The roof of the Dave Steuart arena is in bad shape, with leaks and peeling shingles. (screen shot/City of Prince Albert)

By Susan McNeil

Ice arenas

City staff recommend closure of Steuart Arena

Feb 24, 2023 | 2:00 PM

A leaking roof and curling shingles on the 46-year-old Dave G. Steuart Arena are leading city staff to recommend council decide to close the aging facility.

At the same time, the volume of usage in the other three arenas remains at almost 100 per cent capacity, reads a report on the state of city ice facilities that will be on Monday’s council agenda.

“It is clear we do not have enough facilities to meet the demand in our community for hockey and lacrosse,” said Jody Boulet, Director of Community Services for the City of Prince Albert.

Staff are recommending that once the new twin pad arenas are finished construction early next year, the Steuart Arena be closed and hours of operation at the Kinsmen arena be expanded.

The idea is to have the Kinsmen arena open from September to March for Minor Hockey and private rental demand and that Box Lacrosse use it in April.

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“By maintaining the Kinsmen operation from September to March, we will ensure a fourth ice surface to meet the demand out there,” Boulet said.

Prince Albert’s three arenas are at 99.8 per cent capacity (4485 of 4494 available hours) for prime-time ice bookings, with another 1622 hours of additional ice time booked at surrounding communities, according to the City.

Another four natural ice arenas are maintained by local community clubs.

The Steuart Arena is used mainly by the Prince Albert Skating Club and minor hockey, but the Prince Albert Northern Bears female AAA club and adult recreational teams also use it.

The lobby is one of at least three locations where the roof on the Steuart Arena has a leak. (screen shot/City of Prince Albert)

In the summer, ball hockey takes up almost 75 per cent of surface time with lacrosse using the remaining time.

It costs $387,000 for the city to operate the arena and it recovers 57 per cent through user fees and surcharges.

The Kinsmen Arena was built in 1963, with the concession and lobby area added in 1965, dressing rooms in 1974, an ice plan room in 2008 and a meeting room and accessible washrooms in 2012.

Recent inspections show the building is in good condition and right now, only regular maintenance is needed.

Minor hockey uses the ice three quarters of the time during the winter season and the remaining time is taken up by rec hockey, AAA team, the Prince Albert Skating Club and private rentals.

When there is no ice in the arena, minor lacrosse takes the same amount of time as hockey, with Predator’s and Outlaws lacrosse using up the remaining time.

The city recovers just over 60 per cent of the $540,000 operating costs in user fees and various other smaller revenues.

The report outlines three possible futures for the Steuart Arena; repurpose for a different use, sale or asbestos mitigation, decommissioning and then demolition.

Council will have the report in front on them for the executive committee meeting on Monday.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com