I had the opportunity to attend the VIP Grand Opening Celebration of Oakville's newest sports complex this past Friday evening. The invitation was extended to me due to my involvement on Oakville's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
The new 4 rink arena is a stunning, state of the art facility. I'm just sorry it wasn't built when my kids were playing hockey in their younger days. In the older Oakville arenas the fans in the stands had to fight for the right to sit under the heaters. Even then you weren't guaranteed that the heater would actually turn on.
If you wanted to stay warm, you stood in the lobby and fought for a spot to stand in front of the window. If a goal was scored down at the other end of the rink the only way you would know was if the red light came on. And when your child came out and asked if you saw them score a goal you just smiled and said great job.
No worries about lack of heat at Sixteen Mile. There are seats in the lobby overlooking the rinks and you can even sit in the restaurant and relax at a table with a meal and beverage and watch the whole game unfold. There is one Olympic sized ice pad and 3 NHL dimension surfaces.
And the coffee served at the concession stand? Starbucks. The grand opening weekend events included a skating show with Kurt Browning and other well known Canadian skaters alongside local talent. An NHL alumni game was played and Oakville's own Junior team the Blades christened their new home game arena.
The Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is located on the corner of Dundas Street and Neyagawa Blvd. in Oakville. It is also going to be home to new soccer fields with lots of room for a future BMX track, community centre and library. A new home development is underway across the road from the complex.
The opening celebration I attended saw Mayor Rob Burton thank the current town council and past councils whose vision has become reality. He also extended his thanks to the contractor who completed the building on time and on budget.
The Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is going to be well used and will surely do Oakville proud. I wonder how long it will take for the brand spanking new smell in the dressing rooms to turn to the more familiar dressing room smell??
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