Users lose bookings after sports dome sold
New facility owner appears to have installed basketball courts over the artificial turf field, leaving soccer and lacrosse groups out in the cold
Users of the Lions SPIplex Sports Dome are scrambling after being informed the new owners are not accepting fall or winter bookings.
The Examiner has learned the new owner, Sam Ibrahim, president and managing director of the Arrow Group of Companies Ltd., took possession of the facility on Highway 7 south of Fowlers Corners on Friday.
Multiple sources tell The Examiner work is well underway to convert the dome into an indoor basketball facility with courts already sitting on top of the artificial turf field.
Ibrahim’s company operates The Playground indoor basketball facility in Scarborough. He didn’t immediately return a call on Monday.
Users of the SPIplex are scrambling after being informed by former owners, Jason and Erin Hanley, partners with Biren Patel, the new owner is not taking bookings this year.
Scott Cockburn found out 75 minutes before his Friday night men’s soccer league was to start its season that their booking was cancelled. Cockburn has not heard from the new owner despite sending many emails seeking information. Cockburn also runs a Wednesday mixed soccer league there. There are six teams and 78 players in his men’s league and 10 teams and 130 players in the mixed league.
He said he signed a five-year contract with the former owners prior to the sale which he was told was requested by the new owners.
“That’s why I was surprised,” said Cockburn, who was told by a friend who did work at the SPIplex on Monday that basketball courts already sit atop the old turf.
“There’s nowhere we can play for the winter so we’re going to be cancelling the leagues,” Cockburn said.
Aaron McFadden, president of the Peterborough Youth Indoor Soccer Club, said he got a call from Erin Hanley on Friday informing him the new owner will not be taking fall and winter bookings.
Ernie Ellement, founder of the Boro Boys masters lacrosse program, said he received a call from Jason Hanley Saturday morning informing him of the same thing.
Neither has heard from the new owner.
Patel told The Examiner in August a condition of the sale was the facility would continue to operate as a sports dome.
He and Jason Hanley opened the 240-square-metre facility in 2006. It was their desire the new owner would allow users to continue using the facility.
On Monday, Patel said he didn’t know fall and winter bookings were being cancelled. He referred questions to Hanley.
“Unfortunately, I can’t verify anything,” Patel said.
Hanley didn’t return calls seeking comment. Cockburn said Hanley is devastated that former users appear to be without a home.
McFadden said the PYISC and Peterborough City Soccer Association were working together, in consultation with Ontario Soccer, to develop return-to-play protocols for winter training and games at the SPIplex.
The PYISC has between 300 and 400 players aged four to 18 playing Sundays from late October to midMarch. That’s all up in the air now.
“We’re having a board meeting on Tuesday night. That meeting was to finalize and have a say on our return-to-play protocol,” McFadden said. “We have to re-evaluate the situation.”
Ellement ran his winter lacrosse at the SPIplex from December to April.
He’s now reached out to Cavan Monaghan Township officials about potentially using Millbrook Arena’s indoor turf. The facility has been closed since mid-March but could reopen if there’s sufficient user interest.
“They’re going to make a decision one way or another by Dec. 1 if they’re going to open,” Ellement said. “All I can do is cross my fingers and hope I can grab one or two hours a week.”
A sale price hasn’t been disclosed but the 5.5- hectare SP I pl ex property, which includes an outdoor rectangular field, was listed for $1,399,900.