The sale of Dixie Arena had been considered a number of times before a final decision was reached. An offer to purchase the arena was submitted by Kaneff Properties in August 1977, amounting to $650,000, and was quickly turned down by the Board of Directors. On January 21st, 1982, the Board of Directors instructed Gord Stanfield to seek an appraisal from a ‘suitable’ real estate firm for the sale of Dixie Arena. However, by June of 1982, it was decided the time was still not ripe for such a sale.
In 1983, a general discussion took place at the annual meeting to try to determine the highest value and best use for the property. Two years later, at the annual meeting in June the Chairman spoke at length about the offers and prospects for the sale of the property. On August 21st, 1985, the Directors approved a motion to list the property for $1,800,000 and, in October, Frederick Price Real Estate was given the listing.
At a special meeting held on February 18th, 1986, the shareholders accepted an offer of $1.7 million from Harlington Development Limited. The sale became final on June 6th, 1986. On September 24th, 1987, the final shareholders’ meeting was held. The corporation was then officially dissolved.
In late 1987, it was announced that the new owners had leased the arena to a pair of Ottawa area entrepreneurs, Dean and Michael Topolinski. The brothers, both just in their early 20s, had plans to convert Dixie Arena into Canada’s largest non-alcoholic teenage nightclub.
On the night of November 20th, 1987, the doors of the Astralight Night Club swung open to more than 3,500 teens. In all, that first weekend, more than 7,000 patrons jammed into the arena.
In what had been an institution for more than three decades, Dixie Arena suddenly became the focal point of anger and hostility from the area residents. Noise, drugs and rowdy youngsters from the Greater Toronto Area were hardly welcome additions to the community.