A SPORTING CHANCE FOR TOURISM
Miller backs potential bid for 2015 Pan Am Games
JENNIFER LEWINGTON
April 2, 2008
An Ontario bid for the 2015 Pan American Games, with events across the Golden Horseshoe, would be "very good" for Toronto, Mayor David Miller said yesterday.
He made his comments after Premier Dalton McGuinty again signalled the province's interest in a bid next year for the amateur games.
"We think it's worth taking a good look at," the Premier said yesterday at Queen's Park. "We haven't seen details but ... it's something we should closely examine."
Mr. McGuinty said the event would help put Toronto and surrounding region on the map, adding he would like to "chat with the feds" about infrastructure funding to leave a sports legacy for communities.
Government-sponsored events such as the Games are often seen as a way to boost tourism. But private investors can play a large role in sporting events, as well as cultural events and other attractions. Last week, for example, Toronto was named as one of the host cities for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, a commercial venture of Major League Baseball.
"The future is about how to do both better," said Ontario MPP Greg Sorbara, the influential former finance minister tapped to spur the global competitiveness of the province's $20-billion tourism industry.
Beyond his personal passion for the game, Mr. Sorbara said, the World Baseball Classic is "the kind of activity we want to encourage and promote."
Though private-sector driven, the event would also derive benefits for the region through government tourism marketing. "Most of this stuff is driven by the private sector, even when the public sector has a catalytic role to play," he said.
Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey led the charge to bring first-round play in the World Baseball Classic here next March. He sees "massive untapped potential" for other new attractions that blend public and private dollars.
"To keep Toronto fresh, alive and vibrant, you have to have a number of events going on all the time," he said. "We are missing some."
The former Metro Toronto chairman, still a go-to figure in the political life of the city, dreams of a National Football League franchise here and backs efforts to revive the Grand Prix auto race next year.
"Government is not going to bring in the car race; it is a commercial enterprise," he said. "Government is not going to build an aquarium and government is not going to bring in an NFL team."
Figuring out the right mix of public and private investment is a key issue for Mr. Sorbara. "If we are successful here," he said of his study, which is due next March, "the public sector will act as a stimulus and we will see a new generation of private sector investment."
One example of a public-private venture is the $62.9-million soccer stadium at Exhibition Place, built with federal, provincial and city government dollars along with money from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, for the 2007 FIFA under-20 World Cup soccer tournament.
BMO Field is city-owned but managed by MLSE. In the first eight months of operations in 2007, the stadium generated $900,000 in profits, split 50-50 between the city and MLSE.
Richard Peddie, president of MLSE, is interested in future shared ventures. "We can really help in that area," he said.
The company has invested $450-million in Maple Leaf Square, under construction, with a boutique hotel, sports store and sports bar set to open in 2010.
He says MLSE has ambitious plans to play host to one big sports event almost every year. He hopes the city and province will back bids to land an NBA all-star game (possibly in 2011) or the world junior hockey championships in 2012.
"In each case, these are not money-makers," he said. "We will request government help."
He added that U.S. cities "really step up" financially for such events because of the payback: hotels filled with out-of-town tourists with money to spend and a media spotlight on the city.
