The report into the possible sale of Mile One Centre will be released to a subcommittee this week, this as Deacon Sports and Entertainment ramps up their campaign to buy it.
St. John’s city council’s representative on St. John’s Sports and Entertainment, Jamie Korab, says the KPMG report should be in the hands of the SJSE subcommittee “today or tomorrow.”
Next week, the committee will meet with KPMG to discuss the findings. From there the report goes to the whole SJSE board before being given to council, at which point the report will be made public.
What happens with the facility is ultimately council’s decision.
Korab says they don’t want to hold on to the report longer than they have to, and notes such a big decision takes time.
“We’re not selling a used car on Kijiji,” says Korab, noting that Mile One is a taxpayer’s asset and that the city needs to do their due diligence.
He says he is happy with Growlers owner Dean MacDonald’s interest in Mile One but states he doesn’t feel pressured by Macdonald’s tactics.
Macdonald, says he understands the city needs to go through the process. However, with the launch of newmileone.com come and encouraging public feedback, they are hoping to speed up the process, noting that “time is ticking.”
He says there is a sense of urgency because taxpayers are on the hook for a subsidy. Macdonald says time is of the essence, and if action is going to be taken it needs to be done sooner rather than later.
