$65M Synergy Centre pitched for Sudbury would be built with private, public dollars
"It's not a shortage of money that's the challenge. They see it as a shortage of good projects"
A group that's been quietly working on bringing a multi-million-dollar multi-purpose centre to Sudbury is almost ready to go out and ask for the money to get it built.
The Synergy Project envisions a versatile 125,000 sq ft complex that can host conventions, concerts and everything in between.
Project manager Paul Finley said it also would come with a $65 million price tag, but he believes both the public and private sectors will open their wallets to build the Synergy Centre, even with concurrent lobbying to bring a new arena, art gallery and library/museum complex to Sudbury.
"It's not a shortage of money that's the challenge. They see it as a shortage of good projects. And we believe this is a project that is good for the community," he said.
Finley said one of the key differences between this project and a stand-alone convention centre, or the new 5,000 seat arena the city is planning, is the Synergy Centre would be equipped with technology allowing it to hold a range of events.
"Essentially, it's like a kids transformer toy that's a car one minute and an airplane the next," he said.
"These companies design buildings so that you can have a convention this afternoon and tonight, you have the symphony perform."
Finley said the goal is to get a blend of government and private funding to cover the cost of the synergy centre, for which a location has yet to be pinned down.
More information from the recently completed feasibility study, which was paid for with provincial, municipal and federal dollars, is expected to be made public at a press conference scheduled for Thursday.