Hockey community pleased with increased capacity limits in Thunder Bay arenas
CBC
A plea from Thunder Bay's hockey community to allow more spectators in the stands at satellite arenas hit a nerve with most city councillors on Monday night.
Council passed a resolution, tabled by Coun. Albert Aiello, to increase the capacity of the arenas to 50 per cent of normal seating. The rule change brings the capacity in line with Ontario pandemic guidelines.
"I believe that there is room to increase the spectator capacity limits without exceeding the total facility capacity limits permitted by the legislation." Aiello wrote in a memo to council.
The new limits would see the following number of spectators:
Lex MacArthur, who made a deputation to council, said the increase in capacity is the right move.
MacArthur runs a hockey community Facebook page and is vice-president of the Westfort Hockey Association.
"I am hoping that our kids get rewarded and our parents get rewarded for our due diligence over the last 19 months," MacArthur said to CBC News.