Ottawa, Province Contribute $12-Million to Saint John Field House Project
Last month, Bill MacMackin addressed more than 100 athletes gathered to compete in the Rockwood Park Triathlon, which was part of the larger East Coast Games taking place in Saint John that weekend.
He spoke about the economic benefits of having 2,100 athletes in the city for the various events – the hotel rooms were all booked, he said.
MacMackin, co-chair of the third-annual East Coast Games, is now closer to realizing another dream that will help draw sporting events to the city, as well as provide enhanced recreational opportunities for residents.
At a press conference on Wednesday at Exhibition Park, the federal and provincial governments announced they are contributing $12-million toward the construction of the Saint John Field House, an indoor sports facility that will have two indoor turf fields and a track.
MacMackin, who is also president of Greater Saint John Field House Inc., said they are now looking toward beginning construction of the facility with the federal and provincial funding now in place.
“This project is a community driven initiative which will bring new sporting events to our city and provide new opportunities for sports, recreation and wellness for the whole Greater Saint John community,” said McMackin in a press release.
“With the support of the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick now confirmed, we will be working towards construction starting late this year and our goal of being open for use in the fall of 2019.”
Wayne Long, Liberal Member of Parliament for Saint John-Rothesay, said the Field House will be good for both locals and the city’s ability to host more sporting events.
“The Greater Saint John Field House will promote general health and fitness while supporting local athletes,” said Long. “The new event-hosting capacity will help create economic growth in the area and contribute to long-term prosperity.”
The indoor turf fields and track are part of phase one of the project. The second phase will include a two-pad ice area, one NHL-size surface and one Olympic-size surface.
The City of Saint John had previously committed $4.2-million to the project.