City looking into annual extension of Art Hauser season
Prince Albert is looking into the possibility of extending the Art Hauser Centre (AHC) season – but it wants user groups to commit to bookings if the city’s largest arena is to remain open to the end of April each year.
The triple-A A&W Bears team asked the city to approve its use of the arena to host a spring camp April 13 and 14 in the event the Prince Albert Raiders don’t make it past the first round. Once the Raiders’ season ends, so does ice time at the AHC.
But at Monday evening’s executive committee meeting, the discussion about keeping the rink open for the Bears turned into a wider discussion about an annual extension of the AHC’s season. The executive committee asked administration to go back to user groups and tell them they will find out the cost of operating the rink in the spring.
Mayor Greg Dionne suggested the city advertises to user groups that it wants the rink to be used. “And next year, we’re going to start advertising right now, and if we have enough bookings, council will consider leaving the rink open until April 30, 2014.”