Research to be conducted in Columbus, Ohio, Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas
EDMONTON, AB – On Sunday, November 30, the Exploration Subcommittee of the Northlands Arena Strategy Committee will commence a four-day site visit to Columbus, Ohio as well as both Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas to gather information on mixed-use development models. The research will assist in developing a recommendation for the Committee to present to the Northlands Board of Directors regarding future facility and site use of Rexall Place by April 15, 2015.
“The sites and venues we’re visiting have found unique and successful ways to function as entertainment destinations in their respective cities,” said Mr. Stephen Petasky, President & Founder, The Luxus Group and Exploration Subcommittee Chair. “Some of these sites have major tenants while others are running successful centres without the presence of a permanent tenant. We’ll be looking at all possibilities and how we can apply best practices to the Rexall Place site.”
From November 30 to December 3, the Exploration Subcommittee will be touring venues in Columbus including Nationwide Arena, home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Columbus Blue Jackets; Huntington Park, home of Minor League Baseball’s (MLB) Columbus Clippers; an independent concert venue; an independent cinema; and residential and support facilities. The team will also gather information in Kansas City in the Power and Light district, a vibrant, new nine-block neighborhood in the heart of downtown Kansas City; Sprint Centre; Sporting Park, home of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Sporting Kansas City; Legends Outlets Kansas City; and CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Exploration Subcommittee members include:
- Laura Gadowsky, Chair, Northlands Board of Directors
- Andrew Ross, Arena Strategy Committee Chair, Northlands Board of Directors
- Stephen Petasky, President & Founder, The Luxus Group & Exploration Subcommittee Chair
- Harold Kingston, First Vice Chair, Northlands Board of Directors
- Jerri Cairns, Vice Chair, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
- Len Rhodes, President & CEO, Edmonton Eskimos Football Club
- Geraldine Bidulock, Private Business Owner
- Tom Ruth, President & CEO, Edmonton Airports
Also in attendance:
- Tim Reid, President & CEO of Northlands, a non-voting member of the Arena Strategy Committee
- Adam Cook, Venue Director and General Manager, Edmonton EXPO Centre and Rexall Place
- Mike Warkentin, Venue Manager, Rexall Place