ROTHENBURGER – City’s share of Cup ‘platform’ is a gift from taxpayers
Sandman Centre.
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
THE MEMORIAL CUP will bring a lot of people to the Tournament Capital. They’ll spend money here. Hockey fans, especially Blazers fans, will have a great time. It will be quite the party.
But then there’s the matter of the $200,000 temporary ‘platform.’ Temporary, as in 10 days before it’s taken down.
It will be used by the TSN sports network, Canadian Hockey League officials, sponsors and team executives.
It must be quite the platform. As reported to City council yesterday, it wasn’t part of the original talks with the CHL about the Kamloops bid to host the Cup. What led to the late request for $200,000 more of taxpayers’ money is fuzzy but there it was, just two months before the puck drops.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I read about the $200,000.00 for a temporary platform that will be built for TSN and CHL officials.
SPARE ME – even paying half hurts.
This money could be used for many other things in our city.
TSN is part of the Bell Media Empire. I cannot believe that they cannot afford to cover the cost of a suddenly needed platform for a better camera angle.
And just where is the platform being built. Will it block anyones better view or take away fan seats.
Filming has happened from the arena before. Was a special $200,000.00 platform built for the Briar.
And to the CHL Officials – this organization still has a lot to answer for with the sexual abuse cover up. In my mind. they should sit outside the arena.