Chris Schnurr
Carol Kosowan LL.B., B.A. (Law), B.A. (Policy)
Readers of this blog have known for quite some time that Global Spectrum would be managing, in some capacity, the new east-end arena, so today’s online edition of the Windsor Star announcing this is not really news.
What was a little surprising was the statement made (underlined in red) in the article:
As I was going through the timeline of events surrounding the city’s new arena, a few questions emerged, the answers to which would help me understand a little better the entire arena debate and process.
On April 2, 2007, I stated, after a telephone conversation with a representative from Global Spectrum, that Global Spectrum would be managing the east-end arena.
On April 7th, 2007, the Windsor Star reported that:
“The city soon plans to issue a request for proposals to operate the new arena. Several potential managers have already lined up to inquire about its future. Among the group is Stafford Sports…Also expressing interest is Global Spectrum, the same firm chosen by the city in 2001 to manage the then proposed downtown arena.”
The city has been having ”talks” with Global Spectrum since 2005 and the RFP was issued in November 2007.
Global Spectrum is owned by Comcast-Spectacor as is Ovations Food Services who will be providing food service at the new arena according to a news release on the city’s website. The companies operate at the John Labatt Centre in London.
Global Spectrum is also part of a consortium of companies, Arena International Inc., made up of SCI Consulting, Brisbon Brook Beynon (BBB) and Global Spectrum. SCI and BBB have been involved in the new east-end complex.
BBB and PCR construction worked together on the failed Port Huron arena (November 9th, 2006, Windsor Star).
On April 28th, 2006, councillors authorised to study a “go it alone” $55 million east-end arena administration proposal which ”came out the blue.” (Windsor Star, April 28th, 2006, A1).
Project Ice-Track was in negotiations with the City of Windsor beginning in June 2006 to construct an arena next to the race-way.
PCR Contractors “quietly submitted” their proposal in August 2006 (Sep. 22, 2006, Windsor Star, A.1). And in October, two additional unsolicited proposals were received from Concorde Contracting and Westpark Developments (Oct. 4, 2006, Windsor Star, A2). Council utlimately authorized a sole-source purchase of the PCR proposal in late 2006.
So this comment in the online edition of the Windsor Star raises some questions:
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What were the nature of the “talks” with Global Spectrum over those 3 years?
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How could the City of Windsor have been in “talks” with Global Spectrum since 2005 when council only approved to “study” a go it alone arena in April 2006?
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Was the RFP process fair given that the city has been in “talks” with Global Spectrum for the last 3 years?
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Was council aware that “talks” were occurring with Global Spectrum long before they decided to study a go it alone arena?
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Did council ever find out why the “out of the blue” proposal for a go-it-alone arena was presented to them in April 2006?
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Will the details of any agreement with Global Spectrum be available to the public?
Now, Global Spectrum does provide some great opportunities for the new arena and their experience is well documented and I welcome them to the Windsor scene.
But my questions have to do with process and procedure and the hope that there is a level playing field for all interested in our city.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Does any one else find it odd that the Mayor hires endless hours of consult and legal time but with a mega project going up there is a handshake deal?
Can we say Candarel?
Without legal input, and this obviously being done with single outsourcing, will it cost Windsor millions again down the road?
You would think with Canderal just over that they might think a little more.
Global Spectrum would more than likely be a great operator, however; will the city let them run it with no interference?
kdduck: Francis and most of this Council are incompetent.
They talk about branding the City to improve our image. Meanwhile, the City fights a war of words with the Ambassador Bridge, a private company that is willing to spend it’s own money on improving traffic flow over the Canada-US border.
What kind of image does that send to the business community?
The University of Windsor announces a large expansion, and all the Windsor Star, downtown reps, the Mayor and Council can say is that they are disappointed that the new engineering building will not be located downtown.
Things are so bad in Windsor, you can’t even put your differences aside to celebrate a major expansion by your local university.
chris
i’m surprised you haven’t commented on Gord Hendersons attack of the university. What do you think about it?
I am unable to comment on the university because I have clear conflict. What I can say is that we should be celebrating the fact that a research facility is being built within walking distance to the core.
We should be celebrating the fact that the research and manufacturing could spawn home grown innovations that could be enticed to locate their offices in the core.
We should be celebrating the jobs that will be created and the opportunities that will be created for students.
We could attract the brightest and the best to Windsor.
It is laying the foundation for bigger and better things in Windsor.
The city builds an arena with the taxpayer’s hard earned dollars .We are now all shareholders in the arena that will host special events, concerts and hockey.
Hopefully, we should expect some sort of dividends and free admission to all events in the arena as owners.
Vincent: I have seen many business’s leave the Windsor area for greener pastures. The ongoing incompetence is costing the Windsor area millions if not billions by now.
With the clear disappointment the Mayor had about the University and Henderson’s attempted smear of the U shows who is really bad mouthing Windsor.
Let me see, Gord did address the fact that Dennis Derosier is considered a foe by the Mayor.
Matthew Moroun is a respected business man.
Tony Toldo is a big hearted guy.
That was the best of the column. The rest is vindictive opinions that are not well investigated let alone true.
Since when is it a five minute bus ride from the U to downtown Windsor?
I don’t think there is a window in Gord’s office.
The University board made the best possible choice even considering Windsor was going to throw in the “incentives” not cash. Gord clearly missed the mark there.
By the way, if Windsor has 35 million in incentives for the U, why not call up Ford’s and save a manufacturing plant?
Sorry. Fly to Europe. Bring in Mexican labour.
Yes the leaders are clearly incompetent.
you wanna talk Gord, Hmmmmm I tell ya he is a [deleted]. He had no buisness crackin off about the University, when’s the last time he’s been to school? Oh I get it, that was back in the day when your father said “Get To School” and then he told you how he had to walk two miles to school with no shoes and uphill both ways in the wind… The University did what was in the best interests of the students learning. Glad to see someone respects that. What? Gord just thinks, money. On anybodies back, he don’t care…