CALGARY – A major new sportsplex in the works for Chestermere is expected to ease some of the pressure on Calgary teams scrambling to book ice and field time at the city’s overburdened facilities.
The multimillion-dollar Chestermere complex is touted as the biggest air-supported structure in North America, standing 10-storeys high, covering 4.9 hectares and housing multiple playing fields.
The Town of Chestermere recently completed negotiations with Armourdome Sportsplex, which will build the multi-sport facility under one big dome.
"We thought this would be a fantastic complement to the existing offerings we’ve got," said Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews.
"The sheer volume of a facility like this is going to make a world of difference when it comes to recreation in the Calgary region."
In Calgary, which has a chronic shortage among various sports facilities, several new arenas are on the books, but none are on the same scale as the new Chestermere development.
Calgary teams are sure to embrace the sportsplex, said Ald. Ray Jones. Chestermere is also likely to welcome the big-city business, he added.
"I think there’s always a need for it," Jones said.
"I think Chestermere is going to need the City of Calgary to make it worthwhile. They have a lot of kids out there, but they don’t have enough to fill it 24 hours a day," he said.
Construction is set to begin once roads to the site in northeast Chestermere are built, said Armourdome president Ron Berreth.
The dome will likely open in the spring.
The massive sportsplex will house four baseball diamonds, four soccer pitches, a CFL-sized football field (which can be converted into a FIFA soccer pitch), 17 golf driving range stalls, a sports bar, restaurant lounge and other amenities.
"The dome is going to be North America’s largest air-supported structure," Berreth said.
He noted they’re already getting calls from sports leagues inquiring about the facility.
"We’ve been contacted by a lot of people that want to have their leagues come out and play year round," he said.
The price tag for the facility is about$9 million, with financing being raised from investors, Berreth said. He added Armourdome has entered into a profit-sharing agreement with the Town of Chestermere.
"They’re giving us the land in exchange for a share of the profit," Berreth said.
Armourdome was approached by Chestermere in the spring, Berreth said.
The group was trying to build the dome just outside of Airdrie. But that plan fell apart, Berreth said, as the Municipal District of Rocky View didn’t want the dome on that site.
rCutHbertson@tHeHerald.Canwest.Com
jkomarnicki@theherald.canwest.com
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