The people who want to build a $60 million arena and events centre on The Kingsway are interested in building a motorsports park in the same area.
Andrew Dale, managing partner of the Jack Nicholas Business Innovation Park, said they responded to a call for expressions of interest (EOI) from the city looking for groups interested in building the motorsports park.
They first noticed the EOI in the spring, but were focused on their True North Strong Events Centre. City council recently completed their big projects selection process, in which they selected a new arena as one of their priorities.
Once that was complete, Dale said they had time to look at the motorsports park idea.
"We circled back and looked at that project, as it may relate to the vision that we proposed, as an entertainment destination," he said. "The bulk of the idea we are proposing is for city- and Crown-owned land. We've spoken with neighbouring groups who are willing to participate in a discussion about how that might look."
In a news release, Dale, Dario Zulich and Perry Dellelce, owners of the Jack Nicholas Business Innovation Park (JNBIP) and partners in True North Strong, announced the motorsports park would be built on land adjacent to the events centre on the north side of the Kingsway.
The Greater Sudbury Central Motorsports Park Partnership, as they are calling it, is “another opportunity to drive tourism and stimulate sustained economic growth in ways that enhance the quality of life for families throughout the region,” the release said.
“The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation has been considering a motorsports park for some time, and we have responded to their public request and expressed to them our ability to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the new motorsports park with a view of creating a sports and entertainment destination hub that not only will serve Greater Sudbury, but also will attract visitors from across Ontario, western Quebec and beyond,” Zulich is quoted as saying in the release.
“We see this as a unique opportunity for regional and clustered investment in an area already zoned for mixed-use development. This supports our belief that
Greater Sudbury is ready for expanded opportunities that will make our city a significant tourist destination, will solidify the city as the central hub of the north, will enhance the quality of life in our community, and will drive economic growth for generations to come.”
Under the proposed partnership, the Motorsports Park would be located on city, crown, and private lands to the north of the soon-to-be-constructed Jack Nicholas Business Innovation Park Phase 1 Development. The motorsports park development would facilitate future growth and development potential for other city owned lands adjacent to the proposed site.
The goal, Dale said, is to create an entertainment destination that would draw in visitors from across the North, and would be something that would benefit the entire city.
“We believe Greater Sudbury is on the verge of shaping its future in unprecedented ways that effectively meet the needs and desires of its diverse citizenry,” Dale added. “We are excited to be at the leading edge of that effort, along with other leaders in our community, and hope to have the opportunity to partner with the city in creating a motorsports park that will be the destination of choice for enthusiasts from across Northern Ontario and beyond.”
While the vision is for both projects, Dale said the success of one doesn't depend on the other.
"They're not a package,” he said. “They certainly could both be independent. But what we see is the complementary nature of what they could provide for a city our size in terms of that magnet or tourist attraction that we're looking for.
"A parking lot can service both hockey fans, concert goers and the potential for overflow for motorsports entertainment. That could then be seasonal."
