LETTING OUR GRASS FIELDS GO HAS TURFED OUR HOST CHANCES

I think the turf facilities are wonderful and they are much needed but that doesn’t mean we should neglect the natural grass as well, because in this instance it’s cost us an opportunity to even apply for a national-quality event.

Once again it seems that we have sold ourselves short as a city. How many times have I said that our facilities have been inadequate for the stupidest of reasons? Cutting a few corners here or there to save a few bucks in the long run costs us greatly.

Even though we might not like to admit it, it’s no secret that our facilities largely have been inadequate to host major events of a national scale. And once again that situation has reared its ugly head.

For the first time in 24 years Team Canada men’s soccer team has made it to the finals of World Cup qualifying. This is a major achievement. But it’s been suggested maybe we should bid to get some of the qualifier games hosted here.

A brilliant idea — something to be excited about for the city and the province — similar to Team Canada winning the qualifying game versus Honduras in 1985 at King George V field.

One small problem though. In our haste to catch up with the rest of the country and build and maintain our magnificent turf facilities, we have neglected our grass surfaces. They have become secondary to the turf — no real finances have since gone into our grass facilities, especially not in the sense of the stadium-type grass surface.

For that very reason our bid for hosting Team Canada isn’t worth the paper it would be printed on because these events are only played on grass surfaces.

Unfortunately fields like Wishingwell, Feildian grounds and Ayre grounds to name a few have been relegated to youth soccer and practice facilities.

There are even several grass facilities around St. John’s that aren’t even mowed anymore — that’s how insignificant they’ve become.

I think the turf facilities are wonderful and they are much needed but that doesn’t mean we should neglect the natural grass as well, because in this instance it’s cost us an opportunity to even apply for a national-quality event.

I feel like this situation provides an opportunity for us to re-evaluate and at least redevelop one of our natural grass facilities into a stadium-type setting.

Jason Pike St. John’s