Source: Sweat Magazine
Spring 2012
By Samantha Emann
Redeemer University College on the outskirts of Ancaster, Ont. looks quiet and unassuming. Behind the small campus are a couple rows of residence townhouses, trees and a parking lot. A bright, white dome stands out against its muted surroundings. Inside, the relative silence of the campus is shattered by the sound of the Redeemer Soccer Invitational going on within. Divided by tall white walls of net that don’t come close to touching the roof of the brightly lit dome, coaches shout orders, players encourage their teammates and other squads sit on the sidelines waiting for their chance to try out the bright green turf.
The new stadium, likened to Toronto’s BMO facility, encloses a 70 by 110 yard artificial turf field that was built to FIFA regulations. According to Redeemer’s athletics director, Dave Mantel, it brings new life and also new hope to the campus, its athletes, the surrounding community and even soccer in Ontario. Redeemer athletics officials hope it will bring notoriety not only to Redeemer’s teams but also to the school itself.
Mantel says so far, reaction and feedback about their new addition has been very positive.
“I have witnessed it myself – being in the facility and watching people walk into the dome is a lot of fun because the immediate reaction is, ‘wow, this place is huge – this place is really nice,’ and every coach had good things to say at the OCAA event,” says Mantel.
The stadium was built in partnership with all three levels of government, as well as the Ancaster Soccer Club, which also plays and trains in what has been dubbed, “The Dome.” The club raised more than $600,000 towards the stadium’s construction, while the different levels of government and Redeemer contributed the remainder.
Caell Huyer, director of soccer development and campus recreation and women’s varsity soccer coach for Redeemer, says the stadium will help Redeemer’s teams train and play better all year and build on their soccer programs.
Mantel agrees with Huyer and says he thinks the turf especially allows players to be more consistent in their play and practices, which is something they lacked when playing on the bumpier outdoor field they used before.
“It makes it a lot more predictable. The bounces are clean, the passing is more accurate and so the teams can play at a higher pace and they can use their skill. It allows us to play soccer the way it was meant to be played,” says Mantel.
The benefits of the stadium go well beyond the athletic department.
“As a private institution and a young institution of about 25 years or so, we are not that well known and recognized – even in our local community – as much as we could have been until this facility [was built],” says Mantel. “Having it here and partnering with a local organization, like the Ancaster Soccer Club, all of a sudden allows us to welcome thousands of community members onto our campus to experience Redeemer, to see our campus and our institution and all the great things we have to offer.”
At the Invitational on Feb. 4, players from Redeemer met teams from all over Ontario, including top teams from Sheridan and Humber.
Mantel says the new stadium is a major improvement in that it alleviates traffic in the gym for the school’s other varsity teams to practice and play, and creates a place for recreational and leisure activities.
Huyer says he hopes the stadium is not only going to help improve their own teams, but also teams in the area and even the province.
“We can have our own ideas about how we want soccer to grow but if it doesn’t start at the grassroots then it will never develop. More facilities like this give people more and more opportunities to train in the winter when they would otherwise be playing hockey or basketball.”
Mantel says Redeemer has big plans for the new soccer stadium and hosting OCAA regional and provincial tournaments is just the beginning.
Mantel has been contacted about hosting showcases for elite clubs in the province in the immediate future, and has hopes for holding some larger ones in the future.
“I could also see some OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) championships and some opportunities for us to offer training to international teams coming in for competitions like the 2015 Pan Am Games.”
