Markham City Council went into the wee hours of the morning, listened to as many as a reported 80 members of the public, but ultimately voted to continue plans to build a 20,000-seat arena.
The motion to stop financial framework for $325 million in funding for the arena didn’t pass; it lost by a narrow vote of 7-6.
The actual vote did not take place until 2:46 a.m. ET, according to a tweet from TSN writer Michael Gallo.
The council meeting was, naturally, a major issue on Twitter, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area.
Graeme Roustan's Markham arena plan survives by a 7-6 margin. City council plans to borrow $325-million to build a rink with no NHL team.
— . (@dshoalts) January 30, 2013
Former NHL Players’ Association executive director Paul Kelly was present at the meeting, and spoke in favor of the proposed NHL-caliber arena. And so continues the prospect that the GTA could get a second NHL team.
“I’ve discussed it with many owners, the commissioner and many players,” Kelly told CBC’s Elliotte Friedman following the presentation. “That’s given me a strong sense that at some point there will be a second team [in the greater Toronto area].”
Kelly added: “When I went through it with the NHL, I was told the Maple Leafs would be entitled to financial compensation - maybe over a number of years - but would have no right to block a team.”