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Old Posted Nov 24, 2011, 12:52 AM
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Proposed Markham arena would rival ACC


November 22, 2011

By Mike Zeisberger



Read More: http://www.torontosun.com/2011/11/22...ould-rival-acc

Quote:
A new 20,000 seat arena for the GTA? If Graeme Roustan has his way, such a sparkling new building could be ready for business in Markham by 2014. Roustan, Chairman and CEO of GTA Sports and Entertainment, acknowledged on Tuesday that “we’re looking forward to bringing our official proposal to the town of Markham in the near future.” Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti reportedly was going to update Markham council during a private session of a meeting on Tuesday night. Town councillors are aware of the project but have been publicly muzzled after signing non-disclosure agreements.

The arena, which is estimated to cost $300 million, would be part of a massive project spearheaded by Roustan and Toronto-area land developer Rudy Bratty, who has an estimated net worth of $940 million. The proposed real estate venture calls for the construction of a huge entertainment and sports complex that would include the arena. The arena would be situated west of Kennedy Rd., north of Highway 407 and west of the Unionville GO Station on land owned by Bratty.

Roustan, who also is the chairman of the Bauer hockey equipment company, insisted that the proposed arena is not predicated on wooing a second National Hockey League team to the Golden Horseshoe, claiming the building’s purpose is to supply a venue for concerts and other entertainment shows. Whether the NHL one day decides to look at putting a second team in southern Ontario will have no bearing on whether the arena gets built, Roustan said.

“This market has clearly demostrated the need for a second world class (entertainment) facility,” Roustan told the Toronto Sun on Tuesday night. “This market certainly can support it.” In other words, the GTA Centre, the name of the proposed arena, would provide a viable option to concert goers to the Air Canada Centre. Indeed, it is believed that show promoter Live Event already has shown interest.

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Proposed Markham arena not an attempt to land a team

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/11/22...option-for-nhl

Quote:
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On the surface, the proposed construction of the 19,500-seat GTA Centre in Markham is not an attempt to land a second National Hockey League team to southern Ontario. Indeed, in an interview with Bauer chairman Graeme Roustan on Tuesday night, the man spearheading the project along with Toronto-area real estate mogul Rudy Bratty, he seemed very sincere when insisting this is to be an entertainment/concert venue, not a building designed to have an NHL team as its prime tenant.

Having said that, it's impossible not to connect the dots here. While it might not be the primary purpose for building such a venue, the existence of such a facility does give the NHL one important thing. An option.

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