Fans of Queen’s Park Stadium have come out swinging against a proposal that would see the field used for pro soccer.
Unimpressed with the information provided at two recent community consultation sessions, 21 residents appeared before city council Monday night to voice concerns about the proposal citing a “glaring” lack of information and a lack of consultation about the proposal, a rushed two-month deadline to make a decision, and financial and community impacts they fear will result from converting the stadium to be used by a pro soccer team.
“I am totally against this proposal. Queen’s Park is probably the best soccer field in the Lower Mainland. It is probably the best baseball field in the Lower Mainland,” said resident Joe McQuade. “When you take that away you are not going to get it back.”
Several residents expressed concern about altering the stadium and the field to accommodate a pro soccer team, as there’s no guarantee it would be successful in the long-term.
Jim Hughes says it’s exciting to think of having pro soccer in New Westminster but it must be done properly. He is concerned about the lack of information being made available at the community meetings.
“It was an information session with very little information,” he said.
If the city wants to offer pro sports in New Westminster, Hughes said the city should take the time and do it right and find the right location.
On July 8, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the City of New Westminster held a press conference to announce they had signed a memorandum of understanding to work toward launching a United Soccer Leagues PRO franchise in New Westminster. The Whitecaps are working to a Sept. 15 deadline from the USL to put in their application, a timeline that would allow the club to launch its first season in March 2015 at Queen’s Park Stadium.
“It is rushed, it is shoved down our throats,” said one resident. “It is not right.”
Sari Glavin said she’s greatly concerned at the haste that a decision is being made and the lack of discussion citizens are able to have about the proposal.
Ron Suffron, president of New West Baseball, said the transparency of the process raises a lot of concerns for residents.
“I’d like to know where the money is coming from,” he said. “I’d like to see a proper business plan from the Whitecaps.”
Colleen Ray said the proposal puts corporate interests ahead of community need and ignores the recommendations of the Queen’s Park master plan, which took 18 months of work and made no mention of pro soccer at the stadium. When there is a void of information being offered bout a proposal, Ray said people would fill that void with misinformation and suspicion.
“How much money is it going to cost?” questioned Paula Bates. “No one can answer.”
If the city spends money on the pro soccer proposal, Bates fears other projects such as replacement of Canada Games Pool will be delayed and kids will lose out.
“To me, that is not fair,” she said.
Several residents said the potential loss of Queen’s Park Stadium for baseball, outdoor movies and May Day would be a “huge loss” for the community. Residents also expressed concern that relocating baseball to another field would then impact users of those fields, such as softball teams.
Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks, culture and recreation, said sites in upper Hume Park and the field south of Queen’s Park Stadium are being reviewed as alternate sites for baseball.
Lisa Spitale, the city’s chief administrative officer, said one of the principles of the Local Government Act is that local governments can not subsidize private businesses, and the city has informed the Whitecaps of that requirement.
Acting Mayor Jonathan Cote said the tight timeline for making a decision is a concern to the city.
“Council is keeping an open mind and is still working to get more information,” he told residents who spoke as delegations at the Aug. 25 council meeting, the first since the proposal was announced.
