[nhaste]

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City ponders Plan B; Hip concert would likely be rescheduled if facility fails to open
Posted By Rob Tripp
Posted 55 mins ago

If Kingston's new downtown arena fails to open this weekend, the kickoff concert by local rockers The Tragically Hip will likely be rescheduled, not cancelled.

"I don't know that we'd be looking at a cancellation," said Neil Shorthouse, a senior official of the firm managing the city-owned facility. "It would likely be a postponement."

The Hip are scheduled to perform Saturday night at a sold-out show for an expected 6,700 concert-goers.

Two Kingston Frontenacs Ontario Hockey League games are scheduled for opening weekend, tomorrow and Sunday. They could be moved to the Memorial Centre.

The building, now named the K-Rock Centre, doesn't yet have a key civic approval - an occupancy permit - because fire and public safety measures don't yet meet legislated standards.

Shorthouse, director of marketing for the centre and the official who books acts, said the possibility that it will not open tomorrow is being considered.

"There are a number of different contingencies that we can put into place," he said. "We just don't know which one that we're dealing with yet, so we have to wait until the results of the tests are done to understand what our plan of action is going to be."

It's hoped that inspectors approve the building's fire-safety equipment during tests scheduled for today. If the building fails the tests, it is unlikely it could open.

A VIP-attended opening ceremony is planned before the kickoff event in the centre - the hockey game between the Frontenacs and the Belleville Bulls tomorrow night.

That could be bumped to the Memorial Centre, the city's half-century-old spectator arena that remains open.

"We'll look into that and see," Cynthia Beach, a senior manager at City Hall, said in an interview.

Beach, who is overseeing the $46.5-million construction project, stunned city politicians Tuesday night with the news that the building might not open on schedule.

Deputy mayor Rob Matheson said the city and the arena management should look at such options as free tickets to a future event to appease disappointed ticket holders.

"How we deal with the dissatisfaction will go toward how much goodwill is won or lost," Matheson said. "We're doing our best."

The city will lose more than goodwill if the opening is delayed yet again.

"Any delays past the scheduled completion date will create serious risk with respect to the realization of anticipated cash flows and debt-repayment schedules," Desiree Kennedy, a senior city hall finance official, wrote in a report presented to councillors in February 2007.

At the time Kennedy's report was written, the first event in the centre was set for Jan. 18. That deadline was eventually pushed to Feb. 22.

The business plan for the centre is built on a fragile cash flow structure that requires the city to reap profits that can be used to pay the annual costs of borrowing.

If two Frontenacs games are cancelled this weekend, it will hurt the bottom line, since hockey is projected to provide more than 35 per cent of event revenues and 60 per cent of food and beverage revenues yearly.

Shorthouse said contingency plans include the possibility that a permit allowing partial occupancy of the building is issued. He would not elaborate on the contingency plans.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss what those are right now, but having said that, once we get through the tests ... we'll be in a position to tell the public what we're doing," he said.

Moving the Hip concert to another venue is not likely to be considered.

"I don't know that that's something that the band would want to do or what we'd want to do," Shorthouse said. "I think the idea is that this event is a celebration of this facility, so if it has to be postponed, then I think that's one of the options that we'd look at."

He said possible new dates for the show have not been discussed.

"It depends on the band's availability and crew availability for that," he said.

[thecompletist]

hock: hock: hock: hock: hock:

[colinjardine]

Heard on Krock this morning that Ellis Don, the prime contractor, has guaranteed the rink will be open. They are testing the fire alarms today and hopefully will have an occupancy permit this afternoon.

Make sure they have the kegs cold too.l

[thehip11]

Now this just sucks big arse. I hope no one has a hotel booked they can't cancel. I just booked mine and I sure hope it's not re-scheduled for a week day....man would that suck. What sucks as well is that I sold my Rangers vs. Sabres tickets that night so I could go to the hip. PLEASE PLEASE pass code!

[girthy69]

I wouldn't want to be the fire department official that fails it. There are going to be a lot of unhappy concert non-goers out there. It wouldn't be the fire department's fault.

What a rush job. I wonder how rough the arena is going to be. I am really looking forward to the show. I hope it doesn't impact the sound quality of the Hip.

[Dark Canuck17]

This was no surprise to these guys...I can't believe they didn't get this thing figured out sooner than one day before opening...They better figure it out soon because I have a 24 hour cancellation policy on my room! :x

[Phantom51]

K-Rock centre?? worst arena name ever!

[colinjardine]

Money gets you a lot of stupid things.

[birdseyeview]

I called the confederation place hotel and they said you have until 4pm friday to cancel and regardless after people would get charged.

You "would" think hotels can understand if we had to cancel under 24 hours before the check in, this show isn't exactly under the radar so they reailze why they are getting the business.


REGARDLESS, HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T GET DOWN TO THIS

[edgoffin]

Here's to hoping they get it done -- they must realize this is a weekend tourism boom in Kingston (hotels hard to find, restaurant reservations are tough too).....

