Although discussions between the City of Saskatoon and private partner OVG360 are well underway, the team at SaskTel Centre is suggesting that they be contracted to operate the new Downtown Event and Entertainment District instead. 

SaskTel Centre CEO John Howden spoke before the business community at an NSBA luncheon Thursday afternoon. He says it would make more sense to utilize an established, local, competent company that already exists in the city instead of bringing in a group that might not know its audience. OVG360, the private partner in discussions with the City of Saskatoon, is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. 

“We’ve got decades of local leadership here that know exactly what they’re doing, know the market, know what people here like to come to for concerts and events. We also have the national and international connections to make that happen and get those shows and events to Saskatoon.”

Howden explained that although their current infrastructure is holding them back, SaskTel Centre is more than capable of attracting and handling large events in Saskatoon. 

“We do roughly about 120 events a year at SaskTel Centre. We usually do about 25 major concerts and one or two big national and international events every year.”

He adds that the potential merger between SaskTel Centre and TCU Place would only make the entity stronger, as the City owns both companies and would be able to keep any profits in house.  

TCU Place Director Kirby Wirchenko was also at the event, echoing Howden’s remarks.  

“If we can keep all the money by running it ourselves and not having partners and having to share it out, why wouldn’t we if we know we could run it as well or better?”

In the most recent agreement framework between OVG and the City, OVG’s upfront contribution would be $15 million on a $1.2 billion project, while also receiving between 0 and 50 per event of the profits depending on performance level.