Toronto-based Heathmount Arts & Entertainment unveiled
plans for a $1B "Destination Technodome" indoor theme park
on Tuesday, according to Steven Theobald of the TORONTO
STAR. The "high-tech playground," which will be about 20%
larger than SkyDome, will "strive to bring the great
outdoors under one roof." Heathmount President Abraham
Reichmann: "Obviously it's a big risk but there is a
tremendous upside." Heathmount "expects to attract up to 11
million visitors a year" and create over 17,000 construction
jobs and more than 17,000 permanent jobs, directly and
indirectly. Park attractions will include a 12,500-seat
hockey arena, which can also be used for concerts and other
events; a ski slope with real snow; hang gliding (with a
safety chord); a water course for canoeing and white-water
kayaking; an Olympic-sized swimming and diving pool; a
basketball court; and a pitch and putt golf course which,
using "computer wizardry," will replicate venues around the
world (TORONTO STAR, 4/15). Heathmount execs said that
construction could begin in October, and barring "delays,"
be completed by 2001 (Don Wanagas, TORONTO SUN, 4/15).
OLYMPIC BOOST? Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman said that the
new development "should guarantee" the city the 2008 Summer
Games. Lastman: "The world will want to see it" (TORONTO
SUN, 4/16). The Canadian Olympic Association will
"officially decide" on Friday whether to submit the Toronto
bid for the 2008 Games (Steve Buffery, TORONTO SUN, 4/16).
