Capital Plan Item 26, #1158 CN Centre Video Display and Cameras

STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL Community Services 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, B.C., V2L 3V9 DATE: January 8 2016 TO: MAYOR AND COUNCIL FROM: ROB WHITWHAM, GENERAL MANAGER, COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBJECT: Capital Plan item 26, #1158 CN Centre Video Display and Cameras ATTACHMENT(S): None RECOMMENDATIONS: That Capital Plan item 26, CN Centre Video Display and Cameras be approved. PURPOSE: At the December 2, 2015 Budget Meeting of Council, Capital Plan item 26, CN Centre Video Display and Cameras was referred to Administration for a report with further information on the rationale for the project. This report provides further information on the project rationale. POLICY / REGULATORY ANALYSIS: This matter relates to the Sustainable Finance Guidelines. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: The 2016-2018 Corporate Plan, City Government section, includes the goals of Sustainable Infrastructure and Sustainable Fiscal Management. The capital plan item in question relates to the replacement of an aging piece of infrastructure at CN Centre. Fiscal management is an important consideration with respect to the proposed replacement of this infrastructure. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: This capital plan item is included in the funded section of the 2016-2020 Capital Projects Summary, 2016 – 2020 Provisional Financial Plans document. The $390,000 funding for this project is proposed to come from the General Infrastructure Reinvestment Fund. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: The Problem The existing video score clock and camera system was installed in July 2007. The video score clock consists of four full color video displays, four scoreboard displays, and four illuminated advertising panels. There are two permanent cameras installed on ceiling trusses (one camera at each end of the arena), plus two handheld cameras, that provide video to the clock. A computerized control system is used to manage all aspects of the video score clock operation. The video system was state of the art at the time of installation. There are a number of issues with the system, including: The pixels on the clock screens are failing, resulting in black dots appearing on the screens, square sections of the displays that from time to time either do not work or can only show bright blue, and a line of pixels on the right side of each large screen that only show red. The clock screens are losing picture brightness and sharpness. The video processors and video servers associated with the score clock are outdated, resulting in the loss of video feed on an intermittent basis. The LCD monitor on one of the handheld cameras is failing. The battery chargers for both handheld cameras are operating at reduced capacity, resulting in challenges to keep the cameras operating during the course of an event. The score clock completely failed near the start of the 2014 Cougars season, resulting in the video not being available for a Cougars game. Local technicians were not able to resolve the issue, resulting in the need to fly a technician in from out of town. It took a week to get the video system operating again. Similar failures have occurred since the 2014 failure. A system shutdown and re-boot is generally required to get the video score clock operational, usually on short notice prior to the start of the event. The issues noted above are related to age of the current system and the ongoing evolution of the technology resulting in systems that become outdated. Attempts to find replacements for the failing components have not been successful as manufacturers tend to stop producing the components when the technology evolves. In addition, the limitations of the existing system and its poor condition effectively preclude the introduction of any new applications and content. The video score clock “game” functions (goals, timing, and penalty minutes) are performing effectively and will not be replaced. The existing video score clock framework that houses the various components, and the winch system that raises and lowers the clock from the rafters, will be retained. The Users The Prince George Cougars have been the primary user of the video score clock on an ongoing basis. That use involves several exhibition games, 36 regular season games, and playoff games. There are other CN Centre commercial customers who make use of the video score clock. These are customers who require venues like CN Centre and depending on their specific needs, expect to find this capability in the venue. The rates charged to those customers reflect the ability to use the video score clock capability. Conventions, trade shows and consumer shows are examples (Watchtower Convention, RV Show and Sale, Outdoor Adventure Show, Northern Fan Con). Xtreme Ice Racing, Freestyle Motocross, and Monster Trucks are examples of regular commercial entertainment events. The West of the Rockies Rodeo Finals, during part of its tenure in Prince George, is another example of a commercial entertainment event that made use of the video score clock. Large sporting events have made use of the video score clock. The most recent examples are the 2015 Canada Winter Games (Men’s and Women’s hockey) and the Vancouver Canucks Training Camp. The next scheduled large sporting event in CN Centre is the 2017 Telus Cup (National Midget Championship). The video score clock is/has been used during the following local events: PGSS Graduation CNC Convocation 2015 Spirit Game – PGSS and College Heights Vancouver Canucks Games during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final 2010 Vancouver Olympics – Men’s Gold Medal Hockey Game. The score clock (without video) is used constantly during the ice season for minor and recreational hockey. CN Centre Licence Agreement: City of Prince George and Prince George Cougars Hockey Club The term of the Licence Agreement is from August 1, 2008 to July 31, 2018. The agreement describes CN Centre as a sports and entertainment centre that is suitable for hockey games. It further describes the Cougars use and occupancy of CN Centre for the sole purpose of operating a major junior hockey franchise. The agreement says that the Cougars shall have the use of the video score clock. A video score clock is an integral part of Western Hockey League arenas. WHL teams are required to meet video standards for broadcasting from the arenas they operate in. WHL teams also have obligations to local and league sponsors. Those sponsorships generally involve a presence in some fashion on the video score clock. The CN Centre Licence Agreement has a revenue sharing provision between the parties from advertising sales involving the video score clock. The agreement also provides the City with the right to promote other City events on the video score clock, at no cost. The pixel/display problems noted above and the inability to source replacement components means that the video score clock will never operate at the level it did when new. Problems with the existing video score clock system reliability are such that Administration is no longer confident in the ability to maintain the operation of the video score clock on a consistent basis. This is an issue for the City in terms of its obligations to the Cougars from the Licence agreement. It is also a problem for the City in terms of reputation in providing the level of event service generally expected in medium sized venues such as CN Centre. ALTERNATIVES: The alternatives are to: Defer Capital Plan item 26, CN Centre Video Display and Cameras, or Approve Capital Plan item 26, CN Centre Video Display and Cameras SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The obligations under the Licence agreement between the City and the Cougars Hockey Club continue for the remainder of the current WHL season and for the next two WHL seasons. The City is looking to build on the momentum created in 2015 in order to further promote the community and the region. CN Centre plays a role in that effort. Administration recommends approval of Capital Plan item 26, CN Centre Video Display and Cameras. Respectfully submitted: To: Mayor and Council ________________________________ Rob Whitwham General Manager, Community Services .

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