The Mapleton Arena eXpansion (MAX) committee is approaching the halfway point in its fundraising efforts.
Last week MAX committee chair Dale Franklin told council the group has raised $110,000 to date for the addition at the PMD Arena.
“I feel we’re on a good course,” Franklin said, adding the committee is “in good shape” to meet its fundraising goal within three years.
Money raised thus far by the committee includes:
– $20,000 from the barbecue car draw last year;
– $25,000 through Farm Credit Canada’s AgriSpirit Fund; and
– $60,000 from the donor recognition program, including $3,000 recently from Pit King for the sponsorship of washrooms.
Franklin explained the committee would like to host another major fundraiser in April, though it would have to be a different format than the barbecue fundraiser, because a car draw may not be possible due to the economic state of the auto industry.
When asked, she said the committee is not currently considering advertising on the rink boards, as has been proposed by the Drayton Icemen Senior ‘A’ hockey club.
“We wanted to go big and get more bang for our buck,” Franklin said, adding she is not ruling out selling ads on the boards in the future.
Public Works Director Larry Lynch said it would be nice if someone could sponsor a new time clock for the arena, as the current one is not in the best shape.
Franklin said she liked the idea, but it presents problems because several sponsors who currently have their names on the clock may have rights to the space “in perpetuity.”
If anything was to be done with the clock, those businesses would have to be consulted, she added.
She said the addition “is shaping up beautifully,” and all the MAX committee members were impressed during a recent tour of the building.
