BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to 'COLUMN: City missing the boat with no downtown sports,' published June 20.
The author of this article has it correct, as does Mr. Chalut in the comments section.
Imagine an “entertainment complex“ along the waterfront, capable of hosting concerts (larger than Sadlon Arena), summer events, etc., as well as a plethora of sporting opportunities.
Thursday Night Lights high school football, outdoor “winter classic“ hockey games, Ontario Hockey League, Barrie Baycats baseball, BMBA baseball, soccer ... the list goes on.
Most would take place after the height of traffic snarl is over.
A few years ago, Jamie Massie put forth a proposal for such a complex and, as mentioned, it went nowhere. What an opportunity missed.
Over the past years, the city has passed on an opportunity to have a badly needed convention centre/casino built by the marina (private funds), a much bigger Barrie Molson Centre (as it was known at that time) built, as well as the above-mentioned proposal of Mr. Massie.
All badly needed items that the city of this city sorely lacks.
Do we have bigger issues? For sure, but let’s not be narrow-minded forever.
Mike Clark
Barrie
