The city of Kamloops is buying up Crown land for its multi-million-dollar arena despite earlier assurances it would be entirely built on city land.

Plans for the arena have shifted over time and the concept has shrunk because of rising costs, but the land purchase is expected to save money on the project.

Two years ago, city council picked the Kenna Cartwright property in part because it would be cheaper than buying real estate. The plan has changed slightly, but city spokesperson Kristen Rodrigue said construction on the city-owned plot alone was found to be more expensive than buying up Crown real estate and “shifting” the project over.

The city will buy more than one property to make way for the fully built project, but the “key parcel” is next to the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, according to a Sept. 1 staff report.

“This acquisition is expected to proceed without delaying the project and would allow the city to deliver the recommended program that includes three NHL-sized rinks and a mini rink,” the report reads.

It’s not clear how much the land purchases will cost nor precisely how it compares to the cost of building on city-owned land.

The new plan, reducing the fourth ice sheet to a mini rink, is expected to cost a total $168 million, but it could eventually host one more full-size sheet. If that were rolled into the plan now, it would cost $183 million for an outdoor rink and $188 million for indoor, according to the report.

When city council sought voter approval to borrow $125 million for the project in 2024, it had a $140 million budget. What isn’t funded by debt will be covered through reserves, a Thompson-Nicola Regional District contribution and a planned $20 million in donations.