Aurora considers buying sports dome

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 19, 2014
By Brea Bartholet

Future ownership of the Aurora Sports Dome on Industrial Parkway North is still up in the air.

Discussions regarding a potential partnership between the town and Aurora Youth Soccer Club have been ongoing for more than a year now, with no apparent decision on the matter in sight.

The partnership would allow the town to take full ownership of the dome facility, owned by Mike Redvers.

The club would take responsibility for the facility’s operation and maintenance, as it is and would continue to be the main user of the space.

Five months of the year, the town has access to the dome for community use, which will remain unchanged if a partnership is struck, parks and recreation director Al Downey said at a meeting Tuesday night.

Councillors raised risks and liability costs as concerns.

Liability would be the club’s responsibility, Mr. Downey explained.

The town would incur no operational cost and the club would ensure a reserve fund is in place for maintenance.

Mr. Downey made it clear he would need direction from council as to how discussions between the town and club should proceed.

Council has yet to express interest in purchasing the dome and until a decision has been made, no formal agreement can move forward.

However, there are few numbers on which to base a decision, some councillors said.

Council needs assurance of what the costs are that those costs will not increase, Councillor Chris Ballard said.

More detailed reports will be prepared in coming months as long as council expresses its continued interest in the entire concept, Mr. Downey said.

Councillor Paul Pirri asked how much longer the dome can be used until it would need to be replaced.

The dome has a life cycle of about 25 years, Mr. Downey said, adding there are about 15 years left on the facility.

However, there is some debate about the facility’s lifespan.

“I would have liked to have been given the chance to speak today, because there is still so much that council doesn’t know about the partnership,” soccer club president Spencer Kanen said. “For example, the life span of one of those domes can actually exceed 30 years, if taken care of properly.”

Councillors agreed Mr. Kanen would have time to speak during a delegation period at a future meeting, once more information about the potential agreement had been collected.

The meeting was a step in the right direction, Mr. Kanen said.

“We’re moving forward, very slowly, but it’s getting somewhere a little more positive now,” he said. “This partnership would not only benefit us and the town, but the entire community as well. It would keep registration fees down for our members and allow for the dome to continue its success.”

Council gave staff the authority to explore ownership of the dome and hire a consultant to inspect and prepare a report on its condition.

The consultant would cost $5,000, which can be covered through the town budget allowance, Mr. Downey said.

There is no timeline as to when the reports will come before council.

Built in 2005 by the Redvers family, the dome has served as the main hub for the soccer club and multiple other sports organizations during colder months.