Athletics Alberta

Mar 1, 2023

'Stop driving to Edmonton': Proponents urge city to move forward on multi-sport fieldhouse in Calgary Back to video In its inaugural meeting, the city’s multisport fieldhouse committee heard city officials are discussing with Commonwealth Games counterparts about how such a facility could see the city eventually host those Games. Calgary Herald Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Calgary Herald Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content A first discussion with Games organizers would include “what role a fieldhouse would play,” said Heather Johnson, the city’s  director of recreation. “We’ll be working closely with the Commonwealth Games folks.” ‘We hope this project doesn’t become another thing that Calgary didn’t do’ A fieldhouse would generate up to $21 million in economic benefit from track and field events alone, and create several hundred design and construction jobs, the committee heard. But several presenters said the facility would also be vital in ending a tradition of Calgarians trooping to Edmonton to compete at the city’s three fieldhouses. Article content Article content “Everyone’s still driving to Edmonton . . . competitions, soccer, concerts at Commonwealth (Stadium), Rogers Place — Edmonton has effectively kicked our facilities’ (butt),” said Jason Zaran, chair of the Calgary Multisport Fieldhouse Society. “Let’s stop driving to Edmonton.” Jason Zaran, Chair of the Calgary Multisport Fieldhouse Society, stands near where a new fieldhouse was initially proposed to be built at Foothills Athletic Park. Zaran was photographed on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia Advocates of a new facility say Calgary is the only major city in Canada that doesn’t have an indoor fieldhouse capable of hosting track and field events. The committee heard Edmonton began operating its first such facility, the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, in 1968. Calgary also remains saddled with the CFL’s oldest stadium and one of the NHL’s most senior arenas. “I dare say we have plenty of catching up to do,” said Frano Cavar of the Calgary Construction Association. Advertisement 4 Article content New vision proposes smaller track, building capable of seating between 3,000 to 5,000 people The new committee is replacing the Foothills Athletic Park Redevelopment Assessment Committee, which was disbanded last month. The facility’s use would extend beyond elite athletes to the children’s and amateur realm, with sports such as basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, field hockey and track and field. A 2010 concept for the fieldhouse that would be built at the Foothills Athletic Park included an eight-lane, 400-metre track with infield space for other sports and permanent seating for 500 people, with an expansion option to 10,000. Advertisement 5 Article content The latest vision calls for a shorter 200-metre track that would be more logistically viable and seating of 3,000 to 5,000 people. “The new concept separates the different areas so that soccer can play at the same time that track can play, and it’s making sure that it is competition ready,” said committee chair and Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian. She noted a 200-metre track is the indoor standard for track and field. Fieldhouse would make Calgary ‘the centre for athletics in Alberta,’ says executive director of Athletics Alberta “We want to build something that can host major events when they come to us,” said Mian. The city has already earmarked $109 million in funding for the fieldhouse, including $20 million in the most recent budget. Advertisement 6 Article content “By building a 200-metre indoor track, the city of Calgary is putting itself in the position of attracting a wide variety of local, provincial, national and international events,” said Rosenau. “It will be a one-of-a-kind catalyst for our sport . . . making Calgary the centre for athletics in Alberta.” It’s important the facility be equally accessible to Calgarians by having no entry fees, said Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal . “I just want to make sure it’s for all Calgarians, that it’s affordable and accessible and not just for privileged groups,” he said. There’s a strong need for a comprehensive fieldhouse in a city where minor sports lack equity and at times safety in how it’s played, said Jason Ribiero, a Sports Calgary director. “In some factions of our city, people are playing sports in warehouses and environments I would not consider safe,” he said. A city administration report on the project is scheduled to come back to the committee in June.