The Fort McMurray arena project has caused sticker shock for many people, with a price that is expected to run close to $600 million and a lack of an anchor tenant to offer even some stability and income guarantee, yet the idea is still being pitched as a good one by the ICC. The project involves a complete arena along with a four star hotel and a parkade, While the ICC is firmly behind the idea the project was a tough sell in the local community. Rick Kozuback, the ICC president, argued that the downtown area of Fort McMurray continues to become more empty and barren. An arena could help revitalize the area and bring in new finances and interest. The ICC president and his partners also pushed the point that the arena and associated elements would support the local economy.

In spite of the sticker shock over the estimated $580 million cost of the Fort McMurray arena project the ICC believes that the investment is one that will pay off in time. Residents who showed up at the meeting expressed a great deal of concern over the cost involved. Initially the cost was expected to be a little more than $400 million but this soon shot up to almost $600 million when the parkade was added. This would mean yearly payments of around $14.5 million that the council would be responsible for and expected to pay. When discussing the project Kozuback argued “What is it going to look like in 10 years if we do build this? What is it going to look like in 10 years if we don’t build this? That’s the top question, From our perspective, we think the Western Hockey League is the best option. The next step is to put us in a position to go to a hockey league and say that we’ve got a group, how do we get a franchise? They would push us in the appropriate direction.”