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“We are going to see this accelerate, I predict, given the interest around the table,” Coun. Mairin Loewen said.

Several councillors stressed the downtown facilities represent a long-term plan and no decision on funding or a location is imminent.

Jorgenson cautioned that even the timeline to identify a location is a long one.

“I don’t see that as weeks or even a few months,” he said. “That’s going to take some time.”

SaskTel Centre marked 30 years since its opening earlier this year, while TCU Place marked 50 years. The city-owned facilities commissioned a study that recommended new facilities over continued renovation.

“We’re not starting from scratch here,” Coun. Troy Davies said. Many other cities have replaced aging arenas, so Saskatoon can learn from them, he added.

Davies got support for several motions, including hearing back on a funding approach that would minimize the need to use property taxes to pay for the new facilities.

Loewen pointed out the Saskatoon Public Library is also considering a new central location. Coun. Darren Hill suggested the possibility of including the library in the facility.

“And who knows, if we plan well, we might even get a grocery store,” Coun. Cynthia Block quipped of a much-discussed missing downtown amenity.

Hill said he sees no need for a referendum on the plan, but added he thinks it could be a big issue in the next municipal election in 2020.

Coun. Ann Iwanchuk said she does not want the current council to go down in history as having failed to plan properly for replacement facilities.