New Canlan Multi-Sport Complex in the Works for Chatham-Kent

Canlan Ice Sports Facility in Scarborough, Ontario - Photo from IceSports.com

A multi-sport indoor recreational complex is in the planning stages for Chatham-Kent. A group of private investors from Canlan Ice Sports Corp has been in discussions with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and local groups to explore the possibility of opening a new indoor recreation facility in Chatham.

The group, Canlan Ice Sports, is North America’s leading operator of multi-purpose recreation facilities, owning and managing 24 locations in Canada and the USA. The proposed indoor sporting facility, would be privately funded and operated by Canlan with a focus on soccer; however, it could also be used for football, lacrosse, badminton, tennis, rugby, and other non-ice sports year round.

According to Canlan Director of Partnership Solutions and Real Estate John Knifton, the company has been looking at Chatham-Kent for some time,

“We’ve been looking at the Chatham-Kent market for 8 to 9 months now,” said Knifton. “Typically our company looks to develop sport and recreation facilities in markets where we see a need. Where we see that need are markets that don’t have these types of facilities, or don’t have certain segments of recreation that Canlan is willing to devlop, which in this case is an indoor soccer and multi-sport facility.”

Canlan Ice Sports Corp visited Chatham-Kent last week again to meet with local sports organizations as well as Municipal planners to discuss the possible recreation facility, including a proposed location, which has been tentatively secured off Keil Drive in Chatham.

Although nothing is set in stone, discussions involved a facility featuring multiple indoor fields that could be used in all seasons by sports organizations in Chatham-Kent,

“At this point in time we are performing our market due diligence to be certain there is a demand for our product,” Knifton explained about the next steps in moving this project forward in Chatham-Kent.

“That demand involves speaking to local soccer organizations, teams, and leagues, as well as other sports users. We are in the early to mid-stages of our due diligence. We’re not quite there to make the decision yet, but we’re close. Right now it’s a case of making a business plan with the Municipality and other groups. If our business plan makes sense, and we see the market as viable, then we would proceed.”

Chatham-Kent Manager of Business Development Stuart McFadden, said the Municipality is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a company of Canlan’s calibre to town,

“We are excited to work with Canlan,” said McFadden. “They are the largest private sector owner and operator of sport and recreational facilities in North America. We’re glad they’re looking at Chatham-Kent. They are a very credible company, and we are trying our best to provide them with the required information so they can complete their due diligence.”

Canlan also brings a variety of recreational programming with each facility, operating camps, tournaments, and sports leagues annually from their facilities, which would not only bring in athletes from across Southwestern Ontario, but according to McFadden, would go a long way to achieving some of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s goals,

“Canlan would be an invaluable asset to Chatham-Kent in terms of meeting our goals and objectives to become a more active and healthy community,” explained McFadden.

Although the facility is still in the planning stages, if a decision comes, it will undoubtedly happen in the next few months as the facility would be built this Summer and operational by early Fall.

Canlan Ice Sports Corp is inviting any Chatham-Kent coaches, organizations, or residents who are interested in getting on a waiting list for the facility, or who might have additional questions to contact Chatham-kentsoccer@icesports.com.

To view a similar facility to the one proposed in Chatham-Kent, feel free to visit the Canlan Burnaby 8 Rinks website.