The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is hoping to make the most of its arenas this winter and save some money while doing so.
A report coming to council on Monday night recommends that from December 2020 to March 2021, Erickson Arena in Chatham and Bothwell Arena be repurposed and converted into a multipurpose facility.
According to staff, if the recommendation is approved, the two repurposed arenas would address the community need for pickleball, indoor soccer, volleyball and ball hockey during the winter months.
Staff notes that the arena ice rentals in Chatham-Kent have steadily declined by nine per cent over the past five years due to ageing demographics, changing leisure interests and financial restraints from residents as well as an overall decrease in sports participation due to time commitments and safety concerns. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 ice rentals have fallen even more dramatically from 42 per cent of available ice hours utilized to 31 per cent.
According to the report, current ice rentals have declined to a point where all ice requests can be accommodated in six arenas.
"As a significant portion of the 2020 budget is based on rental revenue, the municipality’s ten arenas are operating at a deficit $235,867 per month," said staff. "Through creating alternative recreational activities for a broader demographic, the recommendations in this report are proposed to make our arena facilities more financially viable and responsive to community needs."
Staff believe that since some of the municipality's snowbird population will be unable to head south this winter due to the pandemic, there will be an increased demand for wintertime activities and arena usage will increase if the facilities are repurposed to accommodate indoor sports.
"Bothwell has been selected because of low confirmed usage. The 2020-2021 demand for these facilities can be accommodated at the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre, East Kent Memorial Arena and the Blenheim Arena," read the report. "Requested ice time in Chatham can also be accommodated at two facilities instead of three. Ice presently scheduled at the Erickson Arena will be transferred to the Thames Campus Arena upon completion of the facility’s repairs in November."
In comparison to the original 2020 budget estimates, the proposed pilot project’s repurposing will provide an estimated operational savings of $164,000 for the two arenas based on December 2020 to March 2021 usage. According to staff, these savings are based on the estimated reduction in operational costs associated with ice making. Expenses are estimated to be $25,000, for a net savings of $139,000.
For the pilot project period of the arena repurposing, staff are proposing very limited renovations to accommodate the indoor activities. Expenses include redirecting the heating units onto the arena floor, the purchase of various nets and line layout. The costs for the revisions would be absorbed through operational savings achieved from the conversion.
"If the indoor sports concept is not supported by the community, the purchases of the various nets can be reused to support outdoor summer activities," the report stated. "Staffing levels will be demand-driven, however, no additional staff is anticipated at this time."
The following rates for arena floor rentals will be applied if the recommendations are approved by council: -Arena Floor Hourly - Minor Organizations: $60.35/hr. -Arena Floor Hourly - Adult: $70.68 -Arena Floor Daily - Minor Organizations: $643.26/day -Arena Floor Daily - Regular rate: $793.71
Staff are also recommending the shinny hockey hourly play rate of $8.50 per user be used to accommodate possible drop-in pickleball users.
Administration will provide a report to council with complete net savings on the facility repurposing trials, specifically total revenue less definitive facility operating costs, once the pilot season is completed.