Community groups vie for tenancy of James Whyte Arena

Who will get to use the James Whyte Arena in the coming years?

As ThoroldToday reported, the city decommissioned the arena back in 2022, and while they’re working on a long-term strategy for 2027, they are currently looking for interim users.

After putting out a call for proposals, the city has finally put together a list of interested parties with a feasibility analysis of each project.

Top of the list is the TCAG who have reached capacity in their current location on Richmond Street. They propose using the empty arena to offer additional sports classes and programs. 

The proposal has received top marks from the city because it would serve Thorold residents, and would be compatible with programming already offered by the city.

The Thorold Soccer Club would like to see an artificial turf field in the arena so they can offer soccer programming throughout the winter months. The group is also open to a multi-use floor, with the consideration that there will be an outdoor artificial turf field in Thorold in the near future.

The Niagara Falls Soccer Club and Top Tier Training are also both interested in installing a turf field in the facility, but the city worries that the clubs have the potential to duplicate programming already offered by Thorold partners such as the Thorold Soccer Club.

Then there is BallHockey.com who want to use the space for their training. The club currently operates out of the Haig Bowl arena in the City of St Catharines and they’re looking to boost their programming. But once again, the city worries that the project has the potential to duplicate programming already offered by Thorold partners such as the TCAG.

The Jr Badgers Wrestling and Niagara Olympic Wrestling Club are hoping to use the arena as their new stomping grounds, but City Hall staff thinks that the mats the clubs uses are semi-permanent and are difficult to setup and tear down. Therefore the proposal does not allow for variety of other programming.

The Niagara Indoor Pickleball Association is looking to develop a dedicated indoor pickleball facility, centrally located in the Niagara Region and accessible to all residents of Thorold. But once again, City Hall fears it will duplicate programming already offered by the TCAG.

The 128 Thorold Flying Dragons Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron are looking for a temporary base while their permanent home at the Allanburg Community Centre is under construction. They would like to use the main open area for marching and parade practise with use of other rooms such as change rooms for break-out training sessions.

Autism Ontario would like to use the arena to build a Sensory Room, which is a room designed to provide calm, focus, and comfort to people with sensory processing problems. But the city worries that the project may conflict with the environment at the James Whyte Arena. 

And lastly, Thorold Community Theatre wants to divide the arena floor space to construct a performance space. But the city thinks they could work in partnership with TCAG as they have a stage and lights already in place at their facility.

City Hall staff has also come up with some uses of their own, such as a walking track, a warming and cooling centre, a conference and training space, an evacuation centre, or a venue to hold special events.

The City is now turning to the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to give their input on the proposals. A staff report with recommendations will then come to council at a later date.

May the best proposal win!