Proposed expansion of Budweiser Gardens goes to London, Ont. city committee Tuesday – London | 24CA News
London, Ont., metropolis council’s company companies committee shall be reviewing a proposal Tuesday on increasing and renovating Budweiser Gardens.
The proposal outlines upgrades akin to increasing a number of areas together with the Club Lounge and multipurpose occasion house, renovating the London Knights locker room and upgrading personal suites and meals and beverage concessions.
Brian Ohl, the overall supervisor of Budweiser Gardens, mentioned a change is required.
“It’s time the building gets some renovations, and we’re also proposing an expansion for the back of the building (to give more space) for the artists and players,” he mentioned.
Ohl mentioned talks have been ongoing with the City for a while now, and “we’re happy that city staff is finally bringing it to committee and hopefully it’ll go to council.”
“We’ve heard time and time again the building’s great, the community’s great, but we need more space,” Ohl mentioned. “It’s kind of funny. Twenty years ago, what a show would travel with has grown by probably 20, 30 per cent.”
Cheryl Finn, the overall supervisor of Tourism London, mentioned the upgrades and renovations will profit London’s native financial system, particularly post-COVID.
“The dollars that are invested … it’s an incredible return on the investment,” she mentioned. “(Upgrades) really allows us to garner and host large events such as the (Tim Hortons) Brier. It keeps us in that competitive space.”
She mentioned with different venues in close by cities getting renovated, it’s particularly vital for Budweiser Gardens to obtain the identical therapy.
“It was competitive pre-pandemic, multiply that by a hundred post-pandemic,” she mentioned. “To be able to stay competitive, (renovations) are significant.”
In addition, Finn mentioned upgrades will result in extra jobs, experiences for vacationers, and can drive extra visitors to the core and to the service trade.
The company companies committee will meet Tuesday at 12 p.m.
Budweiser Gardens turns 21 years outdated this October.
— with recordsdata from 980 CFPL’s Devon Peacock and Mike Stubbs
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