(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

report coming

City quiet on operation costs for Co-op Place

Feb 1, 2022 | 6:19 PM

Update: A previous version of this story stated the city was unable to provide a financial breakdown of Co-op place by deadline. The city did send the numbers but due to technical difficulties on our end, we did not receive them. The story has been updated to fix the error. We sincerely apologize to the City of Medicine Hat.

It’s the city’s events center responsible for hosting some of its largest events from Tigers games to bull-riding, to concerts.

But for the past two years, the cost to taxpayers to run the facility has been relatively unknown.

The city said the facility has not been fully operational ever since they took over operations in 2020. In response to the pandemic, which saw event cancellations and capacity restrictions, the city said they combined the operational costs of co-op place with other city facilities.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

7h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner

Dec 06, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

CHAT News producer makes 'emotional' return to Medicine Hat's old arena

Dec 06, 2024

” What we have done is we have adjusted staffing levels as much as possible but combined positions with the Esplanade,” said the city’s managing director of public services Brian Mastel in an interview with CHAT News last week.

Management, promotions, box office, ticketing platforms, advertising and marketing are just some of the budget items that have been combined together.

The City of Medicine Hat provided CHAT NEWS this graph which shows the net cost per resident, for programs, services, and amenities funded by taxpayers.

(City of Medicine Hat)

City Councillor Shila Sharps said the public deserves to know how much the facility has been costing them during the pandemic.

” Pre-election I stood on transparency and I still stand on transparency so I think those numbers need to come out, absolutely,” she added.

Coun. Andy McGrogan on the other hand told CHAT News that he understands why the city may have wanted to combine the budget items.

” I think by amalgamating some of the services they are probably trying to save money through COVID-19 when basically their revenue tap has been shut off. So I understand it. It would be good to be able to separate them for reporting purposes. I think they are working on something.” he said, noting that he is confident that it will be released publically.

Councillor Alison Van Dyke sits on the public services committee which oversees the events center and other recreation facilities.

” We have had a bit of an explanation at public services and it does make total sense, in that during that time, we took back management of a facility from a third-party, and then we had the pandemic. So there has not been really any kind of normal operations to compare it to in the last little while. And so I honestly don’t know if we can have a really good understanding of the operational costs of the facility until we have had at least one full year of post-COVID,” she said.

A report that looks at Co-op place’s performance, current state, and future plans is expected to go before the public services committee in the coming months.