The City of Nanaimo is looking into possibly adding three to eight thousand seats to the NDSS Community Field. The $3.8 million facility opened in 2018. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

stadium discussions

Stadium seating examined for Nanaimo’s NDSS Community Field

Jul 28, 2020 | 2:09 PM

NANAIMO — Thousands of new seats and stadium-style amenities could be added to the multi-use NDSS Community Field.

Nanaimo councillors approved an exploratory report by sports facilities architect Doug Wournell on Monday, July 27.

Wournell recommended future investment at the two-year old artificial turf field as opposed to a pair of other fields.

The report showed supportive amenities at the Third St. property such as upwards of 12,000 stadium seats, public washrooms, event management space and food services would boost the neighbouring Serauxmen Stadium and the Rotary Bowl.

The field currently has limited supportive amenities beyond lights, a scoreboard and change rooms.

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“Money that goes into NDSS ends up enhancing two other facilities and that’s what gives this site probably the edge over the other two sites,” Wournell said Monday.

A City staff report foresees between 3,000 and 8,000 seats at the NDSS Community Field will be needed to meet current demand.

The report examined similar amenities at Caledonia Park and Beban Park, but Wournell said they wouldn’t provide optimum community value.

Wournell said there is ample parking in the NDSS Community Field area, telling councillors alternate forms of transportation to the site are preferred as opposed to stadiums “surrounded by a sea of asphalt.”

He reassured any facility enhancements could be done in phases as budgets allowed. He estimated adding 3,000 stadium seats with additional enhancements would cost between $6 and $9 million.

Richard Harding, the City’s general manager of parks, recreation and culture, told councillors the field is well positioned to host several high caliber sporting events.

“Everything within the lines, you’re not going to find a better field to put on any sporting event right now.”

The field has several user groups, including highschool football, field lacrosse and soccer leagues.

It’s also the new home of the VI Raiders junior football team, who vacated Caledonia Field.

Harding said there could be a need for additional temporary seating at the NDSS synthetic turf field to meet short-term demand.

The site identification report will be made available for community review and input.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes