“The clubs want to invest in existing fields,
but we want them to invest in new fields
to deal with the backlog,” he said. “It’s the
upfront capital that matters. Money from rent
only covers about 10 to 15 per cent of annual
maintenance.”
lousy weaTheR foR soCCeR
A factor behind many woes in Canada
is, of course, the weather. And Ottawa is
particularly at risk when it comes to soccer,
given the short springs.
“Even by Canadian standards, Ottawa
has a brutal climate for soccer,” Burry
ANELL admitted. Despite best intentions, ultimately
TEF
ES
the weather is the arch nemesis of soccer
lansdowne Park, ottawa
CIO in this city.
FiFa World cup, July 2007
Soccer Canada’s Scott said that when the
B
Y
IGNA
czech republic vs n. Korea
FIFA U-20 World Cup was held in Canada
T
O
PHO
last year, it created a mini-boom in the game’s
popularity. Not only did more players sign on,
the political leadership has been slow to each year. Ottawa is creating about one new but also 4.5 billion worldwide watched, and
catch on, but it takes a conscious effort and field a year, but there is a lot of competition for the 52 matches had an economic impact of
real leadership. And that is happening. I’ve the land. Not only does the city lose revenue $259 million. So he is optimistic.
seen signs of improvement over the last from the initial sale when land goes into “It’s all going to work itself out in the end.
12 months.” private hands, but it loses annual tax revenue. The market will bounce back, it happens
Michalopulos said leadership doesn’t Still, the city has recently purchased two in every marketplace,” he said. “There is a
always have to fall on government’s shoulders. schools – Bay View and Grants – and is likely demand for more soccer, so the market will
The leaders at Eastern Ontario District to retain the green space at each. provide more soccer fields. It’s that simple.
Soccer Association (EODSA) could step up Outside the Greenbelt, much of the land Ottawa and everywhere else in Canada just
a little more, even though their positions are is zoned for agriculture and conversions need to be a little patient.”
voluntary and far from full-time pursuits. don’t come cheaply. A mere improvement If you would like to be involved in the process of
Even so, EODSA, which was formed in on ground drainage and levelling could run developing more soccer fields in Ottawa, the Parks
1996, doesn’t represent every club in the $90,000. The cost to incorporate artificial and Recreation Committee would welcome you. It
region. Only about 15,000 players from the turf runs between $650,000 and $1 million, meets monthly in the Honeywell Room at City Hall.
largest clubs fall under its banner. The rest, said Burry. For more information:
www.ottawa.ca.
about 35,000, are with much smaller clubs.
All have their own philosophies and interests
to pursue. Would having the smaller clubs
join make a difference? Perhaps, but chances
of it happening are small.
Ottawa Director of Parks and Recreation
Aaron Burry said it’s no wonder that the clubs
have diverging interests.
“I wouldn’t say it is confusing to deal
with a number of different clubs. They have
geographical representation and different
interests,” Burry said. “But in the end, there
will always be the perception that we don’t
T
OGRAPHY
have enough fields.”
PHO
VES
CiTy Challenges
GREA
There are a number of challenges facing the
city when it comes to filling the demand. Inside
B
Y
HAR
T
O
the Greenbelt, the space grows more limited
PHO
www.Kickabout.ca
suMMer 2008 << Ottaw
21
sprING/ a
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