campbellAfter months of renovations to accommodate the Timmins Rock, a city councilor wants to look at giving the McIntyre Arena another makeover.

Councillor Joe Campbell suggests hiring an architectural firm to do a conceptual study on the iconic building.

In an email, he states he wants “to see how we can increase the seating and move towards creating a conference centre with the rink being the main hall and the creation of several smaller meeting rooms in order to pursue convention business.”

He listed off some ideas for consideration as well, which would all come back in the architect report if approved.

  • Extend the south side seats towards Highway 101 with the lower level being a concourse including access to new dressing rooms and containing all concession areas. This would be two levels with the upper levels being smaller meeting rooms as part of the conference centre approach. The concourse would be glasses on the south side for the lower level looking out into a people promenade with benches, trees, etc.
  • Extend the north side seats out over the compressor rooms and curling club. A second level under the sets can be created to house smaller meeting rooms.
  • Modify the east side balcony by moving it back and extending it out on a slope that would allow all seats to have a view of the entire ice service. In the process, install 4-6 corporate boxes as revenue generators at the edge of the ice surface.
  • Relocate main entrance to the southwest corner and redesign current entrance and foyer to include a sit-down snack bar overlooking the ice surface.

Council approved city staff to look at architectural firm costing, and a report should be back in a matter of weeks.