Yukon News story from November 20, 2001, page 5.
© Yukon News 2002, posted with permission.

By Juliann Fraser
News Reporter

The Edmonton firm hired to design the rest of the 2007 Canada Winter Games’ multiplex has plenty of experience. Barr Ryder has built four multi-use sports complexes and has six others in production, including one in Yellowknife. Stephen Barr, the chief architect for the local multiplex’s second and third phases, said his goals will include meeting Canada Games requirements while creating a family recreation centre that will be around 40 years from now.

Only about 30 per cent of any given population is involved in organized sports, said Barr.

Attracting the other 70 per cent, so the facility will keep bringing in revenues long after the Games, is the goal, he said. “The entire facility is driven on trying to have the whole family there,” said Barr.

Barr showed about 40 people during a public presentation and discussion forum at the Beringia Centre on Tuesday night some of the bells and whistles that drew people to his firm’s sports-plexes in Alberta. Its TransAlta Tri-Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove best compares to what will be built here, he said.

The $32-million complex (that price includes an aquatic centre) includes twin ice arenas, twin soccer fields (one is a ‘flexihall’ suitable for badminton and volleyball), a track for jogging and large lobbies and concessions for socializing.

Spruce Grove expected 2,500 memberships at its TransAlta facility but now has more than 4,000, said Barr.

“The thing that’s successful about the facility” is that there is so much to do and so many people to chat with there, that folks find it difficult to leave.

The likelihood of our multiplex becoming a social hub is greater here because of the city’s small size, he added. But despite the great scope of the facility, Barr said it would not compete directly with existing arenas and fitness clubs. Takhini Arena, for example, seats 1,500, whereas the ice rinks in the new facility will seat a maximum 750 spectators. “My task is not to build a spectator arena; it’s to build an events arena,” Barr told one resident, who complained he wanted more spectator room at hockey games.

Spectator space at soccer games will also be minimal — there will be room for about 200 people to stand overlooking the track. The fitness clubs, after a big multi-use facility comes to town, usually don’t lose business but end up servicing a more specialized sector of athletes, said Barr.

He claimed TransAlta brings in another 200 people every day who “don’t need to be there,” but come to socialize. Part of its success is the vast lounging areas where people linger after a workout or swim and enjoy a coffee or meal. TransAlta’s Booster Juice franchise is one of the facility’s most profitable aspects, said Barr.

“It’s chewed up fruit and grass for $4.50 a glass.” Some of Barr Ryder’s other complexes include franchise coffee shops. Mitch Moroziuk, the city’s director of operations, said leasing space to private businesses is something city council would consider. The city will also keep in mind the possibility of funding partnerships with user groups with special interests, such as physiotherapists, said Moroziuk.

Soccer, however, is the only user group so far talking openly about contributing funds to the facility.

The association conducted its own feasibility study last year that estimates a twin soccer centre would cost over $4 million. Doug Hitch, executive director of the Whitehorse Minor Soccer Association, said his group is considering borrowing money to cover the cost of building the additional indoor soccer field. Barr said Tuesday soccer and gymnastics groups in other cities commonly did this.

Based on 1999 guidelines the city agreed to with the Canada Games Council, the multiplex only requires two ice surfaces and a ‘flexihall’ to accommodate badminton and volleyball, which will be played at the 2007 Games.

Soccer will not be played, so there is no requirement that anything in the multiplex be suitable for that sport. But Hitch has long maintained the growing popularity of soccer in this city — and across Canada — more than justifies the inclusion of two soccer fields.

“It looks like there will be something for soccer in it, but that’s not going to be good enough,” said Hitch.

The WMSA met with Barr and his team, which includes Kobayashi and Zedda Designs, a local architectural firm, in late October. Barr strongly hinted Tuesday that Whitehorse must support soccer if the multiplex is to be profitable.

“Soccer makes money because they’re prepared to pay $100 an hour” to rent space, he said.

It’s tough to get that from a hockey team, because parents feel they pay too much for their kids’ equipment, he added. Displaying a slide of TransAlta’s flexihall or field house, Barr pointed to the portable basketball nets and variety of sports being played there at one time.

He warned that with just one of these gyms, no one would ever get a chance to play basketball.

“As you look through the bookings, soccer will have it booked and beyond.”

In his experience, soccer usually brings in the most money, while swimming is the most subsidized component, costing about $250,000 a year, said Barr.

At a meeting with Barr the night before, representatives of other local user groups had expressed their concerns about soccer dominating the multiplex.

But Barr insisted he and his team would not make any decisions about what will be included until they have consulted with local residents and interest groups, including First Nations. During an interview at the office of Kobayashi and Zedda on Tuesday, Barr said he wants to be aware of all potential uses for the facility now, including arctic sports.

A draft design should be ready by January, when Barr Ryder will go back to the public for more feedback.

At that time, user groups can make their cases for changes and funding proposals.

Moroziuk said he’s not worried that too many user groups will want add-ons to the multiplex.

He said there’s enough room at the Mount McIntyre site for two soccer centres.

The lot behind the new aquatic centre will also include parking for 600.

Some residents expressed fears that it would be difficult to reach the facility by bus, but Barr assured them that public transit access would be a priority in his design.

At the end of his slide presentation, he told the audience that they should be excited about what’s coming.

He warned, however, that $20 million can’t buy everything for everyone. “Not all of the same things will show up in your facility but we want to see the same spirit,” he said.

Posted November 25, 2002
D. Hitch