Concerned about the high cost — and a return on investment — Kamloops Council has decided to partially fund a request to upgrade part of the Sandman Centre to host the Memorial Cup.

Due to budget overruns brought on by inflation and other unforeseen issues, the Memorial Cup Host Committee was asking for 200-thousand dollars to build a temporary skyway at the east end of the arena connecting the press area with the loge seating.

The idea is to create space for CHL officials, family members of the visiting teams, as well as space for TSN to use for its broadcast.

Community Services Director Byron McCorkell made the ask on Tuesday to council on behalf of the Host Committee.

“We have an opportunity here to alleviate, what we believe, is going to be an event issue,” argued McCorkell.  “This isn’t coming from the CHL.  What has the CHL provided for us?   The Memorial Cup.”

However, seeing potential pushback among his fellow councillors, Mike O’Reilly came up with a compromise, getting council agree to finance up to 100-thousand dollars for the project, suggesting the city does have an obligation to put on a good event, despite a potential hit to the taxpayer.

“How is this affecting our local residents?” argued O’Reilly.  “Well, I can tell you the hotels, the restaurants… anybody that works in those venues, will have an impact from that.  So I think that’s a good investment.”

However, there were a number of concerns, including a return on investment, among other concerns.

“It says in the report that this will accommodate 200 more spectators. Who are those spectators?” asked Councillor Dale Bass as part of the lengthy discussion at City Hall on Tuesday.  “Are they just people who are going to buy the tickets, or are they going to be elite?”

It will now be up to the Memorial Cup Host Committee to decide if that project can be completed.

In the city’s report to council, it has been suggested this project is needed to live up to the obligations originally made by Kamloops to secure the rights for the tournament.

“This requirement was not identified by the Canadian Hockey League during previous facility discussions and became more apparent as we worked towards a venue hosting plan that satisfied all requirements from a broadcast and team hosting perspective,” noted city staff in its briefing note to council.