Should a multi-purpose stadium be built in Surrey in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, and where?
These are key questions as the city completes a feasibility study that includes a 12,000-seat stadium at Tom Binnie Park in Whalley, with sites in Newton and Cloverdale also considered.
Vancouver-based company has pitched a soccer-primary stadium that could be used for concerts, conventions and other events, for the all-in price of around $35 million, according to Adam Torpey, vice-president of business development.
91裸聊视频淲e have proposed this as a permanent stadium, although because of how we build it, prefabricated and modular, if the city wanted to relocate it in 15, 20, 30 years, we can do that,91裸聊视频 Torpey explained.
During the World Cup, national soccer teams could use the Surrey stadium for training when in Vancouver for the seven games to be played at BC Place Stadium, he noted.
91裸聊视频 RELATED: .
Torpey emailed the Now-Leader two images that serve 91裸聊视频渁s an illustration of the potential91裸聊视频 of stadiums built by SixFive 91裸聊视频 one with a roof, the other without.
91裸聊视频淲hile the design hasn91裸聊视频檛 been finalized, our discussions (with the city) so far have centered on this particular stylistic stadium,91裸聊视频 noted Torpey, whose company built a similar soccer stadium near Langley Events Centre.
Surrey is undertaking 91裸聊视频渁 market analysis and feasibility study for a mixed-use entertainment and sport facility,91裸聊视频 according to Jeff Arason, Director of Strategic Initiatives.
91裸聊视频淎s part of this study,91裸聊视频 Arason stated in an email Wednesday (May 15), 91裸聊视频渨e are evaluating a variety of facility formats, including an open air stadium and an arena. Also as part of this study, we will be determining the ideal seating capacity for each facility format. The City is not evaluating any specific proposal by any proponent.91裸聊视频
The 12,000-seat stadium concept and Tom Binnie Park site are backed by Anita Huberman, CEO and president of Surrey Board of Trade.
91裸聊视频淭he first thing is that you know, this is not going to be a concrete BC Place type of stadium that costs millions and millions of dollars,91裸聊视频 Huberman said.
91裸聊视频淚t can be repurposed for other events, it can be sectioned off for corporate events, whatever it may be to help with, you know, other sporting teams that we have here in the city and be at one of our destination assets.91裸聊视频
She91裸聊视频檚 urging city hall officials to fast-track stadium approval and construction.
91裸聊视频淚 know the city is looking at a public-private sector funding model to try to make it happen,91裸聊视频 Huberman said. 91裸聊视频, but we haven91裸聊视频檛 heard anything, so now it91裸聊视频檚 in the mayor91裸聊视频檚 hands.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have a lot of time to decide,91裸聊视频 Huberman added. 91裸聊视频淵es, I know they91裸聊视频檙e trying to do their due diligence to the taxpayers through these studies, but we don91裸聊视频檛 have time. It could be built regardless (of hosting World Cup activities or not). Time is falling short for us to be not only a part of the FIFA ecosystem but to have a real destination asset here in Surrey.91裸聊视频
Torpey said there is 91裸聊视频渁 primary soccer tenant91裸聊视频 eyed for the Surrey stadium, 91裸聊视频渁 professional team,91裸聊视频 but wouldn91裸聊视频檛 get into specifics.
The park site is adjacent to the BC Lions91裸聊视频 training facility, and drawings show the stadium positioned on land where the existing football building is located. The Now-Leader has reached out to the CFL team for comment.
Surrey Coun. Linda Annis says Tom Binnie Park 91裸聊视频渋s a perfect spot91裸聊视频 for the stadium.
91裸聊视频淚 really like the idea of being close to SkyTrain, close to where the BC Lions practice field is. For that reason, it will attract people into Surrey and you know, we need to be building an entertainment area around there so people can go and have dinner and so on.91裸聊视频
She said in Surrey, 91裸聊视频渨e91裸聊视频檙e missing a convention center, we91裸聊视频檙e missing places where people can go to concerts, we need stadiums for all sorts of sporting activities and whatever we build has to include all of that.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 still early stages,91裸聊视频 Annis added. 91裸聊视频淭he mayor listed three different spots in her State of the City address, so we haven91裸聊视频檛 even nailed the spot yet. We need to get it right, and in my estimation we shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be building a small stadium, we should be looking at something between 15,000 to 20,000 seats. We should be building something for the future, and in terms of urgency I think we need it yesterday. We have nothing like this in Surrey.91裸聊视频
Torpey said SixFive could build the stadium in time for the World Cup soccer tournament in Vancouver just over two years from now, June and July of 2026.
91裸聊视频淩ealistically, in an ideal world, it would be great to have a year before the World Cup. For this size capacity, we can probably build it within 12 to 14 months, so it is doable to get it done and ready before the World Cup and other events. From my inside information, if we build a stadium, if it is a grass field for the World Cup, we would nearly be locked on to be a training host city, which would be fantastic for Surrey.
91裸聊视频淢y recommendation for the city is to use grass for the World Cup, until that91裸聊视频檚 finished, then afterward put turf on it to become a multi-use stadium that could be seven days a week, much more versatile. We see it being used for community events, concerts. It could have a domed roof or retractable roof over the stadium. It all comes down to the final design and footprint and obviously budget.91裸聊视频