Gordie Howe Sports Complex revamp in home stretch

Premier Scott Moe speaks at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

    Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe hopes the revamp of the Gordie Howe Sports Complex will clean up an oversight.

    The 46-year-old product of Shellbrook was speaking at a press conference at the Saskatoon sports facility on Wednesday, and he told a story about playing in a fastball provincials at the complex, when he was growing up.

    Moe’s team was down by one in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on and two outs. One run was need to force and extra inning and two runs were needed to win.  If his team won, the squad would go to nationals.

    “A pitch came in, and I got a hold of it,” said Moe. “It was going out to right field and went to the warning track, and it was just five feet short from clearing the fence and us going on to nationals.

    “I think it is quite obvious this being Phase 3 of the renos at Gordie Howe Bowl that I hope that if it wasn’t fixed in Phase 1 or Phase 2 that the right field fence on Diamond 1 is obviously 10-feet too far. I would hope in Phase 3 that would certainly be rectified.”

    Politicians from the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government were on hand to confirm funding that will help finish the massive renovations going on at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex in Saskatoon’s Holiday Park neighbourhood. The complex is in a final Phase 3 of a master plan.

    The federal government will be contributing just over $8.352-million, the provincial government $6.959-million and municipal contribution is slated for $5.568-million. The Friends of the Bowl Foundation will be fundraising the municipal contribution with the goal of hitting $6-million to cover any unforeseen expenses.

Federal minister Jonathan Wilkinson speaks at Wednesday’s presser.

     Friends of the Bowl, which is a not-for-profit corporation with initial roots dating back to 2011, was formed for the purpose of advocating and raising funds for the sports facility and has done just that.

    “The expansion involves adding a new multi-sport complex, an outdoor artificial turf field, an outdoor baseball training and practice complex, Nordic ski trails, as well as a new ticket booth and bleachers,” said former Saskatoon resident Jonathan Wilkinson, who is the minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. “This project will have far reaching impacts not only for residents who will benefit from these modern sport and fitness facilities, but also for the city as a whole.

    “These new spaces will provide new opportunities to host a wide variety of events, which will help promote tourism in the area and events and services available to families in this community.”

    The announcement on Wednesday officially gave funding to 12 different infrastructure projects across Saskatchewan including the Gordie Howe Sports Complex through the Integrated Bilateral Agreement. Dignitaries were on hand representing various communities that will benefit from these projects.

Bryan Kosteroski gets set to speak at Wednesday’s presser.

    Overall, Wednesday’s announcement provided a function where members of all three levels of government could bask in the spotlight with positive news. It marked a short and happy time for celebration.

    For those that have overseen the developments at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex over the long haul like Friends of the Bowl chairperson Bryan Kosteroski and board member Johnny Marciniuk, Wednesday’s announcement was a big reward for countless hours of hard work. Kosteroski reflected on part of that journey during his speech at the presser.

    “Going back eight years to now, this project has been in our hearts,” said Kosteroski. “The partnerships and the collaborations we have seen and the growth of partnerships and people working together in Saskatoon has been tremendous.

    “There are nine sporting organizations working together right now. That is unheard of. If you would have said eight-and-a-half years ago that softball would be talking to baseball or football would be talking with lacrosse, that is unheard of.

    “Now, it is a common thing. It is like we are family. Everybody works together.”

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark speaks at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

    Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark recalls getting constant comments that dumped on the facility eight years ago, when he sitting with the Saskatoon city government as a city councillor.

    “We had delegation after delegation come to the city and say the field sucks, the dressing rooms suck (and) the stands suck,” said Clark. “Basically, it was getting beat down, because there was so much football being played at this facility, and players are getting injured and we’re embarrassed.

    “To be honest, it took a few starts to even get things going.”

    Clark enjoys seeing the progress that has been made since that time.

    “It is an incredible thing for kids to be able to have access to this,” said Clark. “We look forward to hosting kids from across the province and across the country and top class athletes to put on great performances and to help inspire the next generation and to build sport in our community.”

    Moe touted that the provincial government was pleased to play a part in revamping the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

    “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to be on the funding team alongside the Government of Canada and alongside the local community,” said Moe. “When completed, this project will surely live up to the Howe’s namesake, whose iconic #9 has been memorialized in the logo of the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.”

Greg Yuel speaks at Wednesday’s press conference.

    Originally when the revamp got rolling in 2011, the hope was to refurbish Gordie Howe Bowl, which was an eyesore. The refurbishment began on that facility in 2014, and it was renamed Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    The success on that front created momentum to get the wheel in motion on improving the rest of the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

    When the master plan of the complex in complete, a total of $62-million will have been put into renovating and improving the complex. As of July of last year, $42-million was raised towards that goal.

    Greg Yuel, who is the chairperson of the fundraising committee for Friends of the Bowl, was pumped at how close Wednesday’s funding announcement gets the project into the home stretch.

