The Medicine Hat Tigers have been told to vacate the Canalta Centre unless a permanent lease agreement is in place by April 7.
“We are disappointed that a fair and reasonable permanent license agreement has not yet been completed for use of the Canalta Centre,” said Mayor Ted Clugston. “The Tigers are part of the history and the fabric of our community. We want to see them make the Canalta Centre their home for many years to come.”
A news release from the city states that if a deal is reached between the hockey club and SMG, the company contracted by the city to operate the Canalta Centre, the Tigers would be welcomed back to the Canalta Centre.
Clugston says the majority of city council is on board with the eviction notice.
“This has been going on for quite a while and the citizens — and council has to represent all 63,000 citizens — have a massive financial investment in the building. Ultimately we have to look after all the taxpayers,” he said. “If there’s one item or a hundred items outstanding the fact remains that we don’t have a lease. The city and SMG have been very patient waiting an entire hockey season and now it’s time to make a move.”
Asked about the possibility of the team leaving, Clugston said that’s a worst-case scenario that nobody wants to see happen and the best-case scenario is that a lease deal is made by the end of the day today.
A temporary access agreement was put in place in August 2015 prior to the start of the Western Hockey League season. The city says that agreement was renewed 11 times over the course of the season, with the most recent agreement expiring March 24.
(Medicine Hat News)
7 comments:
Very Medicine Hat-ish!
Is the old rink still available? I loved going to games in that place. MOVE BACK!!
Darrell
It's the right thing to do, who would go a year without a Lease in place??
If this results in the Tigers leaving MH, the mayor will have some big time egg on his face. This facility was built for the Tigers. Does the city have a plan to fill the building on what would normally be game nights? I am sure a lease will be signed and this is the city's way of playing heavyweight, but it is embarassing for them to take this step.
I'm with Darrell! Loved the atmosphere in that old place. The only rink to rival it was the Crushed Can!
Nanaimo Tigers...
I am soooo hoping the Tigers ownership says screw it and move to Nanaimo or Pentincton
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