City of Calgary Approves Grant

November 25, 2009

Calgary, Alberta  —  The Calgary Soccer Federation and Fields For Life Campaign today announced a grant of $4.5 million from the City of Calgary to ensure Calgarians will have access to urgently needed, high quality sport fields by summer of 2010.  “We are very grateful to have the City’s support for this important initiative that will directly impact the quality of our soccer programs and facilities and the health and quality of life of our community,” says Michael Garland, Chairman of the Federation’s Artificial Turf Committee.

“With the City of Calgary support we will build three artificial turf fields to keep pace with the incredible growth of sport in Calgary.  Currently over 100,000 players, coaches, referees and supporters are involved in soccer alone.  These fields will also be used by those involved in high school athletics, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and many other sports,” says Sharon Evens, Chair of the Fields For Life Campaign, a $13 million campaign to eventually construct five artificial turf fields at the SUBWAY Soccer Centre.

Earlier this year the Calgary soccer community contributed $1 million toward the project in addition to thousands of hours of volunteer time.  “This project represents a great investment in our youth, our health and in our community,” says Evens, who also volunteers as a coach for the Calgary Minor Soccer Association.

The catalyst for the project came in May of 2008 when the Calgary Sport Council released its 10 year strategic plan for sport facility development and enhancement for amateur sport in Calgary.  The report identified soccer as one of the high participation sports for all ages and both genders.  It also identified a major shortage of rectangular fields and facilities for soccer games.

According to Perry Logan, General Manager of the SUBWAY Soccer Centre, the new artificial turf fields will increase the annual capacity for playing time hours on the centre’s existing natural grass fields by 40% and as such are financially sustainable generating sufficient revenue to pay for ongoing lifecycle and maintenance costs.

“Our vision is to position Calgary as a leader in Canada for soccer programs, players and facilities by building on a strong foundation of excellence in the sport, a proven business model and a committed community of players, coaches, officials, parents and volunteers,” says Logan.  The SUBWAY Soccer Centre is the largest indoor soccer facility in North America with 1.5 million visits per year.  The addition of the new artificial turf fields will help ensure Calgary has the facilities required to compete for national and international level tournaments.

Known as the Beautiful Game, soccer is a sport that appeals to people of all ages and cultural and socio economic backgrounds and the only amateur sport where participation from males and females is almost equal (58% of the registrants are male and 42% female).  It is also the only sport in Canada where youth participation is increasing.  Calgary has the second fastest rate of growth in Canada among children age five to 14.

For more information contact:  Perry Logan, General Manager, SUBWAY Soccer Centre at 403-723-9277