Calgary’s soccer fields are only being used a fraction of the bookable time, while cricket field use is almost at capacity.

However, Calgary Minor Soccer Association and some councillors say the quality of the outdoor pitch keeps people from playing organized sports on it.

The information came in the Parks and Open Spaces Community Level Amenity Analysis for 2026, attached to this week’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee Agenda. That document does not get presented at the public meeting.

The document reported that soccer fields in the city were used 15 per cent of booked time. Ball diamonds were used 40 per cent of the time. Cricket pitches, however, were used 93 per cent of the bookable time.

The city said that the findings are based on preliminary observational data, and more investigation is needed to ensure that the data accurately reflects the field use.

“Early discussions with sport organizations have indicated that some booked fields may appear underutilized because they are intentionally left to rest between games or reserved for competition use rather than practices,” the report read.

“These insights suggest there may be opportunities to improve the efficiency and utilization of existing field inventory before pursuing additional field development, while continuing to validate utilization patterns through ongoing engagement with user groups.”

Among the other findings were that 83 Calgary communities have no sports court of any kind, and it suggested that the City of Calgary should determine a minimum service level number, based on local needs.

A third of Calgary parks also have no benches, and there are 155 shade structures across all city parks, with areas like Ward 10 and 11 having two each.

One thing the report noted was that developers often front-end the recreational amenities and then transfer the future maintenance, repairs and renewal costs over to the City of Calgary.

“Parks and Open Spaces does not automatically receive additional operating or renewal funding when these asset transfers happen,” the report reads.  

“Instead, renewal needs are deferred and typically addressed only when assets reach the end of their useful life. This approach has contributed to the growing renewal funding gap.”

Not all playing fields are equal

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said that cricket and pickleball are among the fastest-growing sports in Calgary. There are a lot of dynamics at play with cricket, including perceived historical rights to bookings, league preferences, and the way games are structured.

He said many games are being played at 35 or 50 overs, but the allocation should be for 20, which would shorten the game time, he said.  

Previously, Calgary cricketers said the lack of available pitches in the city could negatively impact the sport’s growth in the city.

Dhaliwal said that when it comes to soccer fields, many in his ward are in poor condition. They’re unplayable for safety reasons.

“They don’t get maintained that well,” he said.

“I remember where my son used to play. That field had numerous crater-like holes, whatever you want to call it. It was so unsafe.”

He said it’s due to an underinvestment in recreational fields in Calgary, and more investment is needed to bring more fields up to good condition.

An emailed statement from the Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA) said they scheduled more than 7,000 outdoor games this year, with 3,500 on 70 Class D fields. They said that’s half the games on the city’s lowest field quality classification.

They said the report notes 474 rectangular fields but doesn’t list them, or whether there are proper goals or field markings, or how many are even maintained for play.

“There’s a misconception that soccer can be played on any open patch of grass. It can’t. Organized soccer requires safe playing surfaces, proper dimensions, equipment, and maintenance,” the CMSA statement read.

“And frankly, we shouldn’t have to apologize for wanting kids to play on better-quality fields. The fact that we’re already playing half our games on the City’s most basic fields should reinforce the need for investment, not be used as an argument against it.”

Mayor Farkas said that there’s a need for more of everything in Calgary right now, given the population growth.

“I’m quite warm to cricket and soccer and other types of low-barrier sports because they’re much more cost-effective. They’re more affordable for younger Calgarians,” he said.

“That’s not to say that we don’t need, say, hockey ice time as well. We need all of the above. No matter what sport you’re interested in as a kid, I want you to be able to have that opportunity here in Calgary to be able to go out and enjoy it affordably.”