Yellowknife (Mar 31/04) - Excitement is brewing in the corridors of City Hall this week with the anticipation that Diavik Diamond Mines is about to fork over major cash towards the completion of the Multiplex Arena.

City council will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at City Hall to discuss an agreement between Diavik and the city that could speed up construction of the arena's second ice surface.

When asked if the Multiplex was going to be the Diavik Diamond-Plex after tomorrow, Mayor Gord Van Tighem had this to say: "I sure hope so."

Other members of council agreed the deal is good news for arena users.

"It's going to be pretty exciting," was all Coun. Wendy Bisaro had to say.

Coun. David McCann said the deal hasn't been signed, but it appears to be a forgone conclusion.

"It's convoluted, but my own take on it is that it's positive," McCann said yesterday.

"It ain't a done deal yet, but we're certainly moving in the right direction."

It's estimated that it will cost about $4 million to construct the second pad.

Last year, the city offered to sell the name of the arena for $500,000. Coun. Blake Lyons said the arena name is not part of the agreement with Diavik, although the mining company will receive some kind of recognition if the deal goes through.

Anticipation of deal

"I think that's only fair," Lyons said.

Kevin Stapleton, president of Facilities for Kids -- a group struck to raise $1 million towards completing the second pad -- said they've slowed down their fundraising efforts in anticipation of this deal.

He said they've raised about $210,000 so far and are now banking on some major support from the diamond company.

"That's what we've been working on for the last three months," said Stapleton.

"It'll be much better than we have hoped for anyway."

Diavik officials could not be reached for comment.