Calgary soccer dome opening ‘major milestone’ amid field shortage

A new inflatable soccer dome, which provides year-round field space for soccer players in Calgary, is now open.

Calgary’s new soccer centre dome is ready for action amid what local soccer associations say is a critical lack of fields.

The mayor and other city officials will hold a grand opening for the dome Friday at noon.

The new air-supported dome will provide a place to play year-round for both competitive and recreational soccer players.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Located at the Calgary Soccer Centre, the City of Calgary said the dome’s turf will be available for public bookings, and complement the existing amenities at facility.

The lines inside on the pitch can accommodate 7-versus-7, 9-versus-9 and 11-versus-11, meaning it can accommodate various ages and skill levels.

The dome’s construction comes amid extremely high demand for soccer fields in the city.

According to the Calgary Minor Soccer Association, soccer is the biggest game in Calgary, due in part to ease of sign up and low equipment barriers.

The association said registration has growing at an unprecedented pace, with record setting numbers each season. It’s now serving more than 31,000 people a year.

“What it will provide for us is an opportunity to accommodate that growth that we’ve had,” said Carlo Bruneau, the association’s executive director.

“In previous years, we’ve had to reduce the games that we play. We’ve had to shorten the game lengths. Our teams typically don’t get a chance to warm up before games.”

Most importantly, Bruneau said the new facility will make sure no kids are turned away.

The Calgary Minor Soccer Association will be one of the main stakeholders utilizing this new dome.

While the association says the dome’s opening is an important milestone, it notes it could already utilize several more - adding more work is needed to bring the city to match national levels.

Booking for the field inside the dome will start Saturday.