6,000-seat arena to take over Gatineau's Robert Guertin site

Gatineau's Robert Guertin Arena will berenovated or rebuilt to double its capacity and add a second rink, Gatineau city council has decided.

Council chose the Hull sector site Tuesday for the proposed 6,000-seat arena, which was recommended in a report presented that day by the engineering consulting firm Dessau-Soprin. Threealternative sites were also considered.

The construction is intended to bring the home arena of the Gatineau Olympiques hockey team up to the standards required by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The consultants said the site of the Olympiques' current home arena is most suitable because it is highly visible and accessible by public transit.

Council has not yet determined whether 3,000 extra seats anda second rink will be added through renovations, at an estimated cost of $27 million, or by demolishingtheold arenaand starting over,at an estimated price of$29 million— the option recommended by the consulting firm.

The consultants' report suggested that abrand new arena could be built to stringent LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) environmental certification standards, while renovationsmight bring unforeseen problems and costs.

Council plans to fundthe renovations or construction through a public-private partnership, but has not yet found partners or determined what the public contribution will be.

Robert Guertin Arena currently falls short of the Quebec Junior Hockey League's requirements for at least 3,500 seats, as well as its standards formedia galleries, locker rooms, washrooms and concessions.