ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Newfoundland Growlers advanced their plans to revitalize Mile One Centre in St. John's Tuesday by announcing Bob Hunter as lead consultant for the forthcoming proposal.
Over a 35-year career in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries, Hunter has opened and operated three major stadiums — Toronto's Rogers Centre and BMO Field, as well as B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver — one major arena in Toronto's ScotiaBank Arena, and two smaller arenas — the GM Centre in Oshawa and Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
As the Executive Vice-President of Venues & Entertainment for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, he oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development. He left MLSE in early 2019 to start his own consulting practice.
“Revitalizing Mile One Centre and the downtown core is a very important project for our team, the taxpayers of St. John’s and all of the businesses who rely on the economic spinoff that relates to a busy arena,” Dean MacDonald, Chair of Deacon Sports and Entertainment stated in a press release.
“By adding an industry leader like Bob Hunter to our team it really underscores how serious we are about bringing the very best proposal forward, and how critical it is to breathe life back into Mile One Centre should council decide to sell the building.”
