Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex

As part of 2022 budget deliberations, Greater Sudbury City Council approved a business case relating to the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. The City has committed $9.2 million towards the project, conditional on securing funding in the amount of $20 million from senior levels of government.

The Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex will serve as a modern, efficient, and flexible facility that is not simply an arena, but a gathering space and community hub for recreation in Valley East.

The facility will be comprised of:

  • A twin pad arena (NHL-size rinks, each with 400-seat capacity). Exploring one fully accessible ice pad.
  • Eight change rooms and referee change rooms per ice surface
  • Gymnasium (multipurpose sports programming, such as indoor soccer training, pickleball, exercise classes, etc.)
  • Heated viewing area
  • Café/restaurant/concessions
  • Public concourse/lobby space
  • Support spaces

The new facility will support local athlete development, facilitate hosting events and tournaments, and fully accommodate all ice users. It will be a new modern facility that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or mobility, and will promote healthy and active lifestyles.

The facility is strategically located in the northern part of the city, complimenting the City’s existing twin pad (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex) in the south end. The Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre property is the identified location for this new high-quality recreation facility. The project will also include accessibility upgrades to the nearby trail network and the creation of a new ice-skating trail in the winter.

The Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex will be a 76,000 square foot facility. It has an estimated construction cost of $29.2 million. Once the project is realized, the City will retire four financed older existing ice pads.

Background:

  • In June 2017, City Council directed staff to prepare a business case to replace various arenas and/or ice pads, with a new multi-pad/multi-purpose arena facility in Valley East.
  • In December 2017, staff presented a business case for Council's consideration, and Council directed Leisure Services to conduct community consultation and a site assessment.
  • The City completed community engagement and consultation on the project with respect to facility location and program elements in the spring of 2018.
  • The City completed background and studies, including: a geotechnical and soils report, source protection plan section application, storm water management study, wellhead protection area review, detailed topographic survey, and a traffic study.
  • In November 2020, Council directed staff to present an updated business case for the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose project, including the potential for reducing the number of existing ice pads.
  • The business case, presented as part of 2021 budget deliberations, was deferred to the 2022 budget process.
  • During the 2022 budget process, Council approved the business case relating to the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad.

Update – March 20, 2024

At the February 20, 2024, Community and Emergency Services Committee meeting, the following resolution was passed:

WHEREAS as part of 2022 budget deliberations, City Council approved a business case relating to the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex, and committed $9.2 million of funding for the project, conditional on securing funding in the amount of $20 million from senior levels of government;

AND WHEREAS the City of Greater Sudbury made application to the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program for $21.2 million in federal funding which was not successful;

AND WHEREAS the updated estimated total project cost of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex has increased to $40.2 million as of January 2023;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs staff to present a report by June 2024 to the Community and Emergency Services Committee providing information on the following, with the intent of reducing the City’s financial obligations to realize the project:

  • recent multi-pad arena projects from other jurisdictions in Ontario and Canada;
  • alternate approaches to arena construction;
  • public-private approaches to community sports venues.


This page will be updated throughout the life of the project. We encourage you to revisit to stay informed and learn about future community information sessions.

As part of 2022 budget deliberations, Greater Sudbury City Council approved a business case relating to the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. The City has committed $9.2 million towards the project, conditional on securing funding in the amount of $20 million from senior levels of government.

The Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex will serve as a modern, efficient, and flexible facility that is not simply an arena, but a gathering space and community hub for recreation in Valley East.

The facility will be comprised of:

  • A twin pad arena (NHL-size rinks, each with 400-seat capacity). Exploring one fully accessible ice pad.
  • Eight change rooms and referee change rooms per ice surface
  • Gymnasium (multipurpose sports programming, such as indoor soccer training, pickleball, exercise classes, etc.)
  • Heated viewing area
  • Café/restaurant/concessions
  • Public concourse/lobby space
  • Support spaces

The new facility will support local athlete development, facilitate hosting events and tournaments, and fully accommodate all ice users. It will be a new modern facility that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or mobility, and will promote healthy and active lifestyles.

The facility is strategically located in the northern part of the city, complimenting the City’s existing twin pad (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex) in the south end. The Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre property is the identified location for this new high-quality recreation facility. The project will also include accessibility upgrades to the nearby trail network and the creation of a new ice-skating trail in the winter.

The Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex will be a 76,000 square foot facility. It has an estimated construction cost of $29.2 million. Once the project is realized, the City will retire four financed older existing ice pads.

Background:

  • In June 2017, City Council directed staff to prepare a business case to replace various arenas and/or ice pads, with a new multi-pad/multi-purpose arena facility in Valley East.
  • In December 2017, staff presented a business case for Council's consideration, and Council directed Leisure Services to conduct community consultation and a site assessment.
  • The City completed community engagement and consultation on the project with respect to facility location and program elements in the spring of 2018.
  • The City completed background and studies, including: a geotechnical and soils report, source protection plan section application, storm water management study, wellhead protection area review, detailed topographic survey, and a traffic study.
  • In November 2020, Council directed staff to present an updated business case for the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose project, including the potential for reducing the number of existing ice pads.
  • The business case, presented as part of 2021 budget deliberations, was deferred to the 2022 budget process.
  • During the 2022 budget process, Council approved the business case relating to the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad.

Update – March 20, 2024

At the February 20, 2024, Community and Emergency Services Committee meeting, the following resolution was passed:

WHEREAS as part of 2022 budget deliberations, City Council approved a business case relating to the construction of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex, and committed $9.2 million of funding for the project, conditional on securing funding in the amount of $20 million from senior levels of government;

AND WHEREAS the City of Greater Sudbury made application to the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program for $21.2 million in federal funding which was not successful;

AND WHEREAS the updated estimated total project cost of the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex has increased to $40.2 million as of January 2023;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs staff to present a report by June 2024 to the Community and Emergency Services Committee providing information on the following, with the intent of reducing the City’s financial obligations to realize the project:

  • recent multi-pad arena projects from other jurisdictions in Ontario and Canada;
  • alternate approaches to arena construction;
  • public-private approaches to community sports venues.


This page will be updated throughout the life of the project. We encourage you to revisit to stay informed and learn about future community information sessions.

Page last updated: 20 Mar 2024, 03:01 PM