Evraz Place reinvents itself during COVID-19 pandemic

There’s a lot to be glass half-empty about with COVID-19.

At Evraz Place, it’s a glass half-full world, and the future is pouring all kinds of possibilities.

While it’s true the facility had many events cancelled over the last year, Evraz Place has remained steady. Often, it has been downright busy.

“If you look at our financials, at least for this first quarter, they’re probably some of the best months we’ve ever had,” said Tim Reid, the CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), which runs Evraz Place.

It wasn’t completely rosy in 2020. Reid said the organization had an operational loss of about $1.5 million. At the peak, he said it was forced to lay off 82 per cent of staff.

Arena concerts were called off, replaced instead by several drive-in shows from country music artist Brett Kissel.

Fans weren’t allowed to watch at the Brandt Centre, but the WHL set up its East Division hub there where dozens of games have been played.

Major lineups of vehicles have snaked in and around the International Trade Centre as drivers have waited to get their COVID-19 test or vaccine.

The Co-operators Centre was online with six arenas. The Queensbury Convention Centre was converted into a training centre for officers. Mosaic Stadium turned into one giant skating rink with Iceville.

This kind of resiliency has been in Evraz Place’s blood for a long time.

“There’s many businesses that this was their first pandemic — it’s not ours,” said Reid, referring to the Spanish flu of 1918.

“Absolutely, we can climb out of this.”

That demeanor comes from what’s on the horizon for REAL. Reid said it could have a heck of an August if the CFL and Queen City Ex are able to go ahead. Agribition has planned for an in-person event in November.

Also this spring, Reid said construction could get underway on a number of new buildings. A hotel, numerous restaurants, a pub and several family entertainment facilities have reached out to him about setting up shop on the grounds.

“Our big push is to create a district where you don’t just come for a football game or a hockey game or a concert, you come to spend an afternoon with us or an evening with us,” he said.

The push is on to take something that used to be a three- or four-hour experience and make it a daylong event there.

Interest rates are historically low and Reid said with the cost of borrowing money and people’s ability to finance projects, that’s somewhat offsetting the challenges of uncertainty in the economy.

There may still be some question marks with COVID-19 for Reid. Through that mist, it looks brighter than ever.

“We’ve been around for 136 years,” he said. “I have every confidence we’re going to be around for another 136.”