Recreation Assessment

Brandon’s Community Sportsplex Arena Needs Assessment & Conceptual Design

Let’s plan for the future of the Brandon’s Community Sportsplex. 

Brandon’s Community Sportsplex Arena has been an important part of Westman’s community identity and recreation service provision for over 45 years. The existing arena ice plant has reached the end of its service life and other improvements are needed to meet current accessibility and code requirements. There is also a need bring change rooms, washrooms and other spaces to contemporary standards and customer expectations.

The City of Brandon has commissioned a needs assessment to determine the best future use of the current Sportsplex arena and to develop conceptual designs and cost estimates to guide decision making and future investments. Engagement with key stakeholder and the general public will be used to help determine needs and priorities for indoor recreation programming and activities.

Public Engagement

Take the online survey (available from August 9-23): Brandon Sportsplex Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Attend the public open house

Wednesday, August 16, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Brandon Community Sportsplex (Arena Space)

30 Knowlton Drive

Following the open house, story boards will be made available on this page.

Timeline

How can we help?

If you have questions, require alternate formats, or additional accommodations to participate, please contact recreation@brandon.ca

Background

• Brandon’s Community Sportsplex was constructed in 1978 and includes an indoor arena, indoor pool, 3 racquetball courts, multipurpose rooms, canteen, offices, and change rooms.
• The arena facility closed in March 2023 due to an ammonia leak in the ice plant. Further assessment determined the ice plant has reached the end of its service life and requires replacement.
• In order to provide a plan to serve the community over the long term, the City of Brandon has commissioned a needs assessment to determine the need for arena ice and other indoor recreation uses and to develop conceptual design options and cost estimates.
• The need assessment and design options have been developed with input from many sport and community organizations in the Westman area and will be further shaped by a broader public and stakeholder engagement.
• The intent is that feedback from stakeholders and the community will help City Council determine the best option for moving forward with investments that improve the Sportsplex over the long-term.

Stakeholder Interviews

Stakeholder interviews were conducted in July 2023 and included representatives of numerous sport, recreation and community organizations in the Brandon area.  Some of the key themes from the input received included:

Ice sports (hockey, speed skating, other ice user groups)

• Sportsplex is the only municipally operated rink in Brandon and is important for many groups, teams and the broader community.
• Limited access at Keystone Centre at certain times of year due to events.
• Development of private J &G Homes Arena has resulted in re-location of some higher level programs and leagues and taken some demand pressure off other facilities.
• Generally, ice users see the value of public skating, ‘sticks and pucks’, learn to skate programs provided by the municipality.
• Ice users value the ice access at Sportsplex, see it as fundamental to their programs.
• Need for improved facility accessibility, larger change rooms and shower facilities, dryland warm-up area, storage, accessory meeting and multipurpose space.

Indoor Turf sports (football, cricket, indoor soccer, ultimate, lacrosse)

• Indoor turf, even if not regulation would benefit the community for off-season use and training.
• Due to field sizes, league play would not be feasible for most sports at the Sportsplex.
• Many of these sports may be best served first by a quality outdoor turf field with lighting to extend the season and quality of play and training.
• Again, need for improved facility accessibility, larger change rooms and shower facilities, dryland warm-up area, storage, accessory meeting and multipurpose space.

Court sports (badminton, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, soccer/futsal)

• Demand for many court sports exceeds what is provided at existing facilities and in particular, pickleball, badminton, soccer/futsal and general wellness and fitness programs.
• Hardwood or sport rubber surface may meet community needs for a variety of sports and activities.
• Need for improved facility accessibility, larger change rooms and shower facilities, dryland warm-up area, storage, accessory meeting and multipurpose space.

Concept Options

Following a series of stakeholder interview sessions with various sport, recreation and community organizations, the following concept drawings have been developed to demonstrate potential options for future investment in the Sportsplex to meet a variety of community needs and recreation trends.

