May 7, 2014
Winnipeg Youth Score Big with Full-sized Indoor Soccer Complex
– – –More Kids to Have More Opportunities to Pursue their Passion for Soccer
Hundreds of thousands of Winnipeg youth will soon be able to play soccer year-round on a
full-sized indoor soccer pitch thanks to the Manitoba government, the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Soccer Federation teaming-up for a massive expansion of the Garden City Community Centre. The expansion will include a 120,000-sq.-ft. indoor field that can be split into four smaller fields and a fully lit outdoor synthetic turf field.
“I want more kids to have more opportunities to pursue their passion for sports,” said Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief, minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg. “Sport opened many doors for north-enders like Desiree Scott and me. We recognize the role world-class sport facilities play in strengthening our communities and inspiring us to play harder and give our best.”
The estimated cost of the indoor soccer complex and additional outdoor field will be shared by the funding partners, with the Province of Manitoba providing $8.15 million, the City of Winnipeg $7 million, and the Winnipeg Soccer Federation contributing $5.4 million toward the project cost.
“I am proud that the City of Winnipeg is playing a leading role to ensure the indoor soccer recreation complex and artificial turf field becomes a reality for north Winnipeg,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “The popularity of soccer is continuing to grow steadily in Winnipeg, and with this investment we continue to meet the demand of our citizens and provide year-round access to recreational facilities across the city that citizens of all ages can enjoy.”
Construction for the expansion is planned to begin this fall and be completed in time for the 2015 indoor soccer season. The outdoor field will be used as one of the training fields for FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015.
“This exciting partnership is a terrific step in the Winnipeg Soccer Federation’s plans to meet its mandate of providing top quality facilities for the growing participation in soccer and other green-field sports,” said Peter Muir, chair of the Winnipeg Soccer Federation. “We are very excited that the province and city recognize the benefits of fitness and the self confidence that are built through the beautiful game.”
The new indoor facility will complement an existing indoor soccer facility at the Garden City Community Centre as well as two new indoor ice rinks that are currently under construction there.
“The board of directors of Garden City CC have been in support of this initiative, and today welcome this fantastic news,” said Andy Haworth, president, Garden City Community Centre. “We commend the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and the Soccer Federation in their vision related to this project. We look forward to working with all the levels to bring this project to fruition.”
Minister Chief noted today’s announcement builds on previous soccer projects the Manitoba government has funded, like the outdoor turf fields at the Waverley and Wilkes complex as well as Memorial Park in St. Vital, the existing indoor complex at the University of Manitoba and the indoor complex under construction at the University of Winnipeg.
“Manitoba has one of the longest soccer traditions in North America with records of games played as far back as the 1880s. It’s a high-energy game that is exploding in our city,” said Minister Chief. “Building new soccer facilities has put Winnipeg at the forefront of Canada’s host cities for the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015. That means that for many years to come Winnipeg will attract more world-class events like the Women’s International Soccer friendly tomorrow, and hundreds of thousands of Winnipeg youth get the opportunity to see fantastic role models like Desiree in action.”
“The Garden City Community Centre project in Winnipeg, Manitoba, underlines the commitment of Canadians to the continued growth of soccer at all levels,” said Victor Montagliani, president of the Canadian Soccer Association and chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.
- 30 -
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
The Province of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of the Government of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Soccer Federation.
Backgrounder
Artist's Rendering of the New Indoor Soccer Complex - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2014/05/WSF_Soccer_Centre_24x36_02.pdf