VIDEO: Month to go before the Welland Empire Sportsplex opens

In slightly more than one month, the biggest grand opening Welland has seen in quite a few years will finally arrive.

The Empire Sportsplex is all that with emphasis on the “plex” meaning multiple. They will be three tennis courts, five beach volleyball courts, six Pickleball courts, a full-size basketball court and a splashpad.

Built at the cost of $2.7 million, Rob Axiak, Welland’s Community Services manager says everything is on track for its July 9 Grand Opening, slated for 10 am at the 11 Shaw Street location.

“Empire Communities has offered a great opportunity to the City of Welland,” said Mayor Frank Campion when the project was announced.

“This is a tremendous facility focused on sports recreation, which is essential for our growing community and destined to become a true community destination. The Empire Outdoor Multi-Purpose Sports Facility (now simply Sportsplex) offers quality recreation facilities to our residents for years to come.”

With two home developments in the Dain City vicinity that will, when combined, bring another 2,000 homes to the area, builder Empire Communities has chipped in $500,000 for naming rights over the next 10 years.

One person who is pumped for the new sportsplex is Welland Centre MP Vance Badawey, who’s already singing its praises on social media. See below.