There is no consensus in Whistler about the 2,750-seat Paralympic arena.
That much was evident at the second public open house on the issue in less than two months, held last Thursday at the Spruce Grove Field House.
Some want council to take the $20 million from the Vancouver Organizing Committee and build the "out of the box" model in the heart of the village proposed by members of the local business community.
Others want council to turn down the arena and take the $2 million from VANOC that comes with no strings attached.
And then there are still more who want a compromise – an arena located at Meadow Park.
That won’t make council’s job any easier Monday when it comes time to make the $20 million decision.
Craig Hill, a coach for the national snowboard team, was at Thursday’s open house reading through a number of panels which outlined the various options and highlighted the preliminary cost of three arena designs.
"… After reading all this stuff, I understand it a lot of better but I’m not sure if it makes it any easier to make up my mind," he said.
More than 120 people turned out last week to learn more about the latest arena figures, ranging from $27 million to $33 million as prepared by municipal staff.
With VANOC kicking in $20 million, Whistler is on the line to come up with the balance, should they choose to build an arena.
That’s not an option Paul Mathews, president of Ecosign, supports.
"The big hook is ‘here’s $20 million,’" he said.
While that sounds appealing, Mathews said it’s the local taxpayer that will end up paying for the facility in the long run. His work as a resort planner has taken him to Olympic host cities around the world. What he has found is that so-called "legacy" arenas do not generate enough revenues to pay for themselves.
"They (Whistler council) need to name one facility in the world of this nature that works and I might come off my high horse," said Mathews. "Just name one facility that works somewhere in the world. Because I can name 10 that don’t – that’s where I’m coming from."
Mathews is concerned local taxes will increase to pay for the arena "legacy."
Figures presented at the open house showed how much taxes would increase if they municipality borrowed $10 million. An average business worth $750,000 would pay a $143 increase while a residential home worth $1.1 million would pay an additional $59.
"Local boosters get sucked into building them and the taxpayers end up paying for them for decades," said Mathews. "They’re a monument to one mayor, one city council, one IOC president but that’s it. I really think it’s just a bad idea."
Concerns about rising taxes were also on Hill’s mind.
"I also understand it can be very expensive to operate these facilities," said Hill. "As a taxpayer… I can’t afford to pay higher property taxes. I’m unsure as to whether or not I’m willing to pay it for the right facility.
But for all the naysayers there are just as many, if not more, who believe an arena would be a good idea.
There was strong support at the open house for the arena concept developed by local businessman Norbert Doebelin, which could cost almost $34 million.
"I think Norbert’s is the best design by a mile," said Ken Achenbach. "Even if the thing never really makes money, it brings money to Whistler and that’s more important than the five bucks that people pay to get in."
The design, which was the most expensive at the open house, shows an arena with a terraced roof over the ice rink. The roof surface could convert to seating for outdoor events.
The idea behind the concept, however, is that it’s a creative, unusual way to meet all the requirements for the sledge hockey events during the Paralympics and leaves a legacy that will give the village some animation and excitement.
Hill has doubts an arena will be the answer to more village vibrancy. He said there is an option out there that he would like to see explored further. VANOC is offering Whistler a third option, to take $8 million and build a second ice sheet, a practice sheet, at Meadow Park. That would mean the resort would forgo hosting the sledge hockey events during the Paralympic Games.
To solve that problem Hill said Whistler could build the Paralympic arena at Meadow Park instead of just a second ice sheet.
"I don’t think there’s really much of a benefit to having it at Lot 1 and Lot 9, not compared to having it at Meadow Park," said Hill. "I’m not a big believer in the idea that it has to be centralized. I understand the reasons for it but Meadow Park is only a few kilometres out of the centre of the village.
"Personally I’d like Lot 1 and 9 as green space… It’s kind of nice to have that green space there."
The ongoing debate, which has dragged on as Whistler asked for and got more extensions on its decision deadline, should finally be put to rest when council meets this Monday.
Staff is preparing a report, complete with their recommendation, based on the feedback at the two open houses and their own research.
VANOC needs Whistler’s decision by the end of the month.