    “It is a game changer for all youth and athletes across Canada,” said Yuel. “This is huge milestone in our campaign.

    “It isn’t done yet. We have a few more million to go before we finish it off and put a ribbon on it. Please don’t hesitate to tell your family and friends and reach into your own pockets and help us finish this off.”

Various dignitaries pose for a photo at Wednesday’s press conference.

    If anyone wants to still get in with a donation to refurbish the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, they can do so by clicking right here.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Gordie Howe Sports Complex to get more needed upgrades

Friends of the Bowl leads new fundraising initiative

The Hilltops storm out on to the SMF Field turf  last September.

    There are times you almost forget how much actually happens at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

    The massive sports park named after hockey icon Gordie Howe and located in Saskatoon’s Holiday Park neighbourhood is best known as the home of the storied Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League and the legend building Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League. Both teams play out of Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which was once known as Gordie Howe Bowl.

    If you visit the Gordie Howe Sports Complex on any week night during the spring, you will see football is just a part of all the action that goes on there.

    Besides the football stadium, the Gordie Howe Sports Complex is also home to eight softball diamonds including Gordie Howe Softball Diamond, five baseball diamonds including Cairns Field, the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval and the Gordie Howe Kinsmen Arena.

    In order to keep all the facilities at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex going, you need to keep constantly maintaining and upgrading them. That is where the Friends of the Bowl Foundation not-for-profit group has stepped up so admirably.

    Formed in 2013, The Friends of the Bowl Foundation launched a forward-thinking initiative to raise the funds that were needed badly to refurbish the Complex’s aging football stadium.

The new clubhouse facility at SMF Field can serve numerous functions.

    That initial campaign raised over $11.6-million resulting in a new field turf playing surface, scoreboard, sound system, upgraded lighting, state of the art clubhouse complex, an enhanced entrance place and a new ticket booth.

    Numerous user groups have relished holding functions at the new clubhouse facility, which includes a huge and well used banquet space and patio on the second floor. The hours of play available on the field have increased from 300 hours a year to 1,200 hours a year.

    Now, the Friends of the Bowl are making a push for more upgrades. The current push is already seeing the installation of 5,000 seats and nine boxes at SMF Field. The seats and boxes were made available from the Grey Cup Legacy Project, and they come from old Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    Under the Grey Cup Legacy Project, the Government of Saskatchewan partnered with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders to distribute the seats and boxes to communities throughout Saskatchewan. The contribution of the seats and the boxes is valued at $4.1-million.

The new ticket building can be used to see team merchandise.

    Friends of the Bowl is raising $5.9-million to transport and install the seats and boxes, upgrade the speed skating oval, replace the backstop at Gordie Howe Softball Diamond and enhance the parking lot and entrance plaza lighting.

    The upgrades at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval will include a new timing board, safety mats, new grading of the track and paving around the timing buildings. The upgrades at the Gordie Howe Softball Diamond will include a new backstop that meets national standards.

    With the upgrades that have already been made to the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, the current backstop’s lack of height is a bit of an issue considering how close the softball diamond is to the entrance plaza, parking lot and clubhouse building.

    The Friends of the Bowl should be applauded for their continuing push to constantly improve the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. The volunteer board of directors of a solid group of community leaders headed by chairperson Bryan Kosteroski. Kosteroski has played a large role in helping build minor softball in Saskatoon and is currently the president of the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association.

The backstop at the Gordie Howe Softball Diamond is slated to be replaced.

    Another key member on the board has been Johnny Marciniuk, who is the operations manager for Saskatoon Football Incorporated and a vice-president with Football Saskatchewan. Marciniuk can seemingly always be found at SMF Field doing all sports of little work with the facility and its daily operations.

    The current fundraising campaign, which is called the Legacy Campaign, is being co-chaired by business leader Greg Yuel and former CFL player Quinn Magnuson. Both have made positive contributions to Saskatoon.

    During a Valkyries home game on May 13, Friends of the Bowl announced a roster of partners including the Saskatoon Baseball Council, Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association, Saskatoon Track and Field Club, Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club, Saskatoon Football Incorporated, Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate, Hilltops, Valkyries, Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club and the City of Saskatoon. All of those groups are impacted by what goes on at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

George Reed speaks at a function at the SMF Field clubhouse in 2016.

    The Gordie Howe Sports Complex holds countless practices, games and events each year involving over 25,000 local athletes and coaches. Currently, over 10 provincial, national and international events are held on average at the Complex each year. With upgrades, the Complex will likely hold more of these types of events.

    The best part about the Gordie Howe Sports Complex is it continues to be shaped and improved by the community for the community. Any efforts to raise funds to make improvements to it should always be welcomed.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. If you want to contribute to the fundraising efforts for the next set of improvements to the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, you can do so by clicking here.