The University and the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club have formalized a joint initiative to construct and operate a shared use soccer training facility at UBC. Alongside the UBC Varsity Soccer and Whitecaps Football Club, the new facility will also provide for a number of community and recreation organizations. The facility will form the centerpiece of the proposed National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC), which includes:
- a new field house,
- two grass playing fields,
- an artificial turf field,
- and relocation of the existing Varsity turf field and Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre.
Capital funding for the facilities is split between the Provincial Government ($11.6 million), the Whitecaps ($8.789 million) and UBC Properties Trust for a total of project value of $22 million. The Board of Governors approved this proposal on June 2nd 2014, with construction on the playing fields targeted to start in August 2014 and a completion date of June 2015. The Wolfson West turf field is set to commence in mid-August. The filed house component is expected to be approved by the board in June 2015 and is slated for completion by December 2016. There is also planning work being undertaken to determine the location of short term parking, pick up/drop off, pathways, and a plaza. A link to the press release can be found here.
Click the following link for a live photo image of the new National Soccer Development Centre construction site: http://142.103.95.35/index.php?cam=2
Thunderbird Stadium Field Update
Thunderbird Stadium is looking brand new! The field has been updated just in time for the upcoming school year where it will be home to UBC varsity football, soccer, and many other recreational programs.
The new hybrid monofilament, slit film turf is stitched with the Thunderbirds logo at centre, with permanent blue coloured end zones. The field also has stitched lines for both soccer and football.
Nobel Park Softball Field Update
As of April 1, 2021, construction of Nobel Park field has substantially been completed. The softball field will be home to the UBC Women’s Varsity Softball team and will also be used by the community.
Field installations and upgrades include safety nettings surrounding the field, roofs on dugouts, new in-field and warning track, upgrades to fencing, and re-alignment of field to meet NCAA requirements including two bullpens.
We are entering the Grow-In Phase of development to allow the turf to re-establish itself and are aiming for an early summer opening.
New Recreation Centre
Learn about the Project
The New Recreation Centre received Board 1 approval from the UBC Board of Governors in June 2020. The new facility will provide much needed recreation space including a state of the art fitness centre, three gymnasiums, an indoor track, and many other amenities.
Planning for a new recreation centre emerged from the UBC GamePlan: 20-year Recreation and Athletics Facilities Strategy, which involved public consultation and was approved by the Board of Governors in April 2017. The strategy supports UBC’s commitment to wellbeing by meeting a growing need for recreational fitness and gymnasium space.
New Recreation Centre Comment
Please review the attached documents above and use the form found via the link below to provide your comments by March 25, 2021.
Fitness Programming Comment
Please take a few minutes to provide your comments on the fitness programming areas of the new recreation centre.
Nobel Park Softball Field Upgrades
A development permit application has been received by Campus and Community Planning for renovations to the softball diamond at Nobel Park for use by the UBC Women’s Varsity Softball team as well as the community. Proposed improvements include upgrades to the field surface and fencing, new covered dugouts, bullpens, safety netting and space for temporary bleachers and washroom facilities.
For more information, please visit UBC Campus + Community Planning.