[edgoffin]

This sounds a bit more positive:

'Short of some calamity,' facility will open on time: builder
Posted By Jordan Press; Rob Tripp
Posted 3 hours ago
A senior executive from the company building the $46.5-million downtown arena is standing by a guarantee it made last year to have the facility finished by tomorrow.

In August, the city received a guarantee from builder EllisDon that the K-Rock Centre would be completed by Feb. 22, 2008.

Yesterday, the builder, the arena's private operator, Arcturus/SMG, and city staff were going over a list of items that needed to be completed before the building was deemed safe enough to hold events. "Short of some calamity, we are on track to meet the only remaining obstacle," said Bob Smith, senior vice-president of design build with EllisDon.

The remaining obstacle could cause an unwanted calamity for the city.

The fire department and EllisDon will conduct a test this morning to see if the fire alarm and smoke evacuation systems actually work.

If they don't, the department won't grant the building an occupancy permit, a civic document that allows a new facility to host the public.

The results of the test and decision from the fire department are to be made public early this afternoon.

"You can have 99 per cent of the devices in, but still not be 99 per cent of the way there. It's a pass/fail thing," said deputy fire chief Rob Kidd, who will make the decision on whether the building meets building-code safety standards.

"It's in the hands of the contractor," Kidd said. "We'll have to see the cards that we're dealt."

City staff have set a deadline of noon today to find out if all outstanding safety issues have been addressed so the centre can hold events this weekend.

"We have to work on getting final approval for those issues or we can't hold the opening events," said commissioner Cynthia Beach, the senior city manager overseeing the project.

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The Kingston Frontenacs hockey team is scheduled to play the Belleville Bulls tomorrow night and another game Sunday afternoon. The Tragically Hip have a sold-out concert scheduled for Saturday night.

The test this morning will involve pumping smoke into the main bowl of the arena, waiting for the smoke alarms to go off and opening vents that will send smoke billowing out of the facility.

"At the moment, that's what's being worked on," said Lanie Hurdle, the city's project manager.

Testing has gone on for days leading up to the opening, she said. "The system is not as typical as an office building system," Hurdle said.

The key will be whether the smoke stays high enough above the floor to allow anyone inside the rink to escape with enough visibility. If not, then the occupancy permit won't be issued.

"The testing for all of this is: does it comply with the Ontario building code requirements and ... is the performance what we want," Kidd said.

There is also a requirement for a fire-safety plan to be in place. The plan contains procedures that those running the facility will need to know in the event of a fire.

Smith said the company realized last week it would need to perform a full-fledged test. The other test options included a computer simulation, testing on a scale model or dealing with an actual fire in the arena.

"It's not unusual," Smith said of the smoke test. "It was not sprung on us."

Kingston's fire chief said it's long been known that there would need to be a smoke test done at the facility.

"In fairness, it's [the contractor's] responsibility to meet the requirements - the life-safety requirements of the code - and they knew this two years ago, so this isn't new information. This isn't a surprise," said fire Chief Harold Tulk.

"I am monitoring it and ensuring that we work very hard with the contractor to make this work."

Tulk said he has received daily briefings about the progress. There is a list of fire-safety issues to deal with. He could not say if he believes the building will meet fire regulations to open tomorrow.

"We're dealing with the list and we're moving ahead. As to whether or not it can be accomplished or not, I'm not on site and I wouldn't want to start giving a prognosis on that," Tulk said.

Beach said EllisDon and city staff have kept tabs on the project's progress. The fire-safety issues were the most critical item addressed at meetings, she said.

"They were trying to get it approved earlier, but they couldn't," she said. As far as the schedule for gaining approval as it pertained to opening, Beach said, "We knew they had missed the date."

It is the builder's responsibility to meet the building-code requirements. Council heard the city won't have to bear any additional costs related to making the building safe - EllisDon will have to pay for it.

Hurdle said the concern from EllisDon was that sending out smoke from the building would require pumping in cold air. That could damage finishes going on around the building, she said, such as painting, tiling and architectural work.

[BrenTheodore]

"Deputy mayor Rob Matheson said the city and the arena management should look at such options as free tickets to a future event to appease disappointed ticket holders. "

I REALLY wonder how this would work, and to what type of event? cratch:

[cochise]

"Deputy mayor Rob Matheson said the city and the arena management should look at such options as free tickets to a future event to appease disappointed ticket holders. "

I REALLY wonder how this would work, and to what type of event? cratch:

WOOHOO, "High School Musical on ice" here we come!! :thumb:

[BakersBrew]

I was also told that they haven't tested the beer lines as of yet. Another thing that should have been done long before today...and something I don't want to do without come Saturday night watching the Hip play.

[girthy69]

I wish there wasn't such a cash crunch to get this arena open. Poor planning. I would rather wait a bit longer and make sure the arena is completely finished in order to give patrons the best possible experience. This way, if we have a bad experience the first time, we are less likely to return for another concert or event.