Soccer Northwest is repeating the multi-use indoor turf facility will benefit the whole community.
President Michael Veneziale points out while he completely understands concerns about the price, it is up to the city to decide how any funding is used or debentured.
“This facility does show it can make a profit, I know a lot of people disagree with that, but we’ve seen the numbers, a few different times on that. And if city council does decide to put the profits back into the city, that’s completely up to them,” says Veneziale.
He adds this facility will be for any sport that plays on turf. In the beginning it was for soccer when a consultant was working on it, but during the whole process to approve it, Soccer Northwest has been reaching out to other sports. “I emailed them last night, right after the decision was made, essentially saying ‘None of you will have to look for a home again’. This goes beyond soccer, it’s labelled as that, simply because, in my opinion, it’s the largest group.”
Veneziale adds many people he knows have been attacked on social media for expressing their views for it. He also disputes rumours it is for the rich or elite, saying while they used a private facility they were paying more per hour for less amenities, while costs for this building will be kept low.
“I’ve been saying this from the beginning. I’m really hoping that city council, when they direct this, that there’s open field time so people that maybe can’t afford recreational sport will have an hour a week to come out on the field to use it in the winter time,” says the Soccer Northwest President.
City council approved the search for companies to build it, after voting 7-6 against a motion to delay it another 90 days.
