HOT CORNER: Charlottetown faces tough decision on new multi-purpose complex

The City of Charlottetown faces a tough decision on whether to build a new multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex.
The price tag of $80 to 100-million is a lot of money. But the longer the city waits, the larger the price tag. Both Simmons Sport Centre and Cody Banks Arena need to be replaced, and it makes sense to include one new ice pad for a second ice surface in the new complex.
There are five rinks in Charlottetown, including the present Eastlink Centre, and dual rinks at UPEI. Although Eastlink Centre has its flaws, it is less than 30-years-old, and is still a very serviceable facility that could take the place of Cody Banks Arena.
I'm told that ice at Eastlink Centre, home of the Charlottetown Islanders, is as good as any in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. There is plenty of use left in the building that used to be called the Civic Centre.
If there is federal funding available to replace only Cody Banks and Simmons, could that money be directed to an ice pad as part of a new complex?
One would think so, which in turn would be a nice chunk of the total cost of a new complex. Charlottetown needs to make the right choices and, in my opinion, should build a new complex with an additional ice pad and a new pool.
Build the same model as Summerside did with Credit Union Place. The end result would still be five rinks in Charlottetown, with the oldest being the 28-year-old Eastlink Centre. It seems like the best solution going forward.

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Great work
The Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association deserves a ton of credit for the work they do to maintain our rivers, streams and ponds. The ice pond off Notre Dame Street in Summerside is the latest project that the association has done a wonderful job with.
It once was a popular spot for fishing and skating, and it is great that the pond will see use once again. Taking the time to make a couple of skating and pond hockey surfaces this past week is just one example of how much this volunteer association cares for our community. There is nothing like activities in the great outdoors in any season, and a great big thank you goes out to the BBEMA in resurrecting the old ice pond.

Race dates
Race dates for the coming season have been assigned to the Red Shores harness racing  tracks in Summerside and Charlottetown. To the surprise of no one, Charlottetown has 77 dates for 2019 while Summerside, once again, has 27 dates.
Fifty more dates in Charlottetown does not seem fair, but there appears to be very little – or no – opposition from Summerside, so one can only assume everyone at the Prince County track is OK with the huge difference.

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Baseball
Spring training in Major League Baseball is less than a month away, and there are still over 200 free agents on the market. That is even more than last year at this time, and although there is still time to sign, the situation must be a little unnerving for those looking for work.
Player agents are accusing owners of collusion with so many big names still on the market. Players like Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, Marco Estrada, Evan Gattis and Melky Cabrera are just a few who have yet to sign. The two big prizes in this year’s crop, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, are still unsigned, and they may have to ease their demands.
Harper has reportedly already turned down a $300-million, 10-year deal to remain in Washington, which is hard to believe. Owners are getting wiser and more careful in handing out rich long-term deals to players for past performances, and it is certainly about time.
One of the better signings to date is Nelson Cruz, who inked a one-year deal with a club option for a second for $14-million annually with Minnesota. Over the last five years, his 203 home runs are the most in baseball.
The 38-year-old Cruz just finished a four-year deal in Seattle for the same money, and put up impressive numbers of 163 home runs and 414 runs batted in over the four seasons. That is bang for the buck! 
Have a great week!

Joe MacIntyre is a local life insurance broker. His column appears every Saturday. Comments and suggestions can be sent to [email protected].