MONCTON- The Moncton business community is speaking out in favour of a downtown events centre with at least 9,000 seats.
“If you’re dealing with a smaller number of seats you’re dealing with a cost of tickets that would be prohibitive,” said Greg Turner, with Show Associates Inc., adding that Moncton’s catchment area can sustain these numbers.
“Our drawing capacity within a two hour radius is in excess of 1.2-million people that we’re drawing from who support events currently at the Coliseum,” he said.
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The Greater Moncton Hotel Association agrees with Turner, saying city council needs to think big for the city’s future.
“We’re afraid that 7,500 may put us under being able to host world class events that tend to look for closer to 10,000 seats or more,” said Association president Ray Roberge said.
Moncton city council wants to build the centre on the Highfield Square property and the new centre is expected to replace the aging Moncton Coliseum for big indoor concerts.
It’s expected to cost about $100-million.
Moncton city councillors remain divided on number of seats in the centre. Most councillors have voted to start the development process with 7,500 seats.
“The seat count is not totally defined. We will do the exercise as we go through the process, so the citizens will probably help us as well as experts in the field,” said Moncton Deputy Mayor Paulette Theriault.
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