The President of Hanover Soccer Club says he was excited to learn Steinbach City Council might re-open discussion about building a performing arts centre as phase one of a multiplex in the city.

At Tuesday's Council meeting, Councillor Susan Penner announced she will make a motion at the October 6th meeting, asking council to re-open debate. She will require a majority vote of Council for that to happen.

Norm Anderson who heads the local soccer club says while this pleases him, he doesn't want plans for a performing arts centre to be scrapped.

"I think really there's got to be room for both groups to get something out of this," says Anderson, referring to the soccer and arts communities. "I think it's maybe great that there's going to be a rethink possibly, because I think a bit more consideration and discussion between all the groups involved could come up with maybe a better outcome for everybody."

Anderson says if the city were to scale back plans for its $15-20 million performing arts centre, it could then redirect that money towards an indoor soccer facility. According to Anderson, in a perfect world, Steinbach would be home to a facility similar to the $40 million complex which opened last year on the grounds at the University of Winnipeg. Anderson says this is a multi-million dollar, steel structure with a soccer specific field. Yet he says this is clearly not feasible and so they have been looking at alternatives.

One such alternative was presented to Steinbach City Council in June of 2014. Anderson says this concept calls for an artificial surface to replace one of their fields. Overtop of the field, an air supported dome would be built. The building would cover about 70,000 square feet. Anderson says this project would cost less than $5 million. It would also have the capability of being taken down in summer and used as a regular soccer field. Though he says if the right lease holders would come forward, the dome might become a permanent fixture.

According to Anderson, nearly 700 soccer players ranging from four year olds to adults register with the soccer club in a given year. But Anderson says they know there are more players than that in Steinbach and suggests a more accurate number is probably 1000. He says an indoor facility would probably increase those numbers by fifty per cent. Anderson notes the lack of a facility is hurting them.

"I think the reason that we've been so successful has been the way we've built the development of the club around the coaches and the kids," notes Anderson. "But it all breaks down when you come to winter, it's the reason that our sport is not growing to the next level. And so we can't offer a winter continuation."

As part of the discussion for a multiplex in Steinbach, other phases have included a field house and arena. Anderson says he has seen the drawings for such a field house and they call for a hard court facility.

"Really we would be no further forward playing soccer in there then we would be in any of the gymnasiums that we train in through the winter," notes Anderson. "That is one of the reasons we're pushing for an indoor facility of our own to avoid injuries and get a more realistic feel of the game for the kids that we're training."

Read More:

Steinbach Councillor Wants To Drop Performing Arts Centre Plan

Mayor Puzzled By Penner's Move On Performing Arts Centre

Making A Case For A Field House

Proposal For Indoor Soccer Field In Steinbach