Regina city council has approved a change to the proposed Brandt–REAL District agreement that would allow Brandt to operate four major facilities that will remain publicly owned.

Council approved the amendment by a vote of 6–4 on August 26.

Under the revised arrangement, Brandt would operate Mosaic Stadium, the Co-operators Centre, the AffinityPlex and Confederation Park. These properties are not among the facilities Brandt proposes to purchase as part of its broader agreement with the City of Regina and Regina Exhibition Association Limited.

Councillors Victoria Flores, David Froh, Shobna Radons and Shanon Zachidniak voted against the amendment.

The decision does not complete the overall transaction. Negotiations were continuing after the vote, with the parties working toward a targeted closing date of September 1.

Why the operating arrangement changed

The original plan called for the facilities excluded from Brandt’s purchase to return to direct city control by the end of 2027.

City administrators warned that separating responsibility for the different facilities across the REAL District could create operational problems. The city could be required to hire employees, address union and staffing matters and coordinate several operators working on the same grounds.

Administration also cautioned that rejecting the proposed operating arrangement could place the broader Brandt transaction at risk. If the deal did not proceed, the city would remain responsible for deferred maintenance and other costs associated with the district.

Allowing Brandt to operate both its acquired properties and the publicly owned facilities could provide more consistent management across the site. However, the change also means a private company would manage important public recreation and sports infrastructure for an extended period.

Agreement could last up to 20 years

The proposed operating term is 10 years, with options for two additional five-year extensions.

Some councillors expressed concern about approving such a significant commitment without having all the details available publicly.

Ward 3 Councillor David Froh said he supported Brandt’s broader vision and recognized that the city has other spending priorities. However, he questioned whether the operating arrangement could be viewed as the privatization of public recreation services and said he was uncomfortable making the decision with limited information and little time.

Ward 8 Councillor Shanon Zachidniak also raised concerns about changes made after council’s closed-door executive committee discussion. She emphasized council’s responsibility to protect assets owned by Regina taxpayers.

Mayor Chad Bachynski described the decision as a choice between continuing with a complicated transaction or potentially returning to the beginning of the process.

What could change for residents?

The City of Regina will continue to own Mosaic Stadium, the Co-operators Centre, the AffinityPlex and Confederation Park.

The immediate change would concern who operates and maintains them.

Bachynski said the agreement should not immediately change what community organizations pay to use the facilities. The city currently establishes rates through its policies and purchases facility time for user groups.

The financial terms governing what the city will pay Brandt were still being negotiated at the time of the vote. City officials said they were seeking protections to ensure future increases are reasonable and connected to inflation or comparable market rates.

For residents, several important questions remain:

• How much will the city pay Brandt to operate the facilities?
• Which party will be responsible for major repairs and deferred maintenance?
• How will increases in operating charges be calculated?
• What standards will Brandt be required to meet?
• What happens if those standards are not met?
• How will affordable access for community and youth organizations be protected?
• What information will be reported publicly each year?

The answers will determine whether the arrangement provides lasting value or simply transfers operational responsibilities while taxpayers continue to carry significant financial risk.

FC Regina raises consultation concerns

FC Regina was among the organizations concerned about the proposed transition.

The soccer organization has a 25-year lease connected to its operation of the AffinityPlex, with approximately 18 years remaining. Executive director T.J. Singh told council the organization had not been properly consulted despite the approaching transition date.

Singh said FC Regina adopted a neutral position after city officials assured the organization that its lease would be honoured. However, he remained critical of the process and said the organization had not received written confirmation explaining how the transition would occur.

The situation raises a broader concern about how organizations with existing agreements will be treated when the management of a public facility changes.

Personal perspective: Public trust requires more than a favourable deal

As someone who has run for Regina city council, I understand that elected officials sometimes face difficult decisions involving incomplete options, financial pressures and tight deadlines. Municipal decisions are rarely as simple as choosing between a clearly good proposal and a clearly bad one.

There may be sound operational and financial reasons for allowing one organization to manage an integrated district. A private operator may bring expertise, investment and efficiencies that the city would struggle to provide on its own.

But efficiency cannot be the only measure of a good municipal agreement.

These facilities were built and maintained with public resources. They support sports organizations, families, young people, community groups and major events. Even when ownership remains public, transferring operational control for as long as 20 years is a major public-policy decision.

Residents should therefore be able to understand the financial commitments, performance requirements, maintenance responsibilities and protections for community access before council makes a long-term commitment.

The concern is not simply whether Brandt is capable of operating the facilities. The deeper question is whether the city has created an agreement that remains accountable to residents over its entire life.

Meaningful consultation also matters. An organization holding a long-term lease should not learn the details of a major operational transition only days before it is expected to occur. Consultation does not mean every stakeholder receives a veto. It means those directly affected receive timely information, an opportunity to raise concerns and clear written answers.

If I were evaluating such an agreement as a member of council, I would want five assurances:

• The complete financial implications are clearly explained to the public.
• User fees remain predictable and affordable.
• Existing leases and community commitments are protected in writing.
• Maintenance and capital responsibilities are assigned without ambiguity.
• The operator is subject to measurable standards and regular public reporting.

Public-private partnerships can serve residents well. But they work best when their terms are transparent, their risks are understood and public accountability remains firmly in place.

Regina residents deserve enough information to determine whether this agreement meets that standard.