Opponents of plans to build a new community arena and casino on The Kingsway are holding a news conference Tuesday morning to release an economic impact study they commissioned to gauge the effects of the project.
Entitled, 'The Kingsway Entertainment District and Arena- Economic and Financial Analysis,' the report was prepared by urbanMetrics Inc., a Toronto-based firm that has 35 years experience in providing custom analyses of the impact of municipal investment strategies.
“This extensive report details the expected economic impact of the Kingsway Entertainment District with regards to tourism, employment, municipal revenues, and other economic impacts for Greater Sudbury,” said a new release announcing Tuesday's event.
“The study’s authors, urbanMetrics, have extensive experience in the analysis of sports and entertainment complexes as well as casino gambling. They have undertaken numerous studies on behalf of municipalities to assist in planning their commercial areas and downtown cores.”
The company provided the analysis that lead to the initial introduction of gaming in Ontario, the release said.
“On a local level, they have extensive experience with the Sudbury market having served as consultants to Science North on numerous occasions and retained to advise on the creation of Dynamic Earth.”
Tom Fortin, a local businessman and director of CasinoFreeSudbury.com and Jeff MacIntyre of the BIA will be on hand to answer questions from the media after the release of the study.
