Parks and Recreation Director Jordan Schechtel presented the policy at the meeting, which he said is based largely on one put in place in Moose Jaw. The policy had previously come up at the town’s parks and recreation committee and had already gotten their approval. Among the ideas put forward at the meeting was awarding naming rights for the Battleford Arena; also put forward was an idea to put up a billboard in front of the rink that could be used to put up advertising. The naming rights discussion was particularly animated. The proposal in the draft policy was for a 10-year term for arena naming rights at $15,000 per year.
The town is nevertheless getting the ball rolling on concepts for what the facility would look like. Administration was seeking direction on a conceptual design so the engineering firm Associated Engineering could finalize drawings as well as develop artistic renderings. Three arena designs were presented to council in a report back in May. The one council went with is considered the most basic design, and has common elements associated with all three designs presented. The design includes a new canopy on the front entrance to keep snow from piling at the door, removal of the wall separating the staff area and management office, removal of dressing room “4” to allow a bigger lobby area or possibly stairs to a lounge area, and construction of four new dressing rooms and the building of one new dressing room out of a storage area.