Things at Evraz Place are starting to get back to normal.
Tim Reid, the CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited, says the turf is going back in at the AffinityPlex for soccer, the ice is back in all of the rinks at the Co-operators Centre for hockey and promoters are booking dates again for future shows.
“It’s actually kind of nice to see people coming back to the campus and even though there’s lots of new precautions and safety precautions, we’re getting back into the swing of things, which is healthy,” Reid, whose organization oversees the operation of Evraz Place, said this week on the Greg Morgan Morning Show.
Evraz Place essentially closed down because of COVID-19, forcing the cancellation of shows and events at most of the buildings on the site.
The Queen City Ex, Canada’s Farm Show, football games at Mosaic Stadium and shows at the Brandt Centre were among the events that were cancelled due to the virus.
Now, however, people are booking the facilities at the site – although everything is tentative.
“Everybody is trying to be patient and understand what it means,” Reid said. “On a weekly basis, we’re taking holds at the Brandt Centre (and) we’re taking holds at Mosaic Stadium.
“It is encouraging that the entertainment industry wants to come back to Saskatchewan. Nobody really wants to go on sale until we get some clarity on how this pandemic unfolds and, frankly, when we find a vaccine and when the public is comfortable coming back to events.”
Nothing has been announced, but Reid said the booking process is the same as it always is: A promoter puts a hold on a venue and says they want to stage an event on a particular date.
“Whether they announce it or not might be determined by the level of health risk,” Reid said. “But certainly the entertainment industry is active and they want to come back to the province.”