Bird to design, build, finance construction of Moncton Downtown Centre

Bird Construction has been selected as the preferred proponent to design, build and finance the construction phase of the Moncton Downtown Centre located in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The 250,000-square-foot facility will include a single NHL sized ice surface with more than 9,000 permanent seats and up to 10,000 seats to accommodate other events. The Downtown Centre also includes flex space, a club lounge, private boxes and a multi-use outdoor plaza facility.

Bird expects to achieve financial close in late September and commence construction in the spring of 2016. The new arena is expected to be open by the fall of 2018.

“As a member of the business community in New Brunswick for over 20 years, Bird is proud to be selected to design and build the new downtown centre for the City of Moncton” stated Ian Boyd, Bird’s President and CEO, “When finished, this facility will be a destination attraction and play an integral part in the revitalization of the City’s downtown core.”

The project, to be situated on the site of the former Highfield Square property, has an estimated total cost of $108 million and has been the subject of heated debate in Moncton. The province has commited $21 million in a forgivable loan for the project.

The centre would be the home of the Irving-owned Moncton Wildcats, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team. 

It’s expected the facility will create 713 full-time positions during construction and 49 jobs when it’s open to the public.