New stadium

OK. Let's look at this new stadium as something that we need to do now. No more nay-saying. I know the cost is big - $450 million. We could sink another $6 million into Mosaic Stadium, but as the report said, we'd only get 10 years out of it - and that's it. So, 10 years from now when we can't do anthing with Mosaic, what now? What's the cost of a new stadium going to be now? 1 billion? We all know how prices escalate.

What I'd also like to see added into this huge complex, is a multi-sport facility for youth. I have daughters who are involved with both volleyball and softball. As most of those parents know, there isn't a facility in this city where you can host a major volleyball tournament. Saskatoon has two soccer centers that double as volleyball courts. They can fit 12 courts under one roof, and host a tournament for both 14U and 15U in one weekend. You can do 16U and 17U on another weekend. Ask any parent who doesn't book a hotel room in time and good luck with finding a room on those weekends. Here in Regina, we have school gyms. So to host a tournament of the same magnitude, we often have to use 3,4 or 5 different schools, and the people coming in from out of town have no idea where they're going. Actually, it's quite embarrasing.

As for softball, yes we have the great wide spaces outdoors to use. Unfortunately, by the time the snow melts and it actually turns warm, it's July. I've literally frozen on the ball diamond here in June. Now, I'm not expecting to play indoors at all. As a coach, I would like to get a jump on the competition and get the team working starting at the end of March. When we get to national competitions, we usually get thumped by the likes of B.C and Ontario because they've been playing ball outside since about now. Did you catch the view of Vancouver during the Olympics? Green. We did have a place called "Triple Play Sports", but it was so dependant upon softball and baseball teams that when the weather finally turned nice, they couldn't keep the lights on. Oh, and this year, both school boards decided they would let us use their gym. But that's OK, keep my tax dollars folks!

So, while I know how nice it would be to know that you're going to a Rider game without a care about the weather, because the roof will either be open or closed, I'd love to see a multi-purpose facility built into the complex. Hotels would be packed during tournament times, the visitors have to eat - and we have restaurants, and I'm sure most would fill their gas tanks before heading home. Add this to football games, concerts, monster truck rallies or whatever, I may never have to head to Saskatoon again!!!