Stouffville breaks ground on Ballantrae sports dome

Facility is scheduled to open later this year

Yorkregion.com
May 4, 2023
Simon Martin

Construction on the new Ballantrae Sports Dome at Ballantrae Park is underway. Stouffville and the Ballantrae Sports Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ballantrae Multi-Sport Complex April 26.

Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt and members of council were on-site to celebrate the milestone.

“The Multi-Sport Complex represents a great opportunity for the community, and we are excited to see the positive impact that it will have on the local economy, residents, and sports enthusiasts,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said. “This facility will provide a safe, accessible, and modern space for people of all ages to engage in sports activities and promote a healthy lifestyle even during winter months.”

The new facility will become an indoor hub for sports enthusiasts and organizations offering programming in the area. The structure will consist of two domes and a clubhouse. The first dome is a 125,000 sq. ft. air-supported dome structure, field-lined for multi-sport use for training and competition. The second is a 50,000 sq. ft. indoor court facility designed for court sports of all types. The auxiliary 7,600 sq. ft. clubhouse will connect both domes and house a reception area, boardroom, and offices.

The complex will provide residents with the opportunity to participate in various sports activities, promoting physical activity and community engagement.

The multi-sport complex is expected to open later this year.

The long-term agreement requires the town to commit to providing land to the dome builder for a nominal fee to allow for the design, build and operation of a multi-sport dome for the next 25 years.

The move comes after staff investigated solutions to fill the service level gap after the town sold SoccerCity in 2021. In the end, town staff decided that air-supported structures were the optimal choice because of the low costs in both construction and maintenance when compared to a fixed building.

All operational expenses related to the structure, including maintenance, utilities, staffing, and its surroundings are the sole responsibility of the owner and not the town. Town staff said they were unable to find a suitable location closer to Stouffville for the facility.