Toronto Maple Leafs' Mats Sundin and Chicago Blackhawks' Doug Gilmour get set for the drop of the puck during the opening faceoff of the final NHL game played at Maple Leaf Gardens, in Toronto on Feb. 13, 1999. (CP PHOTO / Staff-Frank Gunn)
Maple Leaf Gardens reno deal to be announced
Updated: Mon Nov. 30 2009 8:01:44 PM
ctvtoronto.ca
Ryerson University, Loblaws and the federal government are set to announce a deal that will see the rejuvenation of Maple Leaf Gardens, including the retention of its storied ice surface.
An announcement will be made Tuesday at 9 a.m. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, a GTA MP, and Infrastructure Minister John Baird are expected to be there.
The Toronto Star reported Monday night that the feds will be contributing $20 million to the deal, or one-third of the $60-million cost.
Another third of the cost will come from Ryerson's students, who voted in a referendum to contribute an additional $126 in annual fees to fund a new athletic centre. Ryerson's campus sits a few blocks south of the Gardens.
The Loblaw Companies will provide the final third.
The legendary building, built in the heart of the Great Depression, will host a Loblaw store on its main level. Two floors of athletic facilities will exist above it, along with the rink. Parking will be built underneath.
Loblaw bought the 78-year-old property in 2004 and announced in 2007 it would convert it to a supermarket, but declining company fortunes left the structure at Carlton and Church Streets sitting empty ever since.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment had a caveat in the deal that prevented the old arena from being used to host sports or entertainment events that would compete with its then-new Air Canada Centre.
However, the company has since relented on the notion of a small arena for university hockey.
