The chairs and stage still stand at the Halifax forum from Citadel High's Graduation on Friday, but the forum itself may not be standing much longer.
“Staff have recommended that, council still has to make their decision. I do not support the closure of the forum,” says district councilor, Jennifer Watts
If the forum closes, a new arena with four ice surfaces would be built at CFB Halifax’s Windsor Park, with a roughly estimated $45-million dollar price tag, the Halifax Forum would be sold.
George Findlay has been the chair of the Halifax Forum for 23-years and says the building makes money.
“The forum is one of very few if any, buildings of its type that builds a profit. For the last seven years in a row the forum has had a surplus,” says Findlay
The Halifax Forum is much more than just home for hockey players. It plays host to bingo, flea markets, concerts, and other sporting events.
The Halifax Forum Community Association, worries that a four pad arena wouldn't have room for those other activities and are proposing changes to the current forum over the construction of a new facility.
“We would take down the multi-purpose building and replace that with another arena with a regulation ice pad in it. So that would give us three ice surfaces,” says Findlay
The plan also includes enlarging the forum and civic centre's ice surfaces plus adding an 8,300 square foot gymnasium.
Findlay says those renovations would be cheaper than a brand new facility.
“Our proposal comes in at $39-million so we're six-million under the projected mark.”
The Forum's future lies in the hands of Halifax city council with a decision expected towards the end of July.
With files from CTV’s Matt Woodman
