01-24-2016, 05:04 PM
(01-24-2016, 03:47 PM)mpd618 Wrote:(01-24-2016, 09:39 AM)Canard Wrote: Even with the huge lot the Aud has, parking is a major, major problem. It would be even worse downtown where there can't be a huge lot for it (or there could be, but people would complain endlessly about "having a parking lot downtown" - horrors!).
I don't think it would be worse. Downtown Kitchener has thousands of parking spaces primarily for weekday office workers, and very little of that is used in the evenings or weekends. It's also easier to reach by modes other than driving, so more people would be able to shift to those.
It wouldn't be the end of the world if more parking capacity were added downtown - but it has a lot fewer impacts if it's part of a building with other uses, especially at ground floor, rather than a surface lot.
Perhaps in the next decade the thoughts on a future replacement athletic and entertainment centre should consider a 15000 seat arena and a new conference centre combined.
As for location I think somewhere in or close to the "downtown" area would be better than the half way to Guelph conference centre the Region uses now and the current highway junction that the Aud currently has. Location certainly should be along and adjacent to the LRT corridor and even stopping inside.