“This plan will provide short-term recommendations as to which sports tournaments Barrie should target based on destination evaluation,” Councilman says
This city could soon make strides towards a sports tourism strategy.
Barrie City Councilors will tonight consider a direct application to execute an agreement with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) to receive $110,000 in project funding in support of the Tourism Relief Fund to complete a sports tourism strategy.
“The Strategic Plan for Sports Tourism is similar to the Tourism Master Plan, which will provide an assessment of where Barrie is now in terms of sports tourism infrastructure and resources,” Coun said. Gary Harvey, “and recommendations for building a sports tourism strategy based on the arenas and sports venues and organizations that Barrie now has.
“What sporting events we should attend after that is what we can do in the short term and what we need to do in the long term to be a premier sports tourism destination in Ontario.”
According to Harvey, winter sports tournaments have a $6.3 million economic impact in Barrie from November through April. He counts six tournaments, most of them hockey, although there was also a relay spin event.
“This plan will provide short-term recommendations on which sports tournaments Barrie should target based on the destination’s assessment,” said Ward 7 City Council, “this is what Tourism Barrie needs for guidance on the best places to invest the MAT.” and tourism resources.”
The Municipal Lodging Tax (MAT) imposes a four percent levy on room rates at Barrie hotels, motels and AirBnBs, shared by Tourism Barrie and the city.
“The (strategic) plan for sports tourism will give us an inventory of (the city’s) assets,” said Harvey, who represents the council for tourism in Barrie. “That fits perfectly with the Sadlon Arena review.”
Last December, the city council ruled that the city will pay half the cost of an $85,000 consultant to assess sports tourism needs and growth opportunities at Sadlon Arena. That $42,500 came from the MAT Reserve Fund.
Last August, Barrie City Council also considered the resizing of Sadlon Arena and approved an application that city officials will submit to them prior to completing and submitting a grant application for the Ontario Community Building Fund’s capital flow to expand the Bayview Drive facility.
It would include a three-story addition to the north side of the building, including a new grand entrance to the arena with additional multipurpose/exhibition space, ticket offices, concessions, a multipurpose sports bar, additional office and retail space, and possibly a new home for Barrie Sports Hall of Fame. It could also include additional dressing rooms, player dining and lounge facilities, medical facilities, storage and meeting rooms, a media lounge and VIP lounge, a new sound system, an upgraded green space and additional spectator seating to bring the total to around 5,000 .
Harvey said Barrie hasn’t seen much sports tourism over the past decade, losing to cities like Thunder Bay and North Bay in some major events, particularly curling. He has said most events are worth between $6 million and $20 million on average to the local economy, sometimes more. These events can include not only curling, but also hockey and figure skating.
Harvey’s direct application for a sports tourism strategy will be considered by City Council for final approval on Monday night.
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