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Youth hockey group expects 6 months of sole use of proposed downtown arena (video of council listening post)

Council members look on as Brent Trout gives presentation on city business

MASON CITY – A Mason City council listening post held Monday night exposed rampant confusion connected to a downtown hotel-arena deal that officials are depending on voters to approve later this year, and the local youth hockey group expects the city to yield the arena for 6 months of the year for its sole use.

NIT captured most of the meeting on video; the footage shows citizens asking questions and throwing around figures as they conversed with council members Travis Hickey, Paul Adams and Bill Schickel. Questions were asked about the downtown “Renaissance” deal that is now allegedly worth $38 million. The arena hinges on $18.5 million in bonds that Mason City voters will have to OK at 60% or better in a November 7 vote.  City Administrator Brent Trout first gave the audience of about 25 people an update on the Gatehouse Hotel / Arena project and other items of importance. Then, citizens asked questions about a range of topics, including the hotel and the arena, vital pieces to the Renaissance.

It was revealed during the question and answer session that there may be no deal set in place between a major player in the arena equation – Mason City Youth Hockey – and the city for use of the arena. NIT is told that the Youth Hockey group expects to have use of the arena for 6 months out of the year. A long-time member of Mason City Youth Hockey told the council Monday night that it’s a “deal-breaker” if they cannot get that. Youth Hockey has said they would raise as much as $2 million to contribute to the Renaissance project – but they must get the ice for 6 months out of the year. This may hamper other events that could possibly be held in the arena during that stretch of time – October through March.

One man who attended the listening post told NIT “I’m even more confused after attending this thing than when I walked in. I thought there’d be concerts and tractor pulls and all kind of things in the arena all year round. Now it seems like less than half the year. It’s useless to the public for 6 months of the year.”

Surf Ballroom Event Producer and Mason City Youth Hockey President Shane Cooney spoke at a Mason City council meeting months ago, and was 100% in-favor of the new multi-use arena proposed for Southbridge Mall.  He claims his youth hockey organization will raise $2 million towards the project – but – the group must get sole use of the arena for 6 months of the year.

NIT has reached out to top members with the Mason City Youth Hockey, seeking clarification on their expectations for use of the arena. Youth hockey president Shane Cooney tells NIT late Tuesday that “Our understandinc is that mcyh will operate the ice arena during the ice season-which is generally about six months. During the season the ice is needed all day-seven days per week. Any potential lease that doesn’t provide that level of access would not meet the needs of mcyh and would be unacceptable. I have, however, never heard of there being any issue with the proposed lease meeting that need.”

City officials also were not 100% clear on the revenue sources that the arena would bring to the table to cover the $600,000+ expenses to run the venue each year. Mr. Trout listed fees and beer sales among the revenue sources, but couldn’t get more specific Monday night. Just days ago, Mr. Trout was in Des Moines, selling the project to economic development officials who hold the purse strings connected to up to $10 million in state funds that could help complete the project.

It was also revealed that much of the Renaissance plan is not set in stone; location for the hotel could change, for example, and the city is still considering whether to pay $150,000 up-front to Gatehouse Development for a feasibility study for its proposed hotel. Some are asking the city council not to pay the $150,000 until after voters approve or decline the bonds for the arena in November.

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