‘Pie in the sky’: Critics question Surrey mayor’s plan for 10,000-seat arena

A Surrey city councillor is questioning the mayor’s ambitious plan to build a 10,000-seat arena.

Critics are raising concerns about Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke’s plans for a 10,000-seat arena in the city’s downtown core, arguing residents’ tax dollars could be better spent elsewhere.

Plans for the “world-class” facility were highlighted in Locke’s State of the City address last month, when the mayor pitched the arena as a cornerstone of a new entertainment district for Surrey.

Coun. Pardeep Kooner, from Locke’s Surrey Connect party, said it’s time the city had an area akin to Vancouver’s bustling Granville Street.

“The property taxes that would come in from those businesses would be huge for the city,” Kooner told CTV News.

But not everyone is sold on the idea. Surrey First Coun. Linda Annis said there are more pressing issues for elected representatives to address, and questioned the viability of the project.

“It’s just pie in the sky,” Annis said. “We don’t have funding in place. Over the next five years, we’ve got $4 million only set aside, and we don’t have an anchor tenant. I think we need to be investing in more recreation centres rather than projects like this.”

Surrey has not provided a cost estimate for the arena, but Annis estimated it would be well over half a billion dollars.

“When you look at the cost of the Newton Rec Centre, which is going to be over $300 million, it would be safe to say that a 10,000-seat arena would be at least twice that,” she said.

The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation agreed the funding would be better spent on smaller community projects, such as parks and playgrounds.

“Every dollar that goes toward this stadium is a dollar that’s not going toward essentials for taxpayers. It’s money that’s not going toward cutting taxes to make life more affordable,” said Carson Binda, the CTF’s B.C. director.

Kooner noted that the city is asking for provincial and federal funding, as well as corporate sponsorships, to help deliver the project without the need for a property tax increase for residents.

“There is no way we want this stadium to affect people’s property tax bill,” she added.

There has also been tension between Surrey and the B.C. government since Locke took office, with a protracted battle over the city’s policing transition ending on bitter terms.

Surrey Connect expects to have an update on the feasibility of the arena by the end of 2025.