Four design concepts have been developed based on current demands and needs identified through stakeholder interviews and from previous engagement findings through the Brandon Recreation and Community Facilities Master Plan in 2019:

Concept A- Renovate Arena Ice Rink

Concept B- Convert to Indoor Turf Multi-Purpose Space

Concept C- Convert to Hard Court Multi-Purpose Space

Concept D- Convert to Hybrid Hard Court/Indoor Turf Multi-Purpose Space

All four options include proposed common improvements, including:

• New accessible building entrance and drop-off area eliminating substandard ramping and accessibility challenges.
• Re-located administrative space and reception desk for improved customer service and facility supervision.
• New arena change rooms with larger floor areas, improved shower and washrooms and better accessibility.
• Improved pool change rooms to meet accessibility standards and a wide variety of customer and family needs.
• New multipurpose program and meeting rooms to enable a range of programs and uses.
• Potential for other complementary spaces and uses such as daycare, food service, and retail space (pro shop/skate shop).

Concept A- Retain Arena Ice Rink

Concept A proposes to invest in the existing arena ice plant, as well as other improvements including new accessible building entrance and new change rooms and washrooms.

Some positive outcomes of this option may include:

• Retains the ice surface operated by the City of Brandon for community use.
• Provides ice time opportunities for community teams and tournaments.
• Provides opportunity for learn to skate and public skating/’sticks and pucks’ programs.

Some challenges with this option may include:

• There have been indications of reduced demand and ice usage since development of private facilities.
• An arena ice facility does not address demands for other indoor recreation space.
• Some existing parking on north side of the building would be lost due to change room addition.
• Does not address current needs for hard court and indoor turf spaces.

Concept B- Convert to Indoor Turf Multi-Purpose Space

Concept C proposes to redevelop the existing arena space into a multipurpose indoor artificial turf space. This would serve activities and programs such as soccer, cricket, lacrosse, ultimate and many others. Other improvements including new accessible building entrance and new change rooms and washrooms could also be a part of this option,

Some positive outcomes of this option may include:

• Meets growing needs for indoor turf activities and programs including soccer, cricket, lacrosse, ultimate, fitness classes, and youth drop-in.
• Provides space for community and cultural events and summer camp programs.
• Learn to skate and public skating/stick and puck could be provide by the City through agreements with other ice facility operators (e.g. Keystone )
• Space could be used as a warming/cooling centre or temporary shelter in cases of extreme weather events or municipal emergencies.

Some challenges with this option may include:

• City of Brandon would have no municipally owned and operated ice surface
• Would negatively impact ice user groups
• Provision of learn to skate and public skating/’sticks and pucks’ programs may not be guaranteed.
• Regulation field sizes for most sports are not feasible within the existing arena space.

Concept C- Convert to Hard Court Multi-Purpose Space          

Concept B proposes to redevelop the existing arena space into a multipurpose hard surface court space. This would serve activities and programs such as basketball, pickleball, futsal, fitness and many others. Other improvements including new accessible building entrance and new change rooms and washrooms could also be a part of this option,

Some positive outcomes of this option may include:

• Meets growing needs for indoor hard surface activities and programs including basketball, pickleball, badminton, futsal, fitness classes, and youth drop-in.
• Provides space for community and cultural events and summer camp programs.
• Learn to skate and public skating/stick and puck could be provide by the City through agreements with other ice facility operators (e.g. Keystone )
• Space could be used as a warming/cooling centre or temporary shelter in cases of extreme weather events or municipal emergencies.

Some challenges with this option may include:

• City of Brandon would have no municipally owned and operated ice surface
• Would negatively impact ice user groups
• Provision of learn to skate and public skating/’sticks and pucks’ programs may not be guaranteed.
• Ceiling height is not suitable for some sports such as volleyball.

Concept D- Convert to Hybrid Hard Court/Indoor Turf Multi-Purpose Space      

Concept D proposes to redevelop the existing arena space into a multipurpose space that includes both hard court and indoor turf surface areas. This would serve activities and programs such as soccer, cricket, lacrosse, ultimate and many others. Other improvements including new accessible building entrance and new change rooms and washrooms could also be a part of this option,

Some positive outcomes of this option may include:

• Meets some of the growing need for both indoor turf and indoor hard court activities and programs.
• Provides space for community and cultural events and summer camp programs.
• Learn to skate and public skating/stick and puck could be provide by the City through agreements with other ice facility operators (e.g. Keystone )
• Space could be used as a warming/cooling centre or temporary shelter in cases of extreme weather events or municipal emergencies.

Some challenges with this option may include:

• City of Brandon would have no municipally owned and operated ice surface
• Would negatively impact ice user groups
• Provision of learn to skate and public skating/’sticks and pucks’ programs may not be guaranteed.

Smaller areas for hard court and indoor turf areas will not meet all current demands and needs of users.