By Ian Holmes

Strong opinions voiced on sports and entertainment venue concept in Nanaimo

Nov 25, 2016 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — The first of three public open houses on the concept of an events centre in downtown Nanaimo drew no shortage of opinions.

About 300 people showed up at the Beban Park Social Centre on Thursday night to view drawings, offer opinions to city staff and hear a presentation from the consultants who the city hired to study the idea of a multi-sport and entertainment facility.

A report by BBB Architects suggests an events centre at one of two locations would cost between $62 and $83-million depending on size and features. BBB representatives carried out a slide-show presentation and asked questions from the public on Thursday.

NanaimoNewsNOW spoke with several of the people on hand to get their take on the idea.

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The City of Nanaimo has already committed $240,000 on two feasibility studies for an events centre to be located at either 1 Port Drive across from Port Place Mall, or the Howard Johnson Hotel site on Terminal Avenue.

A second events centre public open house is slated for Thursday, Dec. 1, followed by another a week later at the Beban Park Social Centre. Both events run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Council is expected to vote on whether to approve an events centre at its Dec. 19 meeting. City staff are currently doing the work to lead to a complete business case, according to the city’s website.