Mayor Patrick Brown defends plan to spend $35 million on Brampton cricket stadium
Published October 8, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Mayor Patrick Brown has defended the City’s potential investment in a new, $35 million cricket stadium that would be located at the CAA Centre.
Recently, it was announced the City is considering building the stadium to attract fans and players of the sport at the local, national, and international levels, with the expectation to make Brampton the cricket capital of the country.
However, some Brampton residents have complained about the $35 million cost.
“I find it intriguing that frequently we’ll build recreation centres with double ice pads or double ball diamonds or double soccer fields with a cost that would be in excess of $35 million, and it’s never a discussion, it’s almost automatic,” Brown said in an interview with insauga.com Publisher Khaled Iwamura. “But, when you take on some expenses for a sport that hasn’t historically been invested in, all of a sudden people question whether we should be spending so much money.”
Additionally, Brown suggested the investment is something residents of the city want and would benefit from.
“Right now, one of the most popular sports in Brampton is cricket—we have more than 140 teams on the waitlist just to play,” he said. “We’re adding new fields in the east end of Brampton as well and it’s long overdue. Our recreation needs to reflect the mosaic of the city; and right now there is a passion for cricket amongst many of our new residents.”
Brown emphasized his desire to ensure the city is capable of accommodating the diverse interests of its citizens.
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“I want to ensure Brampton is a city where, no matter what sport you’re passionate about, we’re going to have amenities available to enjoy it. We’ve short-changed cricket for a long time, and this council is determined to change that.”
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