With a decision about a pro soccer plan anticipated to be made in less than a week, Monday was game day for friends and foes of the proposal.
About 200 people carried posters and marched from Queen’s Park to city hall on Monday night to rally against a pro soccer proposal being considered for the stadium. Soon after, residents packed a council meeting at the Queensborough Community Centre and shared their thoughts on the proposal that would see the Vancouver Whitecaps bring a United Soccer League pro team to the city starting next spring.
About two-thirds of the speakers supported the application, saying it is a great opportunity for kids, families and local businesses.
Bill Currie, a representative of Friends of Soccer, said Queen’s Park has a long history of use by professional sport teams. He said the 2,000 seats in Queen’s Park Stadium stand empty hundreds of days a year, and the proposal offers a great way to preserve the facility.
“There is no reason for there to be winners and losers,” he said. “It can be a complete win-win for both sides.”
As part of the proposal, the city would create an alternate field for baseball, either in Queen’s or Hume park.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have signed a memorandum of understanding to work toward launching a United Soccer Leagues franchise in New Westminster. They are working to a Sept. 15 application deadline from the league, which would allow the club to launch its first season in March 2015 at Queen’s Park Stadium.
Sapperton resident Barry Walker said it’s important for young players to have the opportunity to play. He said a USL pro franchise would give local kids something to aspire to.
Joe Beck believes it would be an asset for the city.
“It is a city that has grown,” he said. “I think the opportunity to bring this club here is another step in the right direction.”
Many residents are concerned they’ve been unable to get enough information to properly assess the proposal and determine its merits and impacts on the city. No new information was presented Monday night.
While very little financing information has been disclosed about the proposal, West End resident Elmer Rudolph said the alterations proposed to Queen’s Park Stadium would cost several million dollars and several million more dollars would be needed to build a new baseball park for teams currently playing ball on the stadium’s field. He said the city is asking taxpayers to finance this venture without providing information about how much it is going to cost, the financial risks or what the true impacts on Queen’s Park.
“You are saying, ‘trust us,’” he said. “I am sorry, that is just not good enough. Among other things, I need to see are an architectural model of how the park will
ook after these major changes.
Rudolph said the timeline is “completely unrealistic” for making a decision. He asked the city to delay the process.
“What I am opposed to is it being rammed down my throat through some imposed deadline,” he said.
Bob Lenarduzzi, president and CEO of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, said the feasibility study about the proposal hasn’t been completed. He suggested the economic impact and community profile of having a USL team “can only be good” for the city.
Resident Jim Hughes said he hopes the city isn’t going to be “held hostage to a corporate deadline” as more information is needed.
“The numbers are not known. We do not know how much this will cost,” he said. “Council may know, but you haven’t shared that with us. We can’t intelligently debate this until we understand the costs, the impacts. What’s it going to look like?”
Laura Sukorokoff expressed concern that a small group of elite athletes would squeeze out people who use the park on a daily basis. She’s also concerned the proposal may be “too risky” financially for the city.
“My question is, how much is the project going to cost?” said Queen’s Park resident Dayna Mudie. “We are one week away from council making a decision on this project and there has yet to be any sort of business plan or budget for review.”
Mayor Wayne Wright said the city has listened to the public and will continue to get information about the proposal for the next several days to determine if the proposal is possible.
“We are not sitting on the fence,” he said. “We are getting more information.”
Wright said the city would provide residents with information about the proposal when it becomes available.
“This council is working hard on this,” he said. “It is one of the most serious issues we have had.”
Supporters are hopeful the city will get the financial information needed to approve the proposal.
Dr. Robert McCormack, past president of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, is enthusiastic about the opportunity to help the sport of soccer grow and to provide an opportunity to improve health of New Westminster residents by giving them role models that can foster involvement in sport and a healthier community.
As the medical director of the Canadian Olympic team, the New Westminster resident believes the proposal would also be an important part of development of leaders in sports.
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