How would you rank Calgary’s sporting facilities?
Sport Calgary releases 2014 facility and demands study
Amanda Ducheminsky
Sports Editor
Whether you’re skating at a local hockey arena or sliding into home base at a community’s baseball diamond, you are engaging with Calgary’s sporting facilities. Has there been a time where you or your team were unable to access a Calgary gym, park or arena to practice or play? New research is finding that you’re not the only one.
In late September, Sport Calgary released its Sport Facility & Demand Report stating that “sport is growing in Calgary.” The organization surveyed a variety of people to see if the city was keeping pace with the growing sport facility needs and demands.
The research surveyed local, provincial and technical sport organizations. Calgary Sport also reached out to 130 local facilities and 1,000 Calgarians (half who played sports and half who did not.) Its research found that Calgarians are above the national average for sports participation. Opinions on equitable access to facilities, now and in the long-term, were gauged in the report.
A top concern expressed in the sport community included the need for current Calgary sport facility enhancement and accessibility. Calgarians recognize recent funding given to the city’s sport system, but it’s clear that existing facilities need more help.
Calgary Sport stated in the report that “few sport organizations [in Calgary] have the financial resources to contribute to facility development and enhancement, but many are willing to help out by providing other resources.”
Under half of Calgary’s sporting facilities have limited funding and do not have long-term plans for development.
Participants were also concerned with the costs and commitment expectations of playing sports. The study determined that this concern could affect continued participation growth. The report found that if current sports facilities scheduled more practices or games, people using the spaces would face higher costs. Local sports organizations say spaces are needed to accommodate more practices, training and competition. Others voiced a need for more tournament facilities.
Calgary currently has about 400 sport organizations, with over 85 different activities offered. Calgary Sport estimated 360,000 recorded Calgary sport organization registrations in 2013.
Calgary Sport is the voice of sport in Calgary. It acts as the key implementer of Civic Sport Policy in the city. The report will be used to inform future sport facility initiatives, and include recommendations for Calgary’s 10 Year Strategic Plan for Sport Facility Development and Enhancement.
To learn more about the report visit sportcalgary.ca.
