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Letter: Sudbury deserves an indoor artificial turf complex

People would line up at the doors to use such a facility, says St. Ben's teacher, coach
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Giuseppe Politi, a teacher at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School teacher, and soccer coach at Cambrian College, says it's high time the city constructed an in soccer centre. (Cambrian College)

We are going on two full seasons without an indoor soccer centre.

Sadly, I'm already planning a third season on gym floors, starting in November of 2018.

In fact, many users other than soccer — such as football, frisbee, baseball, lacrosse, and other rental groups — have no access to an indoor artificial turf complex.

I keep reading about a $100-million arena/complex, or a $35-million to $50-million library/art gallery, or a $20-million to $30-million French arts building. How about a $5-million full indoor artificial turf complex that people would be lined up at the door to use? Or turf and bubble an existing field in Sudbury for $3 million?

Sudbury already has an arena, libraries, or other locations to house these other projects. Sudbury does not have one artificial turf sports complex for the winter months.

Just a small FYI: it snows a lot in Sudbury and winters are very cold. The outdoor climate for using Sudbury's outdoor turf and grass fields is basically May 1 to Oct. 31. That is, if we are so lucky to get on the artificial turf at James Jerome.

So, for the other six months — November to April — James Jerome turf sits idle. That's poor planning, again. I don't think snow, ice, and winter elements help the turf, do they?

Oh, by the way, try not to waste another $20,000 on a feasibility study to see if Sudbury has the demand for an indoor complex. We had a previous location known as the Sudbury Soccer Centre, which was at capacity during the winter months. The free answer is yes, there is a demand, proven by the previous 15-plus years of an operating soccer centre.

You might ask, how do we compare to other communities? Terribly, if you ask me.
 
Sudbury is 20-plus years behind the rest of urban areas in Ontario. Consider this: Sault Ste. Marie has a population of approximately 75,000 (that's half of Sudbury). North Bay has a population of approximately 50,000 (that's one-third of Sudbury). My contacts there tell me a big announcement is coming soon for the building of an indoor artificial turf complex.

The City of Greater Sudbury has a population of approximately 165,000.

Sudbury has ... wait for it ... nothing.

Sudbury's citizens — players starting from three years old to seniors (male, female, recreational, competitive), parents, coaches, and other sports athletes and enthusiasts — deserve better.

Giuseppe Politi
Greater Sudbury