Sponsorships could pay for permanent oval: mayor
Posted Jan 7, 2011 05:36:43 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There’s still no definite plan to make the skating oval a permanent fixture on the Common but the mayor is already talking about sponsorships.
Peter Kelly tells the Herald there’s lots of advertising potential on a permanent oval and some companies have already approached the city with offers worth thousands of dollars.
The cost of maintaining a permanent ice surface could top $250,000 a year. Premier Darrell Dexter says while he’s pleased to see such a positive response to the oval, his government isn’t prepared to commit to any funding.
“At this point, as you can understand, we’re not volunteering to fund anything,” he said. “It is a municipal issue and I wish them luck in dealing with it, but ultimately it’s their endeavour.”
With hundreds of people lacing up for free skates every day, Kelly says it’s clear the public is in favour of a long-term investment in the oval.
