The original Saskatoon downtown arena, nicknamed The Barn, opened in October 30, 1937 on a site overlooking the river. The building began to show its age in the 1970s but the last hockey game took place February 2, 1988 (a week before SaskPlace opened). Clinkskill Manor, a low income seniors highrise now sits on the former arena site.
In a city projecting another deficit year, it
might seem strange that Mayor Charlie Clark has decided to lay down a mandate
for a new downtown rink.
But Clark has recently declared that a site for
the new arena will need to be chosen before the end of 2019.
The Regina Leader-Post published an article in 2008 with Stu
Rathwell, a franchise partner in the new Regina’s Chili’s Grill and & Bar.
Stu shared that his Saskatoon location would be open by that
year’s end.
His optimism about the Chili’s brand was hopeful; if things
took off as he was hoping, he predicted people could expect to see several more
open across the province.
Fast forward to 2019.
If you happened upon Saskatoon’s Preston Crossing the last
week of February, you may have caught sight of Stu’s dream deflating right before
your eyes.
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