THUNDER BAY — Last May, the private-sector developers of a proposed soccer dome off Golf Links Road predicted it would open as soon as this month. Since then, the situation has changed considerably.
The group has put the project on hold until at least next spring.
Putting a dome over the playing surface is also under review.
"It's not dead, it's just on hold, and we hope for the best," says Carmen Felice, general manager of the Goal Sports Centre II.
Some of the investors in the project have already pulled out because the city intends to build its own covered turf facility at Chapples Park.
Felice said "They didn't want to compete against the city. That was really their biggest concern."
City council voted in August to seek bids from contractors interested in building a municipally-owned facility at Chapples Park. The city expects to produce a short list of qualified bidders in a few weeks.
Felice suggested the future of the project at 1125 Golf Links Road may hinge on whether the cost of the city's facility – currently projected as at least $34 million – ends up being satisfactory to council.
"Who knows what's going to happen...when the tender goes out in November and comes back in December?" Felice said, adding that he believes "that's one of the things" the investors are probably waiting on.
Referring to Goal Sports Centre II, he said "I'm hoping that they still go ahead and do it."
As they wait to see if the city project advances, members of the investment group are now looking at erecting a steel structure instead of a dome.
Felice said he believed that was the way to go from the beginning, partly because domes cost much more to operate in the colder months.
"When it comes to the winter time, it doesn't matter how much insulation you have in them. I would say they are twice as expensive when it comes to heating."
He added that the price of steel has recently come down, and the extra cost would ultimately be recouped by energy savings.
Although a building permit was submitted to the city for the foundation for an air-supported structure back in March, no permit has been issued.
Felice said if the project proceeded as a steel structure, the application would have to be amended, but the dimensions of the building would remain the same, providing a playing area of about 105 feet by 205 feet.
