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Lack of facilities strangling soccer’s growth
by Chuck Tobin
Whitehorse Star, November 6, 2001, page 4.

Building an indoor soccer facility for Whitehorse would benefit the entire community, not just indoor soccer facilities, city council heard last night.
Brian Gillen is the president of the Whitehorse Minor Soccer Association. He told council that not only is the growth of indoor soccer being choked by a lack of acceptable facilities, but that other organizations are being affected by the huge demand on school gyms.
Having an indoor soccer facility ñ at a proposed size of two Takhini Arena ice surfaces, and an estimated cost of up to $5 million ñ would alleviate demand for indoor facilities across the board, Gillen said.
It would also encourage a further increase in participation for what is already the fastest-growing sport in the Yukon.
The second of a two-part analysis commissioned by the soccer community shows itís not possible to find any more room to accommodate further growth in indoor soccer, he said. (Part two of the assessment is set for release soon.)
Itís also evident in the assessment that the vast majority of indoor soccer players are younger, with indoor participation shrinking as the players get older.
ìThose numbers would increase if we had a facility more conducive to adult and older players,î Gillen told council.
Currently before council is a motion to have the city finance the construction of an indoor facility. The motion was moved by long-time soccer supporter, Coun. Dave Stockdale, and is scheduled to be debated by council next Tuesday evening.
As Gillen made his 15-minute pitch to council, some 60 soccer players and their parents filled council chambers to capacity.
Coun. Duke Connelly asked Gillen if he thought taxpayers of the community would support having their taxes increased by as much as seven per cent a year to finance the construction of an indoor facility.
For every one-per-cent increase in taxes, the councillor pointed out, the city brings in approximately $150,000. Financing the construction would require something in the order of a seven-per-cent increase per year over several years, he said.
Gillen said he recognized there would have to be a capital commitment, as well as an ongoing commitment for annual operating and maintenance costs.
But he also pointed out that while the flexihall proposed as part of the multiplex will not be large enough to suit the needs of the indoor soccer community, having a larger indoor soccer facility could fulfill all the needs anticipated for the flexihall.
Gillen said he believes federal Sports Minister Denis Coderre will deliver the $20-million commitment Whitehorse needs before it tackles hosting the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
The Canada Games sports of basketball, badminton and gymnastics could be handled by an indoor soccer facility, he said.
ìI would suggest that all the plans for the 2007 flexihall could be covered off in an indoor facility,î he said.
And, in his motion of Oct. 22, Stockdale maintains there is a demonstrated need and benefit for an indoor facility. He also notes ì ... the city has built facilities for other recreational groups and is planning to so so in the future....î
Gillen said an indoor facility would not alleviate the soccer communityís need for school gymnasium time, but would reduce it significantly, freeing up time for other organizations with gymnasium needs.
ìGroups like Cubs and Scouts are currently using basements and mezzanines; they would love to be back in large gyms,î he said.
Gillen said the indoor soccer facility has the existing support of other community organizations with indoor recreational demands, like the local rock-climbing club and the ultimate Frisbee organization.
Included in the phase-two report are options for the construction of a one-pitch, two-pitch or three-pitch facility. The preferred option is a stand-alone two-pitch facility.
A two-pitch facility with a running track is priced out in the report at about $5.1 million, including engineering and design cost, while a one-pitch facility added onto the Takhini Arena is estimated at $3.2 million.
The report discusses the merits of 11 locations, with the preferred sites being an area next to F.H. Collins Secondary School or the Takhini Arena.
The multiplex site, says the report, is unsuitable, as there would be no room if the city follows through with its plan to build two new skating rinks there.
A schedule proposed in the report said it would be realistic to have the facility operational by Oct. 1, 2003, if funding is secured this year, and construction were to begin next August.