not reverting to fuzzy logic and speculation in tendering a response.
Let’s stop comparing Hamilton to Markham. 2 different cities, 2 completely different industries. Markham, as a hub into the GTA would make sense in allowing a swath of residents to enjoy entertainment without having to commute all the way to Toronto. This can only have a positive effect both socially and economically to the town.
Also, when speculating about transit in the town, it is governed by York Region, not Markham. It is these petty one offs that give your opinions no merit.
Taxes and levies would be imposed in condos and houses built, I don’t see how current residents can complain about this. People moving into the Markham area can choose to move so knowing such fees are in place, if they do not like it, they are free to move elsewhere. It is this backwards notion that is the result of Buttonville airport being shut down. Over the years, due to development in what was mostly farm land, many residents, complained about the noise generated from the airport. “Yes, I moved into an area that is near an airport, and I don’t like the noise”
Markham residents should clearly wake up and realize its potential to be a flourishing town, instead of pussyfooting around and balking at any new, innovative developments.
Emily,
You are so right and could not agree more with you. The gridlock is worse and I don’t see any NHL team created in Markham or maybe Marlies moving to York Stadium. I disagree with someone saying that Leafs will not let any other team come as they would lose their revenue. I and , probably you, want another team to come to Markham as the Leafs tickets are too expensive.
I think they’ll get some funding from the 407ETR. It would be another way to drive up their # of users.
It does not matter what you and I want…the final decision will be left with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and not the tax payers, the local fans or anyone else. Without an upfront agreement with MLSE and the NHL, there will never be another NHL team in the GTA. The building of an arena using tax payers dollars is a bad idea unless the tax payers permanently participate in the revenue stream that would be created by any level of sport played at this venue.
The reason we don’t have two NHL teams in the GTA relates to the fact that the Leafs must approve any additional teams in their area, something that will never happen. They are afraid that their revenue will be diluted and they will not be able to command the highest per seat revenue in the league. Besides, if they had any competition, they would need to spend some money on better players and a winning team. Right now they can rob us blind, put a mediocre team on the ice with substandard play and sell the place out every time. No need to line up for NHL seasons tickets in Markham or Hamilton, or Kitchener or anywhere within the Leafs zone of control.
Residents in Markham DON’T want this arena. It’s a huge waste of tax payer’s money! The City of Markham is already wasting money on bus lanes that are creating RIDICULOUS grid lock in the city. Very few people in Markham use the public transit system as it is because it’s expensive and unreliable. This arena is just another way to waste our money. Hamilton is an example of why this arena is a waste of money. We don’t have the population to support the arena. It’s just plain stupid. Instead of creating an arena which would cost millions of dollars and natural resources, the city should think about creating an environmental park with ball diamonds and soccer fields – a centralized area for sports and recreation. That would be a much better use of land then an arena that will cost millions of dollars.
Markham is becoming unbearable as it is. We don’t need an arena to increase traffic and grid lock in a city that can’t handle it.
Actually it’s the Region of York that is doing the bus lanes. NOT Markham.
this arena should not be built! take a look at the arena in hamilton…markham doesn’t need it periot!
lately any projects that had been built today ran twice the actual cost. if this happens, where will they get the money?
yes marham can handle an nhl team in the future if not now…the facility will be profitable until then with the overall demographic of the Greater Toronto…people will travel a somewhat long distance to attend events that will be fiscally responsible to maximizing the square footage ..also a forgotten region of great sporting, family,huge public gatherings business oriented meetings and presentations…niagara region was promised a event facility with the original casino package…that facility never seen completion…a facility is needed urgently there for market characteristics can explosive with the title of niagara falls…like build it and they will come!!!
Nothing against Markham, but really…isn’t Hamilton long overdue to get an NHL franchise!!? There are millions of people on the west side of Toronto looking for a chance to catch a game every now and then. Hamilton is the best spot for a new NHL team; like the Argos and Ti-cats, those two cities have a long-standing rivalry. Maybe after Hamilton finally gets an NHL hockey team (and the Nordiques return to the league) then Markham’s GTA location will make sense. In the meantime, let’s get behind creating another Hamilton-Toronto rivalry.
I agree – if Hamilton is deemed too close to Toronto to sustain another NHL team, why would anyone even consider Markham, which is even closer?
Hamilton is too close to Buffalo
noone wants to go hamilton, its a hole in the ground.
The city of Markham should not use tax money to fund the building of the GTA center (including an NHL arena). If it’s profitable, just let the company (Remington) to do it.
As long as the government remains an owner, and it is not a give away to the developer or someone else it sounds great.
The taxpayers should profit from the arena, or the government share should be sold for a reasonable price after construction is complete.
This would be a great location for an NHL franchise, however it should not become a gift to the NHL, who have enough money to build their own arenas for their own profit.
If the arena is not for the public, and is for the private profit of a business entity, then a commercial style NHL rink is sensible. If the rink is for public sports and fitness purposes, an olympic sized rink would be more appropriate.
Often these deals claim that a private operator will run the venue and that the community will have access, however the community gets pushed out within a few years, and the private operator gets a taxpayer funded facility as a gift.