Centre will be ready for Games: CEO
Facility will benefit Manitoba athletes long after closing ceremonies
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/05/2017 (3326 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The new-home smell is unmistakable.
Workers are putting the final touches on Phase 2 of the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre at 145 Pacific Ave. and it’s not a moment too soon.
Space in the newly minted training centre will be used for basketball and volleyball competition during the Canada Games, which are slated to open July 28.
The four-storey construction of Phase 2, which started in October 2015, includes, among other features, a spectacular six-court fieldhouse, a 160-metre running track on the upper level and a high performance training centre.
The bill for this 124,000-square-foot phase is $23 million and complements the first phase, which was an $11-million renovation of an existing 84,000-square-foot building next door that houses Sport Manitoba’s Hall of Fame, a sports medicine clinic and sport performance space. Phase 1 was completed five years ago.
“One of the most unique aspects of it is what it brings together,” said Canada Games host society CEO Jeff Hnatiuk, who led media tours around the facility Friday afternoon.
“When you talk about the administration of sport here in Manitoba, being centralized here, you add in a sport medicine and science aspect of it.
“The fact we have the sport heritage of it represented through the Hall of Fame, the coaching development in one space and now, of course, we’ve added the training components to it. It is very unique.”
The public will also be able to access the workout facilities, with memberships likely to be available for purchase soon after the May long weekend.
Although construction is about one month behind schedule, Hnatiuk didn’t envision any problem being ready for the opening of the Games.
Work crews are expected to be finished later this month, giving way to the first test events by the middle of June.
The downtown location also has a lower-level parking garage, which will be designated mainly for daily use by the public. A large, secure bicycle lockup has also been included.
“Parking overall in this area is a bit of a concern,” Hnatiuk said. “That’s why we included parking as part of the facility.
“We have… about 88 spots, which will be used solely for users of the facility on a day-to-day basis. It won’t be used for staff.”
He said one of the biggest benefits of the facility will be centralizing provincial team programs.
“I think that’s really important for us. It’s important for us as Sport Manitoba to provide the kind of resources here for our athletes in Manitoba that any athlete has across the country,” Hnatiuk said.
mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14