Muskeg Lake Eyes Pro Hockey in Saskatoon Arena District

Saskatoon city council has unanimously approved exploratory talks with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation to partner on a proposed $1.2-billion downtown arena district. Chief Kelly Wolfe expressed ambitions for the district, including the potential for a professional hockey team, a long-held aspiration for the city. Muskeg Lake has a significant economic footprint in Saskatoon, operating 60 businesses on urban reserves with an estimated net worth exceeding $100 million.

The ambitious project envisions the arena district as a major development, with a funding model proposed to divide costs equally among the province, federal government, and the city. Muskeg Lake's ability to leverage federal funding is a key aspect of their financial plan. While preliminary, the First Nation is also reportedly in discussions with an experienced development partner for a project of this scale.

The chosen site is the parking lot north of Midtown Plaza and TCU Place. This location was previously considered for a First Nations casino, a proposal rejected by voters in 2003. The district would also include an updated and expanded TCU Place convention centre, with a city report suggesting the site could potentially be converted into an urban reserve operated by Muskeg Lake.

Despite some councillors expressing initial reservations about the process and public consultation, the motion to proceed with discussions was passed. Mayor Cynthia Block emphasized that exploring this partnership is a step forward in reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples.