The first-place Vancouver Giants could be starting a long playoff run, which has the local lacrosse community once again crying foul.
“I don’t know why lacrosse, which is such a big part of the community and the history of Delta, is being so disrespected,” said John Burr, president of the Ladner Pioneers senior lacrosse club. “Our access to dry floor time and our season is getting squeezed at both ends more and more.”
The Giants, who practice at the Ladner Leisure Centre but play their games at the Langley Events Centre, have a deal with the City of Delta for exclusive use of the leisure centre into early May, which would cut into the season for lacrosse, ball hockey and other dry floor users.
Burr said they’ve been told the Giants will be leaving the leisure centre during spring break, however, the city is giving the junior hockey team ice time at the South Delta Recreation Centre, which means that facility won’t be available for lacrosse.
Delta Junior Islanders president Darcy Phillips said the contract is a poor one for the city, but especially for local users groups, noting it’s a case of a private business taking over public facilities.
Matt Taylor, vice-president of Delta Minor Lacrosse, agreed, saying he doesn’t understand why the Giants can’t have practices at Tilbury Ice, Langley or elsewhere instead of ice sitting empty for most of the day while squeezing out other users.
“I don’t care if you’re the Canucks or whoever. It’s a public facility that should be used by other public user groups,” said Taylor, adding they met with city officials who kept pointing out the city has a contractual obligation.
The lease stipulates the Giants are to be provided with exclusive access to the ice rink at the leisure centre for a period of two consecutive hours each day from Monday to Friday from Sept. 1 to the end of the Western Hockey League playoff season. The Giants also get use of the centre in August to hold training camp and exhibition games.
Parks, recreation and culture director Ken Kuntz said the city is working on trying to accommodate all users.
“Delta has a contract to provide ice to the Giants during their playoffs. The city is upholding that obligation. Staff have worked with the Giants and all dry floor sport users to minimize any impact. A number of alternatives for lacrosse, ball hockey and roller hockey are being considered by the groups, including the city purchasing arena time in neighbouring communities. The clubs are currently reviewing the alternatives and we hope to have something finalized by early next week,” said Kuntz via email.
Saying over 400 lacrosse players in Delta are being impacted, Burr complained it’s difficult to foster and grow the sport locally when told they should be playing in other communities.
Noting the lease means the Pioneers will never again be able to host a President’s Cup national tournament in their home arena, Burr said they’ve also been told the Giants are taking over the leisure centre at the beginning of August, which squeezes lacrosse further if teams have their own playoffs. He said it’s to accommodate a hockey school held by the Giants, which should get local taxpayers more upset how a public facility is being used to accommodate a for-profit business.
In 2015, Delta entered a new lease with the Giants. It was an in-camera decision by Delta council to ink a 10-year deal with team owner Ron Toigo. Lacrosse officials said they are upset user groups were not included in those discussions.
In 2005, the municipality entered into the first lease with Toigo to move the junior hockey club's training facility to the leisure centre.
The Giants at the time paid approximately $1 million toward an addition to the leisure centre, which included a weight room on the top floor open to the public as well as space for the hockey team on the ground floor. The Giants also got exclusive ice time at the arena.
Delta paid for part of the expansion and the $170,000 price tag to equip the new weight room, among other costs.
The original 10-year lease expired in 2015, which required Delta to make a balloon payment of approximately $390,000 to cover the outstanding mortgage.
The current deal sees the Giants pay an annual rental fee of $25,000 for use of the training facility. The Giants also get what they had before, including the exclusive weekday ice time for practices and access to the facility for training camp and pre-season games. They also got to place signage on an exterior wall.
All other terms remained the same as the previous lease, although the team would have to pay a 50 per cent penalty of the remaining balance if it decided to terminate the agreement early.
"Keeping the team training facility within Delta is strongly supported by the community," stated Delta CAO George Harvie at the time. "By having the Giants' training facility in Delta, the school academies, training camp and other development programs remain local. The addition of the training centre signage at the Ladner Leisure Centre also assists in the identity of the civic precinct."
Harvie also noted the Giants and the team owners have supported many community sports organizations as well as sponsored several community events.
The city is exploring building a cover for the outdoor lacrosse box near the leisure centre, but Taylor noted the lacrosse community has been told it would need to contribute at least 10 per cent of the cost, which will be a challenge.
There’s an information meeting for dry floor user groups and the public on Monday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the South Delta Recreation Centre.
