The University of Alberta has only 20 per cent of the Canadian University average of green playing field space per 1,000 students. We are unable to host any major track and field event on the existing track. The current track is in a state of disrepair. Because it's inadequate for needs anyway, repairing it is not a wise investment. The existing field is the only field in close proximity available for academic programs, campus recreation, varsity sport training, games and competitions, summer sport camps, Rick Hansen Centre client training and open use for the community.
Overuse makes it impossible to maintain a safe playing field.
We currently have one of the worst facilities in the country and would like to seize the opportunity to have one of the best at no capital cost to the university. See Plans and Designs for details. This will not be a huge facility with crowd noise, traffic congestion and general neighborhood disruption. In fact, most of the time this much-needed facility will be used for individual and team training with few, if any, spectators. Only a few events a year will attract significant numbers of spectators-usually fewer than 2,000.