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Zulich reaffirms ‘unwavering’ commitment to Sudbury

Sudbury Wolves owner Dario Zulich said he’s advocating for a new, not refurbished, municipal arena, which will be up to the new city council elected on Oct. 24 to decide on
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The 70-year-old Sudbury Community Arena is seen in the city’s downtown core.

In a brief statement issued to media this afternoon, Sudbury Wolves owner Dario Zulich has reaffirmed an “unwavering” commitment to Sudbury.

This sentiment lines up with Zulich’s comments in April, at which time he said the hockey team will “never leave Sudbury.”

“Regarding a new arena, let me be equally as clear,” today’s statement continues. 

“As the owner of the Sudbury Wolves, I want the players, the fans and all the people of Sudbury to enjoy our brand of hockey in a NEW events center, not a refurbished arena. The location of that new facility within Sudbury, be it in the east-end, downtown or even south-end, is not my decision to make. It is a decision of council.”

The new city council elected on Oct. 24 will decide on whether to proceed with a new arena at all, with a potential refurbishment of the existing downtown-based Sudbury Community Arena still on the table.

Zulich was a key partner/land developer for the Kingsway Entertainment District – a municipal arena/events centre proposed to be accompanied by a private casino and hotel at a property on The Kingsway he owns.

The arena/events centre was intended to replace the 70-year-old Sudbury Community Arena until cost overruns resulted in city council rejecting the $215-million proposal in July. 

During the unveiling of a new scoreboard at the Sudbury Community Arena on Friday, Zulich raised eyebrows by stating the team “won’t be here much longer.” 

“We're not gonna be here forever, I can tell you that.  Soon we'll be playing in a brand new arena somewhere."

Sudbury.com has reached out to this year’s entire slate of candidates for city council to inquire how they believe the city should proceed with a new or renewed arena (or if the city should), what role the city should play and whether they have a cost limit in mind.

Responses have started coming in, and the resulting story, highlighting what all candidates have to say, will run later this week.


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