New Arena Bidder Selected:

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Arena bidder selected

Darren Handschuh - Mar 25, 2017

Work is expected to begin on the second sheet of ice at Kal Tire Place by mid April.

Doug Ross, recreation services director with the City of Vernon, said VVI Construction Ltd. out of Kelowna was the lowest bidder coming in at $11,776,891.

“It's very close to our budget target,” said Ross. The city had budgeted $13 million for the project that will be built on the north end of the existing multiplex facility.

The city and VVI Construction are now in negotiations, but Ross anticipates a contract will soon be reached as both sides are motivated to start building the 400-seat arena.

The arena is expected to take around 15 months to build and Ross said it is anticipated it will open in the fall of 2018.

According to the city, “The main floor will have a front lobby with administrative office, a concession, public washrooms, change room facilities and elevator. Service and storage rooms will also be located on the main floor level. The seating will be located on the second floor along with a Dryland Training Facility and additional leasable space and connection to adjoining facility.”

Ross said work on additional parking spots at the south end of Kal Tire Place is ahead of schedule.

There will be 48 additional parking stalls once the project is complete and the handicap parking will be moved to the new parking lot so people will not have to cross the roadway to get to the arena.

In 2015, sports clubs campaigned for a new arena, fearful of an imminent failure of the 78-year-old Civic Arena which is being nursed along by city staff.