Saskatoon city councillor Troy Davies wants to sell naming rights of bridges
How does the Cameco Corridor sound? What about the PotashCorp Promenade?
Both are music to the ears of Saskatoon city councillor Troy Davies.
Davies wants council to think about selling the naming rights to city bridges in order to raise funds for city programs.
"Whether it's $10 million, or whatever it might be, over a 50-year lease, and then take that ten million dollars and build a new hockey rink," said Davies. "Right there, you've got two rinks for everyone in the city to use and you've got a naming process."
Right now, council is debating which process it should use when naming new bridges. Earlier this week, a city committee weighed several options, from holding a public contest that would be vetted by city council and administration, to naming projects based on their geographical location — for example, Broadway Bridge or University Bridge.
Davies understands the proposal is controversial, but argues the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
"We have 7,000 kids who are driving to other communities right now, who are waking up at 6 a.m. to play at hockey rinks, because we don't have that infrastructure," he said. "This is just one idea to not touch the mill rate, and at the same time, give the amenities to the kids in our city."
The issue will be voted on at Saskatoon city council later this month.
