New life coming to John Blumberg sports complex

A new game plan is in the works to transform John Blumberg’s sports fields.

In early 2023, Softball Manitoba did not renew a lease with the city, which owns the property, because of $3.2 million in required upgrades, leaving the complex without an operator. As a non-profit, they could not afford the costly repairs.

Now the city is set to enter into a seasonal deal with the Red River Exhibition Association while the two sides finalize a long-term lease.

Association CEO Garth Rogerson said for a $1-a-year lease, his organization will make the necessary upgrades at no cost to taxpayers. They plan on running a restaurant and lounge while adding other sports to the adjacent soccer fields, including archery, lacrosse, and disc sports.

"You'll see rotating through there a wide variety of things, which is going to drive the restaurant sales, which is going to drive the gift shop sales," said Rogerson.

Softball Manitoba Executive Director Don Klym said not having Blumberg in the mix has impacted the sport as players are having to travel more. He said they're excited home runs could be hit there again.

"We'd love to be back in Blumberg. It's a great place to play, and we look forward to anything they could accomplish out there." said Klym.

The association is also eyeing the other side of the park. Right now the city has an existing lease for the golf course. But once that ends, Rogerson said he'd like to run that too. They’d reduce the course from 27 holes to 18, while adding pickleball, a dog park, trails, canoe rentals, and skating on the river.

"There's so many things there we can do there to create almost like a city park. So in a similar fashion to Assiniboine Park but with a sports feel to it," said Rogerson.

Rogerson expects the short-term lease to be signed within a week or so. A report on the long-term deal is expected at city hall this year.