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Fight Guy
07-28-2005, 04:30 PM
Facelift for the 'Dome
New name may be Brandt Centre

Veronica Rhodes
The Leader-Post

July 28, 2005

The Regina Exhibition Park Association is expected to announce a facelift and new name for the Agridome today after receiving a roughly $1-million donation.

Sources have told the Leader-Post that Brandt Industries, a Regina-based implement manufacturing and industrial equipment sales company, is making the donation for upgrades to the Agridome at Exhibition Park. The name of the Agridome will be changed to recognize Brandt's generous donation. Sources say the new name will be the Brandt Centre.

Brandt's donation will go towards general upkeep of the building and improvements to the arena.

"It's going to be an extremely good deal for the park," explained a source connected to the park, who asked to remain anonymous.

The source, who is familiar with operations of the building, is also expecting replacement of some of its 5,800 seats and a new four-sided scoreboard with video screens. It wasn't immediately clear how these improvements would be financed.

No one from the Regina Exhibition Park Association would confirm any of the details Wednesday.

The association sent out a media advisory stating that a "monumental announcement regarding the future of the Agridome" would be made this afternoon. When asked about further details earlier in the week, association spokesperson Dan Savoie would only say the announcement was a "really big, big thing".

"It's something that will benefit the city and exhibition park for many years," said Savoie.

He further explained it will benefit all events that take place at the Agridome, including concerts, sporting events and rodeos.

"It's something that Regina has needed for a very long time," he said.

In March, the association commissioned Saunders Evan Architects Inc. to do a cost analysis of upgrading and expanding facilities at the Agridome. Besides looking at the state of the infrastructure of the 28-year-old building, the association asked the firm to look at the number and quality of seats in the arena.

The architects were expected to report back within two months with recommendations.

After that, the association planned to put together a strategy for finding the funding to pay for improvements to the arena.

The Agridome will play host to a number of major events in the coming months, including Buffalo Days events from Aug. 2 to 7 and the annual Canadian International Arabian Horse Show -- the Royal Red -- starting Aug. 22.

The Canadian Western Agribition, including the Canadian Cowboys Association Finals Rodeo will be held at the Agridome Nov. 21 to 26 and preparations are well underway for the Tim Hortons Brier being held March 11 to 19, 2006, at the arena.

Fight Guy
07-28-2005, 05:06 PM
http://www.reginaexhibition.com/brandt/