The co-chairs of the Downtown Entertainment and Event District Advisory Group believe a new building which would replace SaskTel Centre and then also a refurbished TCU Place will bring more activity, more tourism, and more money to the City of Saskatoon. Councilors Cynthia Block and Troy Davies spoke to members of the North Saskatoon Business Association about the two possible sites and why this entertainment district is needed.

Block talked about the parking, and noted that with Bus Rapid Transit, bicycles and scooters, walking from nearby hotels and the mall, it may be easier than one might think. She stated that if Parcel A across the street from Midtown Plaza is chosen, there will be new, structured parking to replace a minimum of 500 spots. There are parking lots throughout downtown and there is the possibility of a Park and Ride location. As well, for those staying the night, there are plenty of hotels within walking distance. Troy Davies adds that over 50 per cent of the people that attend events are from out of town, so this gives them the opportunity to stay and take in whatever’s happening downtown.

Davies emphasizes that both SaskTel Centre and TCU Place are no longer able to hold the larger events they once held. SaskTel Centre almost lost the Garth Brooks show six times, because the roof isn’t high enough, and it was the reason why Bruce Springsteen, Brooks and Dunn, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake weren’t able to perform in Saskatoon. The larger convention events have outgrown TCU Place. Davies says conventions for 2025 are being booked right now, and they are skipping Saskatoon, so the city is losing out on economic opportunities.

Davies understands there are worries about how it will all be funded, but says it won’t be on the backs of the taxpayer. They will be looking at both the federal and provincial governments for some funding, and there is potential interest from businesses and investors to be a part of the project.