Calgary’s Soccer Boom: The Need for More Indoor Turf Facilities
The Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA) is sounding the alarm: the city is in dire need of more indoor turf facilities to keep pace with the sport’s explosive growth. As the CMSA kicks off its winter season this weekend, it reports a staggering year-over-year participation growth rate of 12 percent. This surge has prompted the organization to start the season two weeks earlier than usual, a clear indication of the increasing number of young players eager to hit the field.
A Growing Demand for Soccer
Carlo Bruneau, the executive director of the CMSA, emphasizes the remarkable popularity of soccer in Calgary. "We’re up 120 new teams, again another 12 percent growth year-over-year," he states, highlighting that the enthusiasm for the sport has never been higher. With a population of 1.6 million in the Calgary area and approximately 30,000 kids participating in soccer, Bruneau points out that the city is lagging behind other Canadian cities in terms of indoor facilities. "It’s just not enough," he asserts, referring to the limited number of existing indoor pitches.
Factors Driving Popularity
Several factors are contributing to the surge in soccer participation in Calgary. The success of Canada’s national soccer teams, the rise of Cavalry FC, and the establishment of the Canadian Premier League have all played a role in igniting interest in the sport. Additionally, the anticipation of the upcoming World Cup in North America in two years is further fueling excitement among young athletes. Bruneau notes, "We’re running out of space to play and train, but we want to ensure we can evolve the game and deliver it at a high-quality level."
The Challenge of Limited Facilities
This winter season, the CMSA has scheduled an impressive 6,400 games, but there are only three indoor facilities available to host them: the Shane Homes West Soccer Centre, the Calgary Soccer Centre, and the Shouldice Seasonal Dome, which was introduced in 2022. The Calgary Soccer Centre, while a valuable resource, features hard court surfaces rather than artificial soccer-specific turf. This limitation not only alters gameplay but also increases the risk of injury for young players who may fall on the harder surface.
Bruneau highlights the pressing need for additional indoor playing time, estimating that the CMSA requires around 6,550 extra hours of indoor play. This demand could translate to the need for five or six new facilities to adequately serve the growing community of young soccer players.
Upcoming Developments
In response to the growing demand, the city is taking steps to expand its indoor soccer infrastructure. A new indoor artificial turf pitch and dome is currently under construction at the Calgary Soccer Centre in the southeast, set to open next year. Heather Johnson, the director of recreation and social programs with the City of Calgary, explains that this new facility will triple the booking capacity of the existing field.
While this development is a step in the right direction, Johnson acknowledges that more facilities are needed. Plans are underway for additional field house projects, including the Belmont Field House, which is expected to begin construction in 2025 and be completed by 2027. This facility will feature a full-size FIFA field, significantly enhancing the city’s indoor soccer capacity.
The Bigger Picture
Johnson also mentions a new athletic park planned for the northeast, which will include a field house. However, funding for this project is still uncertain due to rising costs. "Once those three facilities come online, that probably doubles or triples our indoor field capacity," she notes, emphasizing the importance of these investments as Calgary’s population continues to grow.
The CMSA believes that the future of youth soccer in Calgary hinges on the successful completion of these projects and the development of additional facilities. With more than 1,000 soccer teams competing as the indoor season commences, the urgency for expanded infrastructure has never been clearer.
As Calgary’s soccer community continues to flourish, the call for more indoor turf facilities becomes increasingly vital. The city’s commitment to investing in high-quality indoor practice and play spaces will not only support the current generation of young athletes but also lay the groundwork for the future of soccer in Calgary.