Committee approves $150,000 for outdoor fan zone during Junos

The City of London's Corporate Services Committee has approved a $150,000 funding request for an outdoor fan zone to be set up outside Budweiser Gardens during Junos weekend in March. 

The request came from the Juno host committee and the money will flow from the city's share of the four per cent Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT), which began collecting revenue in October. 

The fan zone will include a red carpet viewing area and spaces for members of the media. It will be set up on Thursday, March 14, 2019 and be taken down the following Monday, after the Juno Awards the previous night.  

Total cost of the van zone is pegged at $400,000, with the difference above the city's contribution covered by corporate donors. 

Revenue from the MAT is split 50-50 between Tourism London and a tourism infrastructure fund operated by the city. The MAT generated $322,000 in October and is estimated to generate about $3-million a year.

Coun. Stephen Turner expressed concern about the request, saying the funds should come from Tourism London's share of the MAT, not the city's. He argued that a temporary structure shouldn't be covered a city fund set up to pay for more permanent infrastructure. 

However backers of the request argued that the fan zone — while temporary — qualifies as a legitimate infrastructure expenditure. 

City council still needs to approve the Corporate Services Committee's decision. 

Juno host committee chair Chris Campbell said the fan zone request will be the final Juno-related ask for money from the city's tourism infrastructure fund.