We're going to have to wait a little longer for the release of the much anticipated private sector report on options for updating the aged city-owned FirstOntario Centre.

The $240,000 study, which has been in the city's hands for several months, will now go before councillors April 5 instead of March 22 as planned.

The debate has been pushed back so Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Glen Norton, director of economic development, can attend the meeting, said John Hertel, director of strategic partnerships and revenue generation, who's now handling the file as part of the city's land development task force.

Eisenberger and Norton are expected to be away on a trade mission to Germany at the time of the original March date. Hertel says both men want to be present when staff finally presents the report laying out costed options for the 30-year-old downtown arena, formerly known as Copps Coliseum.

Council will likely have no appetite for committing itself to an immediate course of action given the city's deepening budget challenges.

But the fact the faded arena was an element in why Hamilton recently lost out on hosting the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup tournament indicates the time has come to seriously discuss its future entertainment and economic development role.

[ FirstOntario Centre key factor in Hamilton Bulldogs' failed Mem Cup bid ]

The report by international venue experts Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects (BBB) includes both a technical analysis of every physical aspect of the centre and spells out two costly makeover options.

One involves turning the lower bowl into a state-of-the-art 8,000-or-so seat facility. The other is a full renovation, elevating the 17,000-seat building to current NHL and other pro league standards.

Though the report remains confidential, the first option is believed to be in the $70-million range while the second clocks in at around $250 million.

Hertel says recommending either option is "premature" at this stage. Instead, staff will look to council for direction to develop a process for next steps. Hertel expects that to include studying what comparable communities have done with their facilities, and seeking feedback from key stakeholders and community members.

That's all well and good and absolutely necessary, of course. But the guy who stickhandled raising the private-sector money to pay for the report also wants to keep the ball rolling.

Local lawyer and consultant Jasper Kujavsky has proposed to staff that his contract be renewed so he can put together a business plan and start assembling private-sector partners to participate in a public-private partnership with the city, regardless of which option council ultimately lands on.

"I have a series of recommendations that I have made to staff that I will make public in front of council when asked questions by council," Kujavsky said.

City manager Chris Murray hired Kujavsky in 2015 on the strength of his unsolicited offer to raise private money to fund the BBB study in return for a $50,000 fee. Kujavsky tapped billionaire Ron Joyce, the Carmen's Group, FirstOntario Credit Union, LIUNA and Fengate Capital for donations.

At the time, both Murray and Eisenberger maintained the report was essential in order to grasp what kind of capital investments are required to either maintain the arena in its current form or undertake major upgrades. BBB reportedly also looked at the feasibility of building a new convention centre in the area.

Kujavsky plainly delivered the goods on the BBB report. But his continuing involvement does raise some potentially problematic optics, given that he's a longtime campaign supporter of Eisenberger and Coun. Terry Whitehead.

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Though Murray approved Kujavsky's original unsolicited offer without the mayor's input, should it be put to tender if a new initiative is in the offing? And how does the city ensure there are no strings attached if private-sector partners do plop big dollars on the table?

Kujavsky is well aware of these issues. He's also keenly aware that what happens next will very much be a political, not a bureaucratic, decision.

- FirstOntario Centre: Face it, it's now a relic