The growth of soccer in Calgary is giving rise to plans for a new indoor, domed pitch in the city’s southeast.
The plan moved ahead this week with the unanimous approval of a land-use redesignation by the Calgary Planning Commission.
The Villains Dome is set to be built on 830 – 59 Ave SE just by the current Calgary Villains FC parking lot and alongside the Birthplace Forest. It will house a full 11 V 11 pitch that can be broken up into smaller fields.
Jeff Marchant, Villains FC director at large, said the dome will benefit the various programs that the Calgary Villains FC operates for various groups, including children, youth and adults, along with other soccer programs and communities. There are currently around 1,500 players involved with the Calgary Villains FC at a variety of levels.
“Our goal is to make sure we’ve got space for everyone who’s interested in it – to the extent we can,” said Marchant, who serves as a liaison between the various partners.
“We’re being told by different groups and communities that there’s a huge demand for space.”
The dome will be used year-round, and add additional capacity and consistent programming for Villains programs.
Calgary Planning Commission members supported the effort to bring new rec facilities online. There are some development permit issues to be worked out, and there was a suggestion that the city examine additional transportation options to the area.
Jessica Karpat, principal of planning at Quantum Place, the group helping the Calgary Villains develop the site, said there’s been “a lot of grassroots funding” behind the project, along with the support of the City of Calgary. She said during the CPC meeting that they believe they can overcome some of the nagging development permit issues to move the project ahead.
She said soccer provides an easily accessible and affordable activity for many kids regardless of their income. This new facility will benefit a variety of youth but said it could impact girls and women, as they tend to leave the sport due to a lack of proper facilities.
“A lot of camaraderie is developed in soccer and a lot of long-lasting friendships,” said Karpat.
“I really think this is a great project. (It’s) really community oriented and it’s pretty fabulous.”
City needs more indoor recreation spots
Right now, there are two primary indoor playing pitches: the Calgary West Soccer Centre, and the multisport bubble at Shouldice Park that opened in October 2022. The City of Calgary operates the Calgary Soccer Centre, which has eight indoor fields. Those are indoor, boarded fields that can be a safety issue, plus they have a different, less-turf-like surface.
The City does have plans to add additional fields in Rocky Ridge this year. They’re also upgrading an outdoor, natural turf field at the Calgary Soccer Centre to artificial turf and planning to cover it with an air-supported dome, similar to the one at Shouldice Park. Other fields are scheduled for construction but are between three and five years away.
A CBC story from earlier this year outlined some of the need for additional indoor soccer space.
Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who also sits on the planning commission, said he was a “massive fan” of getting more indoor recreation space built. He appreciates the private sector stepping up to help.
“We certainly have tried to do our part as the City of Calgary, but we absolutely need private sector partners,” Carra said during Thursday’s meeting.
“You cannot build enough of these domes; it will be packed all the time with soccer players and then other sports looking for similar space.”
While the dome is still making its way through the permitting stage, Marchant is confident that construction can begin in the summer with the goal of opening in the fall. His main concern is that the snow melts in good time.
“October of this year is the plan, if all goes well,” said Marchant.
Marchant believes that this dome could be the beginning of a few other domes being developed by other soccer clubs in Calgary within the next three to four years.
