Doubling the dome an option mulled by Kelowna soccer crowd

Posted: Monday, October 20, 2014 8:47 pm by Ron Seymour Kelowna Daily Courier
Demand has been so strong at a new indoor soccer dome that a second such facility would be instantly successful, city council heard Monday. But representatives of Kelowna United, the association which built the covered pitch, wouldn't reveal specifics on what plans they may have to double up the dome. The association is considering five or six projects, and hopes to release information on its next venture soon, spokesman Surinder Gosal told council. “We're fairly certain demand would support another facility like this right now,” Gosal said. “We've just had that much interest.” Another Kelowna United representative, Mark Krehel, went a bit further in saying: “If we replicated this in Glenmore, it would be full as well.” The reference to Glenmore as a possible site for a second indoor soccer dome arose from Mayor Walter Gray, who suggested such a facility could be a good anchor for a major recreation complex the city intends to develop in the area. City staffer Don Backmeyer said considerations that would go into the site selection for a possible second dome, from the city's perspective, would include project cost, a funding partner, available land, and whether the proposed site is currently under-served in its recreational amenities. “We'd look at the whole picture as to where the ideal facility might be located,” Backmeyer told council. Councillors were full of praise for Kelowna United for putting the indoor soccer dome in a strong financial and operating position in just its first year of operation. “You two hatched the idea of this and it's been a huge success,” Coun. Gerry Zimmermann told Gosal and Krehel. Expectations were the $1 million dome, which opened last November, would serve 10 different sporting groups that collectively paid about $60,000 in rental fees. But it's been used by 22 groups – three-quarters of them playing sports other than soccer – and rental fees have been $140,000. The Kelowna United soccer association raised the money to build the dome, and the city provided the land. Councillors say the project represents a good example of the city partnering with a community group to deliver a valuable recreational service at minimal cost to taxpayers. The facility is used seven days a week, from 6 am to 11 pm. Along with soccer teams of all ages, it's rented by teams playing football, baseball, lacrosse, and rugby. It's already fully booked for the season, which runs from early October to April. Some teams are requesting three year leases to ensure they have guaranteed access in the future.