Charlie Goeckel used to think wistfully about the possibility an indoor soccer facility when he settled in Penticton in 1955.
“We have been dreaming about it,” he said, “but it finally happened.”
On Saturday, a wide range of dignitaries gathered for the grand opening of the Adidas Sportsplex, a multi-purpose facility that boasts a 55-metre-long (180-foot) artificial soccer pitch, surrounded by a rubberized running track.
Goeckel, a founding member and past president of the Penticton Soccer Club, said the city has come a long way with respect to the facilities it provides for those who play the beautiful game.
“We used to cut our own grass over at Queen‘s Park,” he said to illustrate his point.
Soccer great Bob Lenarduzzi, president of the Vancouver Whitecaps, was also on hand Saturday. He hopes to strengthen ties between his pro club and the amateur ranks around British Columbia.
“Ideally, us having more of a presence here will encourage those elite young players to look over at the sidelines and see a Whitecaps representative and maybe feel like they‘re getting a good look,” said the 53-year-old Lenarduzzi, who suited up for Canada‘s national team 47 times.
“I‘ve been trying to help grow the sport, and this kind of facility, I think, assists in that objective,” he said.
Lenarduzzi said the Sportsplex will level the pitch, skill-wise, between South Okanagan soccer players and their opponents elsewhere who, because of climate or community assets, can already play year-round.
“If you want to get to the highest level, you can‘t be inactive for months at a time,” he explained. “I think this facility will alleviate that disadvantage.”
The Sportsplex, however, is not just for soccer. It has already played host to paintball players, track athletes, model-airplane enthusiasts and flag football teams from Kelowna.
In addition, the indoor running track, made possible by a $250,000 donation from Ironman Canada, is free for the public to use.
It took about a decade to get the soft-sided, Quonset-style facility into game shape. Construction was delayed about eight months, and the Sportsplex opened unofficially in December. Already, it‘s busier than anyone thought it would be.
The building is operated by the South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association and managed by Manuel Borba, who worked tirelessly to get the facility built. The City of Penticton backed a $1.5-million loan for SOYSA, which will be paid back through rental revenues, although the city will retain ownership.
Knowing that Goeckel and his soccer pals had to cut their own grass, the current crop of young footballers definitely appreciate what they have.
Randy Hubber, an 18-year-old from Summerland who plays on the Penticton Pinnacles U-21 squad, which competes in the Pacific Coast Soccer League, said he was “in awe” the first time he entered the Sportsplex.
“They‘ve just done an amazing job,” Hubber said.
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