Mooseheads asking city for $1.6M to expand Dartmouth training facility
QMJHL team says upgraded facility would be a win for players, public
The Halifax Mooseheads are asking Halifax regional council for up to $1.625 million to expand the training facility they lease at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth.
Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell and Elizabeth Powell of architecture firm Fathom Studio outlined plans for a proposed 4,700-square-foot addition at a standing committee meeting on Wednesday.
They said the project at the municipally owned centre would benefit both the team and the public.
Russell, who has been with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League organization for 25 years, told the committee the current training facility is challenging to use.
"Our gym isn't big enough, we have to work out in two or three different groups," he said.
"We have a lounge that only seats three to four players. We don't have a wellness area that would be good for the kids, for their mental health and their well-being."
Russell told the committee a state-of-the-art facility would enhance the Mooseheads' ability to attract top talent, putting the team on the same level as NCAA teams, universities and colleges.
Russell said the proposed expansion would include a high-performance gym equipped with hockey-specific training gear, a 21-metre turf training track, and a dedicated shooting room for skill development, which he said would be a first in the QMJHL.
The plans would also incorporate a sauna, steam room and cold plunge recovery area, a more spacious player lounge and a publicly accessible, barrier-free washroom.
The timeline for the project is about six months for the design and eight months for construction, said Powell, the project architect.
Russell said the Mooseheads are asking the municipality to fund the construction of the building shell, while the team would cover interior costs and remain the exclusive tenant of the training facility.
The Mooseheads' current lease, set to expire next year, costs the team about $45,000 annually, he said.
Coun. Patty Cuttell said while she understood the need for the expansion, she had concerns about the municipality paying for a space for the exclusive use of a privately owned franchise.
"If we build this, what's the cost recovery through the lease?" she asked.
Maggie MacDonald, the executive director of parks and recreation, recommended a staff report to examine the financial implications, the assessment of public good, and potential cost recovery mechanisms.
Cuttell said she would be willing to ask for a staff report once she examined the motion in greater detail.
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With files from Haley Ryan
