Seating for 1,200 spectators, meeting and storage spaces as well as a multi-use community plaza are among the features in the final design for a proposed fieldhouse that will be the centrepiece of Port Coquitlam's new soccer facility at Gates Park.
The design was unveiled on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the city's committee of council meeting.
The $15-million facility is a partnership between the city, BC Soccer and PoCo Soccer with the province kicking in $9 million.
The two-storey fieldhouse, which is to become BC Soccer's new headquarters, will be built into a berm with a partially covered grandstand integrated into its roof. It includes four change rooms, an expansive atrium that can host events as well as a walk of fame in the corridor.
It will overlook a new synthetic turf field to be built to FIFA's international competition standards.
The team benches will also be covered and there will be an adjacent smaller synthetic turf warmup area along with space to add temporary grandstands to increase spectator capacity.
"This will be a second-to-none experience for people in Port Coquitlam," said Mayor Brad West. "It’s a real investment in the future of a growing community."
"This design will serve as a hub for sports and entertainment, attracting major events to the city that improve our quality of life," added Coun. Steve Darling, PoCo's designate for sport and recreation, in a news release.
When the project was first announced almost two years ago, BC Soccer's Jason Elligott said the organization had been looking for a central facility "for a long time" and "Port Coquitlam was really keen."
He said the facility’s proximity to the city's downtown is also an allure.
The executive director of PoCo Sport Alliance, Ryan Clark, said the soccer hub will go a long way to cementing the city’s growing reputation as a recreation and sporting destination in the region.
He said it will play an important role in developing players, officials and coaches.
According to the partnership agreement, Port Coquitlam teams and athletes will be guaranteed access to the new turf field about 80 per cent of the time across a full year, with the remainder programmed by BC Soccer for events, tournaments and educational activities.
It's also hoped the facility could be used for activities associated to the 2026 FIFA World Cup that's being hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico with several matches to be played at BC Place in Vancouver.
Port Coquitlam is expected to issue a request for proposals to build the new facility by early next year with construction completed in 2025.
- with files from Janis Cleugh and Diane Strandberg
