‘Cricket capital of Canada’ begins work on year-round playing facility

Cricket players will be able to play their favourite sport in Brampton by next winter.

This week, the process to build the country’s largest cricket dome began with a ground-breaking ceremony at Earnscliffe Park.

The $25 million dome will feature a turf cricket field, a five-lane batting cage, a comfort station and enough space to accommodate players of all skill levels who will be able to play and practice all year round.

“This project enhances our sports infrastructure so that residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds have access to quality programs and facilities, said Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5. “Investing in recreational services means investing in the well-being and vibrancy of our city and I look forward to seeing this cricket dome become a beloved community landmark.”

Brampton has declared itself at the “cricket capital of Canada” due to the popularity of the sport and the growing levels of participation.

In a statement on her website, Santos said to meet the demand for the game Brampton will continue to prioritize making the sport more accessible to all residents through the number of cricket pitches available and the programs offered.

Here are some of the cricket highlights for Brampton:

• Through the 2025 Budget, the City of Brampton is investing approximately $10 million over the next two years to equip local cricket facilities with lighting and other enhancements.
• Brampton is home to 22 cricket sites.
• In the summer 2024, the City of Brampton hosted the GT20 Tournament for a third year, welcoming some of the top international cricket players and some of the biggest names in the sport.
• The City’s cricket amenities host 70 unique seasonal organizations, tournaments and individuals that book over 19,000 hours of field time.
• The city Lands project is a proposed redevelopment of the municipal-owned site at Kennedy Road South, Highway 410 and 407, at the CAA sports and entertainment facility that includes a new state-of-the-art, multi-purpose cricket facility.
• In partnership with Peel District School Board, the city is investing to bring a new, fully lit facility with artificial turf wickets and player pavilions to Turner Fenton Secondary School.

The dome is also part of the city’s broader plan to winterize more recreation amenities to improve the availability of sports year-round and builds on the recently opened Rosalea Park Tennis Facility to connect more youth to tennis and the Cassie Campbell Field Hockey Dome, offering a new winterized multi-sport facility.