Yellowknife (Mar 19/03) - C.B. (Shorty) Brown is leading the pack as the most popular suggestion for Yellowknife's new arena.

Only one-in-five voters in the special Yellowknifer poll believes the city should sell the name to a corporate sponsor.

Top 5 names 1) C.B. (Shorty) Brown 2) Elaine Whitford 3) Pat McMahon 4) Wade/Ter Hamer 5) Akaitcho/T'so tine (Entry deadline is 5 p.m., March 24)

You have until 5 p.m., Monday, to register your vote.

Close behind Shorty Brown are Elaine Whitford and former mayor Pat McMahon as choices.

Among the long list of other choices are: Miramar Con-Dome, the Polar Dome, and the "About time it's finished arena."

Votes also came in asking for a first nations name such as "Akaitcho Territory Sportsplex," and "T'so tine Regional Sports Centre."

"There was enough money spent on it, so the less the taxpayers pay, the better," is Jackie Hardy's reason for selling the name.

"Good luck to the City of Yellowknife in finding a company willing to fork over that kind of money," says Ellen Tees.

The city hopes to raise $500,000 by selling the name.

"I believe the arena should be named after Shorty Brown, who supplied untold numbers of kids in Northwest Territories and Nunavut with skates and hockey equipment," Victor McLeod says.

"While I applaud the efforts of such people as Shorty Brown and Elaine Whitford, I would rather see a corporation name the building for one reason only: The money for the name would be going towards completion of the second pad of this complex," says an e-mail from "the Johnsons."

"I would not be disappointed if they kept the old name: Gerry Murphy," says Cindy McLean.

"Since the (old arena) is being torn down, what now happens to the dedication to that man?" she asked.