The Colosseum needs to be renovated or replaced, said Weyburn City Councillor Ray Hamm to an assembled crowd at the Legion Hall on Monday evening.

Hamm told the crowd of approximately 60 people that there is major frost heaving damage to the concrete floor at ice level. The Colosseum also needs a safety equipment upgrade to meet new provincial and federal government guidelines.

"Weyburn will likely host the Canadian Mixed Curling Championships in 2001," said Hamm. "The existing ice surface and ice plant will not hold good ice for longer events like this."

To deal with this immediate problem the assembled public was asked to consider three options.

First: bring the building up to code, with no other renovations.

Second: completely renovate the Colosseum.

Third: construct a new building with modern amenities.

A renovated building would cost approximately $5.9 million and would include an expanded lobby area on the north side of the Colosseum. A new Colosseum would cost $7.3 million and would likely be built to the west of the Weyburn Sports Arena.

City of Weyburn controller Stan Runne then explained the city treasury is not able to spend the funds needed for a new building within the existing capital budget.

"The city is now debt-free, except for internal loans," said Runne. "If we want to stay debt-free, then we should phase in the costs over a period of time. Unless a large grant becomes available then renovating the Colosseum is the most likely option."

Demographic considerations are also a part of this debate. The facilities committee has to consider what the Weyburn's facility needs will be in future generations.

"If the building is for the future, then usage projections are not clear," said Hamm. "We need to ask if future generations will make use of the facilities we have."

The meeting broke into small groups to consider whether the renovation or new building plans met the needs of the community.

Two groups felt a new building should be built.

"The big question is financing," said Dale Ruckaber. "Where is the money going to come from? I can't afford tax increases."

"By the time you phase everything in, the renovation will cost more than a new building would, " said Ruckaber in spite of his tax concerns.

"I think we need a new facility that can handle various events," said Jim Onstad. "A new facility will do something for the community and only costs approximately $1 million more."

Four groups sided with the more cost-effective solution and argued the Colosseum should be renovated.

"In a perfect world, we would like a new building," said Weyburn Red Wings business manager Pat Maloney. "Realistically, I don't know if we can afford it. I'm not sure if the Red Wing franchise could withstand a move to another arena during a renovation," said Maloney. "It would be devastating for our season ticket base to have to relocate the franchise for either a part of or the whole season."

The focus group reports will now be considered by the facilities committee for further study.