The Sleeman Centre is getting a little bigger.
A 1,450 square-foot extension is being added to the bottom level of the building that will be the new home of the Guelph Storm offices
The extension will be out into what is currently a parking area in the laneway off Woolwich Street.
Construction has started and the Storm hopes to move in by March 1.
The Storm is paying for the work.
“Being part of the arena allows us to do more branding. When you step into the arena you really, really know that you’re in the arena and that you’re here for our game,” said Matt Newby, the Storm’s business manager.
The Storm box office will relocate just across the hallway from what is currently the city box office space.
Danna Evans, general manager of culture, tourism and community investment with the city, said that the Guelph Storm is paying for the extension to be built but the city will retain ownership. In return they will not pay rent for a period of time.
“We are still finalizing the details with the Guelph Storm on this, as an addendum to their current agreement with us,” Evans said when asked how long rent will be waived.
Newby said the team did not have to leave its current space on the second floor but that their offices there had become “pretty outdated.”
The team recently built a new team merchandise store on the second floor just outside Gate 5 after they had to leave their old location on the edge of the former food court, which is slated for renovations by the building owner.
“The new space will create a better, different flow into the arena and our games,” Newby said, adding that the bottom rink entrance will likely get much busier now.
City Deputy CAO Colleen Clack told city council recently that the move should help activate what is supposed to be the main entrance to the Sleeman Centre off Woolwich Street.
“We have long identified that an issue with the Sleeman Centre is the entrance off Woolwich Street. It has always felt like the “back hallway” of the facility with no good connectivity to the mall, and with no welcoming feel as you enter the facility from the east side,” Clack said in a letter to council.
Six parking spots beside the rink will be lost as part of the expansion. One handicapped spot will remain.
The city is looking into the possibility of adding more short-term parking in front of the facility.
“This is a huge win for the City as it improves our facility’s ground floor lobby space, better aligns the Guelph Storm and Sleeman Centre box offices, and does not require any funding from the City, either operating or capital,” Clack told council.
