Abbotsford arena fails to replace Heat with major tenant

The City of Abbotsfordhas announced plans for its new 8,000 seat arena vacated by the Abbotsford Heat hockey team earlier this year, but they still don't include a significant new tenant.

At a news conference Wednesday, Mayor Bruce Banman announced there will still be hockey played at the Abbotsford Centre this fall, it just won't be professional hockey.

• Deal to bring Canucks' farm team to Abbotsford fails
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The Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association will now be headquartered at the new arena, which will focus on community sports teams and concerts, said Banman.

The arena has nine dates booked for the fall including two featuring Brad Paisley and John Fogerty, said Banman.

However, there are still a number of holes in the schedule,because as things currently stand, there won't be any hockey in October, November or December.

Jordan Bateman with the Canadian Taxpayers' Association says the building is a prime example of why municipalities in Canada should not be funding arenas of this size.

"I love minor hockey," said Bateman, "but taxpayers dont build 8,000 seat arenas to house it. Does minor hockey rent even cover turning lights on...or staff?"

Banman inherited the problem from former Abbotsford mayor George Pearyand council who inked the deal. And he says buying out the Heat actually saved the city more than $5 million because attendance was so low.

In April,Abbotsford announced it had paid the owners of the Heat $5.5 million to end the Calgary Flames' farm team's contract with the city, capping off years of financial losses for the city.

Banman said the contract with the team hadcost the city more than $12 million since 2010, when Peary signed a ten-year deal with the Heat to guarantee $5.7 million a year in revenue.

The Heat had a tough time filling the city-owned 8,000-seat Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre and faced major hurdles winning fans, including a lack of local interest andthe team's affiliation with the Calgary Flames, a rival of the Vancouver Canucks.

Last year the owners of the Vancouver Canucks failed to reach a deal with the city to move their Utica Comets farm team from New York to Abbotsford.