The Aud

[jeffster]

What do arenas typically do with the waste heat from the coolers for the rink? Would it be feasible to use that to melt the ice in a pit?

That's exactly what they do -- use the heat from the ice refrigeration equipment.
https://arenaguide.ca/portfolio-item/snow-melt-pit/

That can use heat excess heat from when the ammonia (or another refrigerant -- ammonia is generally used though) is compressed. Basically circulate the water used to cool the compressors (about 94ºF). We actually had a discussion at work about this, and why they don't. Some of the issues they said were maintenance issues (more moving part equals more problems), different rentals require different temperature settings for the ice (for example, figure skaters want ice that is warmer than what a hockey player wants) - so if you're allowing the ice temperatures to increase, there is no load on the compressors, and you have no heat to release. But for sure, if the city really wanted to have a DT arena, they could use whatever method of removing the snow in an ice pit that they want, it'll just cost them more than what they spend now. I think though I'd have bigger concerns regarding the old transit hub. I think if they really wanted it to work, they'd need to at least purchase the property (the old post office) across the street and close off part of Joseph and integrate the entire sports complex into Victoria Park.