The City of Windsor wants to make its birthday and Memorial Cup a party to remember.
The 99th Memorial Cup will be sharing the spotlight with Windsor's 125th birthday this May.
City community and special events coordinator Mike Taylor says plans are in the works to assure both are a success. Taylor briefed the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Associatoin members Monday night.
He says roads will be closed for extended patio's on Ouellette Ave. from Wyandotte St. to Riverside Dr. May 19 - 20.
Club owner and concert promoter Remo Agostino says it will go a long way to attract a crowd.
"The onus will be on us to provide the events, I'm sure there's lots of family stuff going on but as far as the entertainment district, which is what we deal with," says Agostino. "I think it's a great idea to have the roads closed and gives us a little bit of a head start to showcase the city and showcase us."
Taylor says the city is looking at bringing big screen TV's downtown for Friday and Saturday's games.
Several stages for live entertainment are also a possibility.
But some members expressed concerns over the short window of support with Memorial Cup concluding the following weekend. BIA chair Larry Horwitz says the additional resources are welcomed, but should be extended for this event, and others.
"I'm glad the city's coming to the table and going to close the streets and make that a massive party on the first weekend of the memorial cup but that has to be translated to the next weekend and all through the summer months," says Horwitz.
Horwitz and many other BIA members asked Taylor about backing for the remainder of Memorial Cup week and into the following weekend. But, Taylor says any plans after the anniversary weekend would have to be treated as a separate event.