The Moose Jaw Soccer Association (MJSA) will continue to pay full rent to use the YaraCentre for winter programming even though its board of directors asked city council for rent relief.
Mike Armstrong, board chairman, spoke to council during its Jan. 25 regular meeting and asked that the association be allowed to use three quarter-sections of turf for $28.22 per hour or $42.33 per hour for two sections. The hourly rate reductions would remain until public health orders increased the number of people allowed in a building.
Based on current restrictions, the YaraCentre can have eight youths and one coach on each quarter section — the MJSA had 45 to 60 players per quarter-section pre-pandemic — and 30 people in total using the turf and track.
Concerned that the request might set a precedent for other minor sports organizations while also negatively affecting how many people could use the track, council voted unanimously to receive and file the request — essentially, a no vote.
Request background
The association pays $84.65 per hour for a quarter section of turf, which is 17-per-cent less than the regular minor rate of $102 per hour, a council report explained. The municipality provides a discount prime tenant rate based on the MJSA’s commitment of 625 rental hours per year; that goal won’t be met this year.
The city could lose $19,000 in revenue if the MJSA cancelled its remaining winter programming and its May and June outdoor field rentals. However, the municipality would still likely receive $30,000 in revenue from other rentals at the YaraCentre.
Presentation
The rental rate per hour per player has tripled and is unsustainable with current membership numbers, which is why the board hopes to have its players back on the field quickly, Armstrong said. The goal would be to temporarily reduce rent and then return to the original agreement once the pandemic is over.
Armstrong then read a letter that the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council wrote advocating for the sport, since soccer benefits immigrant kids, is inexpensive to play and helps youths integrate into Canadian society.
“We just want to get our players back on the field,” he added afterward. “We want to get our kids away from the video games and back playing sports.”
Council discussion
The MJSA should speak with the school divisions to see if practices can be held during the day when youths can sneak away and when the YaraCentre is not used as much, said Coun. Jamey Logan.
Continuing, Logan indicated this was a tough decision even though he supported recreational venues. He thought that if council granted the reduction, it would prevent dozens of residents from using the track due to capacity restrictions.
“I hate to close the door on other folks. That is why I am against this proposal,” Logan added.
Council should consider speaking with Moose Jaw’s MLAs and the provincial government about existing restrictions and see if something can be changed, said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. If professional soccer can be played in controlled environments worldwide, then soccer could also be played in a controlled location like the YaraCentre.
“I appreciate what this organization is doing. It’s trying to build skills, leadership and teamwork with the youth of today,” he added. “So I don’t want to stifle that, but I’m just not sure if we’ve looked at all the avenues first.
Coun. Doug Blanc agreed that limiting the number of people on the track was a problem. He pointed out that as of Jan. 25, 246 residents had booked time in the evening to walk at the venue.
“I’m torn. I’d like to do something for them (MJSA),” he added, “but at the same time, I’d like to do something for all the other groups in there … without putting a real financial burden on city.”
Coun. Heather Eby was unwilling to support the request, especially since the track had become a lifeline for many people during the pandemic. Similarly, she didn’t think it was fair to reduce rent for soccer while hockey teams were still paying full price to use arenas.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 1.
