By Charles Lefebvre

Old Arena could be sold this summer

Jun 20, 2019 | 4:24 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Arena could soon be sold.

The City’s land and business department confirmed that the building, which has been vacant for two years, is in the process of being sold to a private developer. The information was brought up during a presentation by the land and business development department at Monday’s city council meeting.

“When it comes to the Medicine Hat Arena site, we continue to work with a developer who responded to the original expression of interest process back in 2018,” said Grant MacKay, land and business development manager with the city. “We have been working with them steadily over that time period to come up with a suitable land deal that would see the arena site transition into the private sector’s hands, and would pave the way to future redevelopment of that area.”

MacKay says the identity of the buyer, as well as the details of the agreement and the plans for the site cannot be revealed, as the deal hasn’t been signed yet. He says the plan is to have the proposal brought to open council at the July 15th meeting or the August 19th meeting.

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The Arena was the home of the Medicine Hat Tigers from 1970 until the Canalta Centre opened in 2015. The rink was used by minor hockey groups for the final two years. 

City council voted to close the Arena in December 2016, with the facility finally closing for good in July 2017.

Since the building has closed, the city’s land and business support department worked to prepare the land for a potential sale.

“From council’s perspective, this remains one of their priorities,” MacKay said. “They would like to see redevelopment in the area, as demonstrated through their approval of the 2011 area redevelopment plan for the North Flats. Also, it’s part of their strategic priorities that the city dispose of assets and real estate holdings that are no longer required for municipal purposes. Things like, of course, the Medicine Hat Arena, the fire halls fall into that category, and that is something out department is actively working on.”