Chestermere council scores a home run with new sportsplex.

October 7, 2009, Chestermere, Ab -. Construction plans are forging ahead on Chestermere’s new multi-million dollar air-supported Sportsplex. The Town of Chestermere began negotiations with the Armourdome Sportsplex group earlier this year in an attempt to bring the one of a kind indoor sports complex, the Armourdome, to town. We are very excited and happy to say that those negotiations have been successful, says Mayor Patricia Matthews.

It’s been a long term plan to create a multi-complex sports facility in Chestermere. The need and desire for a facility of this size have always been there, Matthews said.

“The importance of regular physical activity and exercise to maintain physical and mental health cannot be emphasised enough. Playing sport promotes a feeling of well being in yourself and teaches you how to work as a team. The new sportsplex will serve the growing population of Chestermere and help make the town and region a great place to live, work and raise a family.” says Matthews.

The Chestermere Sportsplex is a new 540,000 square foot facility that will feature a CFL regulation football field, a FIFA regulation soccer pitch as well as four regular soccer pitches, four baseball diamonds, batting cages, a seventeen tee golf driving range, putting green, His N’ Hers training rooms, restaurant, conference facility, meeting rooms, and 120,000 sq feet of retail outlets. All of this will be contained under one enormous air supported structure.

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Where is the sportsplex going to be located?

The proposed location is North of the TransCanada and west of Highway 791 (the High School Road) in an area that is outlined as light industrial but is currently farm fields.

What is this going to cost me as a taxpayer?

This project will not cost the taxpayer of Chestermere anything or put any of us at any risk. This is a privately run, commercial facility and so it will be managed, operated and maintained by the Sportsplex management company. The Town entered into a profit sharing agreement with this company in exchange for a lease on the land. Council sees this as a win-win situation for our residents as well as the surrounding communities.

What will happen to the Recreation Centre we have now?

Council believes this facility will compliment our existing recreational offerings. The Recreation Centre is operated by the CRCA and they are doing a great job providing us with quality sports programs and community programs. They will continue to do so but have the advantage of a commercial facility located close by if required.

Will there be a hotel coming too?

There have been some interest from hoteliers who are investigating the viability of opening in our community. They will have to go through the same process that any commercial enterprise would in our Town and conform to our Municipal Development Plan with it’s architecture requirements. The Town will not be dealing with these commercial inquires but rather the developer of the land in the area will take on that responsibility.

What about the small Town feel?

The Town will not be dropping it’s standards when it comes to maintaining that small town feel. Architectural and design controls are still in place to maintain our character and recreation is an integral part of any small town.

Thanks to Chestermere.ca & Armourdome.ca