It was a good day for Rankin Inlet.

The $26-million SA国际影视传媒榥ewSA国际影视传媒� arena SA国际影视传媒� a 950-seat multi-use facility complete with concession stands, volleyball courts, and of course, a hockey rink SA国际影视传媒� was formally dedicated as the Agnico Eagle Arena Oct. 6.

Over 2,000 people attended the dedication ceremony for the state-of-the-art facility, which has become a SA国际影视传媒渇ocal pointSA国际影视传媒� for the community, said Darren Flynn, Rankin InletSA国际影视传媒檚 senior administrative officer.

The hamlet treated all attendees to a barbecue. It also gave out about $30,000 in draw prizes including a Honda ATV, a 65-inch television and a number of $1,000 gift cards.

Flynn said SA国际影视传媒渢he community is rightfully proud of,SA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渜uite excited aboutSA国际影视传媒� the long-awaited and much-anticipated facility.

While the old hockey rink was a seasonal facility, the new arena will be open for about 11 months of the year, aside from when its playing surface is being converted from ice to turf or back again.

SA国际影视传媒淭he nice thing about this building is from mid-October until the beginning of April it is an ice rink,SA国际影视传媒� said Flynn. SA国际影视传媒淥nce that season is over it converts and weSA国际影视传媒檝e got a number of different platforms to use there right now.SA国际影视传媒�

The hamlet recently acquired a volleyball court SA国际影视传媒渟o that large tournaments can be hosted in there,SA国际影视传媒� and artificial turf for summer soccer.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are fortunate we have some really good recreational recreation staff here,SA国际影视传媒� said Flynn. SA国际影视传媒淲e have David Clark, who has been recreation director here for pretty much 15 years, and they do an awesome job trying to meet the needs and expectations of the sporting community.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition, the facility has a much greater seating capacity than the old arena, SA国际影视传媒渟o once we get past all these Covid restrictions, itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to make for quite a gathering place. It also affords itself as an exceptional venue for holding events such as trade shows or conferences.SA国际影视传媒�

The hamlet began looking for a corporate sponsor to buy the naming rights to the arena in 2019. Agnico Eagle Mines acquired the naming rights to the facility and earlier this year, a 10-year/$500,000 sponsorship deal was reached between the company and the hamlet.

SA国际影视传媒淏asically, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a 10-year agreement where AEM will pay the community $50,000 a year, or $500,000 over the 10-year life of the agreement,SA国际影视传媒� explained Flynn.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 huge for Rankin Inlet,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淔or facilities in much larger towns and cities that are getting corporate sponsorship, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know that theySA国际影视传媒檙e getting it at that premium.SA国际影视传媒�

As arenas are SA国际影视传媒渧ery, very expensive to operateSA国际影视传媒� the sponsorship deal will help the hamlet provide more services at lower prices, said Flynn.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the things we do here is we donSA国际影视传媒檛 charge ice time to our minor hockey association,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he result is weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to register kids for $150 a year, the bulk of which is minor hockey insurance, so it gives council a lot of flexibility in being able to help the community be more active and take part in healthy activities, such as hockey, soccer and everything else.SA国际影视传媒�

Future upgrades to the facility are being considered, said Flynn, including a second floor above the existing lobby that could be turned into commercial real estate or an added viewing area.

In addition, hockey season is just around the corner, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e had a crew in, doing the ice plant start-up just these past five days,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淟ast night the recreation department started laying down the first layer of water. So, I expect by the end of the weekend, weSA国际影视传媒檒l probably have most of the ice completed. And towards the end of the month, weSA国际影视传媒檒l kick off officially with a hockey camp.SA国际影视传媒