Sarnia's mayor says many key questions need to be addressed before city council approves the recommended bid for naming rights for the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre (SSEC).
Mike Bradley believes the public should also have its say before a final decision is made.
A staff report coming to Sarnia City Council Monday is recommending the rights be awarded to Progressive Auto Sales for $42,500 a year for ten years. Council is being asked Monday to accept the bid in concept pending negotiation of an agreement to be brought back for final approval.
The only other bid is from the Labourer's International Union of North America (LiUNA) at $40,000 a year for ten years.
An exclusivity request from Progressive asks there be no advertising from competing auto dealers in the building.
"I think we need to explore that more if there are issues related to other car dealerships using the building, and for special events," says Bradley. "I would point to the teddy bear toss, which is sponsored by Lambton Ford. Is that not going to happen because they're the main sponsor? Those questions aren't addressed in the report."
Bradley says Progressive is asking for a suite box and the financial consideration of $12,000 to $15,000 a year is not deducted from their bid. LiUNA would like to use the community box five to six times a year, at no additional cost.
The mayor says he would have liked to see community engagement taken into account in the report.
"I'm more familiar with the labourer's union involvement in the community," he says, noting LiUNA's involvement in the restoration of Kenwick Park. "I'm not as familiar with Progressive and what they've done in the community. I think that's a judgement call."
As for the price, the mayor says based on past experience, the naming right bids should have been higher. Bradley speculates having local group bids instead of national companies may have brought the number down.
RBC held the naming rights at the SSEC at $50,000 for several years and paid $35,000 for a one year extension in 2014.
