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In a few years, the residents of downtown apartments in Fort McMurray will be blocks away from enjoying hockey games, concerts, rodeos and family shows. One of the key components of the City Centre Redevelopment Plan is a Sports and Entertainment Centre, currently scheduled to open in 2016 or 2017. Based on the proven success of 5,000 to 7,000 arenas in similar sized communities in Canada, City Centre's complex will give its urban core a place to host year-round indoor sporting events, festivals and trade shows. Officials are hopeful the facility can attract 100 events a year and be in use 150 days out of the year. Officials are confident the complex will be a success based on Fort McMurray's growing population, strategic northern location, diverse culture, booming economy and a strong appetite for art, sports and entertainment. Officials expect the entertainment complex to attract additional investment in retail, restaurants and entertainment facilities in the area. The complex is proposed to be built in the block bordered by Franklin Avenue, Main Street, MacDonald Avenue and Morrison Street. It would be two blocks down Franklin Avenue from River Park Glen. Planners chose that site because it's an accessible, central location that is ideal for regional civic events. Studies show that successful sports and entertainment complexes across Canada are strategically located in downtown areas. According to the redevelopment plan, when the sports and entertainment centre opens, access to the site will have been enhanced by: bridges with nine lanes over the Athabasca River, completed interchanges on Highway 63, direct access to highway 63 from Franklin Avenue, designated bus lanes on major roads, including Highway 63, an integrated transit system with the Franklin Avenue Transit Way, the expanded Prairie Loop Boulevard with additional east-west access, new road connections in City Centre, new streetscapes and corridors. Because of its proximity to the proposed arena, all of the above improvements will also directly benefit those living in downtown Fort McMurray rental accommodations. Furthermore, when the complex opens, downtown residents will be within walking distance of a host of entertainment options. Already, the complex is just a few blocks from MacDonald Island Park, Canada's largest community recreational, leisure, and social centre that includes an Olympic size swimming pool, water park, ice skating rink, curling facility, rock climbing wall, basketball courts, a running track, fitness center, and Miskanaw Golf Club, one of the best municipal 18-hole courses in the country. The Sports and Entertainment Centre is part of an overall community vision to establish City Centre as the focal point in the region. The vision is to create a memorable public realm with safe and comfortable spaces and streets; improved social, cultural, art and sporting amentities; more entertainment, restaurants and retail opportunities; and more civic pride and identity in downtown. Officials hope to begin construction on the facility in 2014. Articles focused on providing useful information on lifestyle, employment, industry and accommodations in Fort McMurray.
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Fort McMurray Downtown, Fort McMurray Development, Fort McMurray Accommodations,
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