Steinbach Minor Hockey is not happy about the city's plan for temporary access to the T.G. Smith Centre while construction continues on Elmdale Street. The city announced Wednesday that players and fans would have to walk to the arenas from Reimer Avenue. Laura Oswald, the President of Steinbach Minor Hockey, says that's not an efficient plan.

"We have hundreds of families that are using a single access to the entire building. And, its not just hockey bags going through; we also have canteen workers who have to haul supplies in for start-up. Besides just the facility itself, I think parking will be an issue and getting people to flow in out of the arena itself will be a problem."

Oswald is also sympathetic to the many hockey parents who also have young children in car seats.

"You look at parents who have tiny children in car seats and they're carrying small infants along with hockey bags, they might be walking blocks just to get their children to the arena."

She says minor hockey season starts September 14th and the Elmdale Street construction is expected to continue well into October so this will be a significant problem for a considerable period of time. Oswald adds Steinbach Minor Hockey was not consulted on this and there's not much they can do now.

"Construction is going so it doesn't look like we have much option at this point. We do have the single access but I'm concerned it's just not enough right now."

The city has indicated that the people will also be able to use the parking lot for the curling club and cinema as an access point to the arenas.

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Arena Access Impeded By Elmdale Construction