The city council says the sports tourism strategy is similar to the Tourism Master Plan, which will evaluate Barrie for sports tourism infrastructure and resources
A sports tourism strategy for Barrie is.
The City Council Monday night approved a direct application to implement 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.
“Obviously it’s funds that are available for things like this sports tourism strategy,” Coun said. Gary Harvey, “and this direct application is more of a process to allow you (acting Mayor Barry Ward) and the clerk to sign off on the required authorities (applications).”
According to Harvey, a sports tourism strategy is similar to Barrie’s Tourism Master Plan, which assesses where Barrie is in terms of sports tourism infrastructure and resources. It also recommends how to build a sports tourism strategy based on the arenas, venues, facilities and organizations that Barrie has at this time.
The Ward 7 councilman said the strategy would also specify what sporting events the city should pursue that fit Barrie’s fortunes in the short term and what the city needs to do long term to be what Harvey called “a top-notch sport in Ontario.” designated tourism destination.”
He says winter sports tournaments have a $6.3 million economic impact in Barrie from November through April. Harvey counts six tournaments, most of them hockey, although there was also a relay spin event.
The strategy would also provide Barrie with guidance on how best to invest the Municipal Lodging Tax (MAT) and other tourism resources. The MAT Reserve imposes a four percent levy on room rates at city hotels, motels and AirBnBs, shared by Tourism Barrie and the city.
Harvey said the sports tourism strategy will give the city an inventory of its assets, which is working well with a review of Sadlon Arena.
Late last year, 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.
Barrie City Council members last summer considered the resizing of Sadlon Arena and approved an application that city officials will report to them prior to completing and submitting a grant application for the Ontario Community Building Fund’s Capital Stream to expand the Bayview Drive facility should.
The expansion would include a three-story addition to the north side of the building, including a new grand arena entrance 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 would also include additional dressing rooms, player dining and lounge areas, 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 its share of sports tourism in the past decade, losing to cities like Thunder Bay and North Bay in some major events, particularly curling.
On average, most events are worth between $6 million and $20 million to the local economy, sometimes even more, he said. These events can include not only curling, but also hockey and figure skating.
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