The City of Greater Sudbury is moving ahead with plans for a new arena project, despite concerns from construction companies about a potential conflict of interest involving one of the bidders.

In February, as part of an addendum to a Request for Proposal (RFP) package for a new, $100 million arena, the city published a list of 40 questions–  and answers–  to clear the air of any concerns bidders may have about the process. 

Some of those concerns raised in the list involve Sudbury-based contractor TESC, which is heavily involved with private developments surrounding the arena’s site, and whose CEO, Dario Zulich, first sold the city on his vision for an entertainment district in the city’s east end in 2017.

“This is an unfair requirement to be evaluated given one of the proponents responding to this bid solicitation is the developer of the casino and hotel and has the ability to influence his/her design to compliment the facilities,” reads one of the questions.

Zulich, whose plan for the KED includes a hotel and casino –  is also owner of the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, who will be the arena’s anchor tenant.

Bidders PCL and Ellis Don, the other two companies on the shortlist, also raised questions about the project’s design integration with a casino and hotel, both private investments with builders who are not obliged to follow the city’s timelines for the construction of a new arena.

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