City proposes its preferred location for new cricket grounds

The City of North Bay has narrowed down its options for a planned new cricket ground and says it will work to bring the project to fruition in 2026 “subject to funding being available through available grant opportunities.”

The three recommended sites at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex will be presented to the North Bay City Council at its Tuesday, Sept. 17 regular meeting. If approved, one of the three sites will host the event, but a decision will be made at a later date. Two other sites considered in the site search include one on the site of a former psychiatric hospital on Highway 11 north of town and two sites at the foot of College Drive near Canadore student housing.

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The recommendation to council is to approve the location of the proposed regulation size cricket ground; direct staff to begin preliminary site work, including environmental and geotechnical work, and conduct operational analysis to identify an ideal construction site at the Steve Omischl Sports Center; and direct staff to complete Class C and D cost estimates during the 2025 capital budget process.

North Bay’s changing demographics have led to the arrival of hundreds of cricketers – many from South Asia – and rare opportunities to play the sport that is contested in many countries around the world. Cricket Canada estimates that the number of Canadian players could reach half a million by the mid-2030s based on immigration patterns, achieving the status of Canada’s fastest growing sport. According to the US National Institutes of Health, about 2.5 billion people of all ages and abilities participate. Cricket is played by five million people in India, 1.4 million in Australia and 300,000 in Great Britain Cricket is also the most popular spectator sport in India.

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According to Community Services Director Ian Kilgour’s report, the next steps include a detailed study of each of the three potential Omischl sites, including a detailed topographic survey, geotechnical testing and analysis, environmental approvals and design.

The report also lists the benefits of moving forward with the sports complex at the south end of Lakeshore Drive. It is adjacent to six existing outdoor sports fields, which allows for operational efficiency, maintenance and monitoring. Regular public transport is available. Capital costs are minimized because the sites are located next to existing infrastructure such as sewerage, water, washing facilities, parking, irrigation and lighting. There are multi-use synergies with the planned community and recreation center (i.e. arrangements for indoor tournament administration facilities and other tournament amenities). And there is an anticipated economic impact to West Ferris commercial sites, restaurants, gas stations and motels/hotels.

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Design and construction costs for the new cricket ground were included in the 2024 capital budget, with a total project cost estimate of $2,510,000. The construction phase of the project is planned for 2026. The city says it is investigating all funding possibilities and has identified the provincial community sports and leisure infrastructure fund (CSRIF) as a possible match for funding. CSRIF Stream 2 provides funds for a transformational project that addresses a recreation programming gap. “The project has the potential to have significant economic spin-offs through increased sports tourism and may attract additional investment as it expands the city’s range of recreational opportunities,” it explains.

During budget debates earlier this year, a projection in the 2024 capital budget included a $140,000 line item for this year’s cricket facility design fees and a $2.37 million estimate for 2026 construction.

City staff have been working with local cricket enthusiasts to see if the existing location could be used or even redeveloped into a new cricket venue, but the playing surface needed is huge. According to this guide, cricket pitches have an overall diameter of 137–152 meters (450–500 ft) and a total surface area of ​​up to 18,000 m² or almost 200,000 ft. The rectangular cricket ground itself is located in the center of the field and is surrounded by an oval infield with a radius of 27.4 m (90′) from the center of each edge.

“The City of North Bay does not currently have a dedicated regulation-sized cricket ground. Currently, cricket is played where the field can be temporarily used for this purpose with a softer non-regulation ball that does not fly as far on the smaller field.”, writes Kilgour. “Members of the North Bay Cricket Club have advised that the lack of a regulation size pitch prevents the club from hosting regulation tournaments. The club has advised that there are better opportunities to host tournaments,” North Bay on a regulation pitch.

Over the past decade, cricketers have played in places with tight spaces, such as Amelia Park in North Bay or next to the village center in Callander. If construction begins in 2026, the facility is expected to be completed by that fall.

In late February, councilors Sara Inch and Jamie Lowery tabled a joint motion declaring their support for the construction of a cricket ground – in response to a letter criticizing the idea.

In their letter, Inch and Lowery wrote: “Encouraging participation in cricket and other sports is a celebration of the diversity of our community and a step towards building a more inclusive society where everyone can find a sense of belonging. It’s about recognizing and valuing the contribution of society to all members of the community, celebrating our differences and finding common ground in action , which bring joy, health and unity.

“Don’t limit our understanding of community and culture to the sports we traditionally know. Instead, let’s embrace new and diverse contributions that enrich our collective identity. Supporting cricket is not just about supporting sport, it’s about supporting our community’s diversity and dynamic future.”