The Steinbach soccer community is expressing interest in the new sport centre being planned for the city.

Les Spence owns Fitness Zone. He has announced plans to build a new gym on land west of Birch Auto Farm Supply. Spence has put out a survey, asking residents of the southeast what they would like to see included as part of the facility.

Ashley Priest is President of Hanover Soccer Club. He says the club would love to see a full-size indoor soccer field with an artificial surface included with the sport centre.

"The season gets pretty short, running from the middle of May till now," says Priest. "Especially for younger players or kids, it would be a chance for them to develop their soccer all year round."

According to Priest, in the Eastman region, there were probably close to 2,000 soccer players registered this year from U4 to U17. That doesn't even take into consideration all of the adult players, many of which are travelling to Winnipeg to play indoors in winter. He notes with all of the interest in youth soccer, the Club could probably rent space in this indoor facility every night of the week, if the opportunity presented itself. Priest says within Steinbach alone they probably rent at least half a dozen school gyms over the course of the year.

Priest says soccer is growing in Steinbach and area. He notes in recent memory their registration numbers would double from one year to the next. Priest says a new sport centre would definitely result in additional growth.

If the sport centre that is built includes a soccer facility that uses a hard surface, Priest says it can still be of value to local soccer players. But he says there are already a lot of gyms in Steinbach with hardwood floors. Priest notes an artificial turf could also benefit football and baseball teams or even ultimate frisbee leagues.

Priest is arranging to meet with Spence to further discuss their wishes.

Meanwhile, Andrew Harder is also setting up a meeting with the Fitness Zone owner. Harder is General Manager of the Southeast Futsal League. Harder says he was very excited when he first learned of the possibility of a field house that could include space for indoor soccer.

The Southeast Futsal League has been around since 2013. The sport is played with a low bounce ball and as a result, is always played on a hard surface. The league plays all of its games out of Steinbach Bible College. Harder says this year they will probably have between 35 and 40 teams, with nearly 400 players.

Harder says they have outgrown the SBC gym. Not only have they used up all available time slots but Harder says a lot of fans come watch their games, which can make the court feel very tight.

"We can have up to one hundred thirty people coming to watch," he says. "The game futsal is not using the walls, they have lines, so then you can have people sitting all around."

Harder says allowing people to watch has created a community atmosphere. He says if they branch out and use another facility, it must be able to accommodate fans.

Harder says the space they use at SBC is 19 metres by 31 metres. He notes many other gyms in Steinbach are too small and so they have limited options. Further to that, he says if the new sport centre does not include a hard surface court, it will be of very little use to the league.

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