Spruce Meadows
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2019) |
Address | 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW |
---|---|
Location | Foothills County, Alberta[citation needed] |
Coordinates | 50°53′06″N 114°06′02″W / 50.88500°N 114.10056°W |
Owner | Spruce Meadows |
Surface | Grass, sand, pavement |
Construction | |
Opened | 1975 |
Expanded | 2019 |
Tenants | |
Cavalry FC (CPL) (2019–present) | |
Website | |
www |
Spruce Meadows is a
The facility contains an equestrian show jumping complex that comprises 505 acres (2.04 km2). The current president and CEO of Spruce Meadows is Linda Southern-Heathcott, a former Olympian who competed in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games for the Canadian Olympic Team.
The facility is also the home venue of
Tournaments
There are six major outdoor tournaments and eight indoor tournaments at Spruce Meadows annually. The indoor tournaments are known as the 'Nakoda Series' and are tailored for developing junior/amateur competitors. The outdoor tournaments start with the 'Summer Series' a five-week-long tour that comprises the following tournaments: beginning in June with the CSI 'National', the CSI 'Continental', the CSI 'Pan American', and then the CSI 'North American' in July. The outdoor season culminates in the CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament in September. Each tournament is well-recognized and attracts a wide array of athletes and their horses from around the world. Spruce Meadows was named number one show jumping facility in the world in 2001–02 and 2003–04.
Spruce Meadows breeds, trains, and sells
Soccer stadium
A 6,000 seat
History
Construction of Spruce Meadows began in 1973, with the opening in 1975 and first equestrian tournament in 1976. It hosts 500,000 visitors annually and has the stable capacity for 1,000 horses. Spruce Meadows is open for visitors 365 days of the year. It is an all-season facility that hosts conventions and trade shows as well as show-jumping and dressage events. Spruce Meadows has a television production facility that produces Spruce Meadows Chronicles, a show-jumping related TV series that is broadcast to over 100 countries, in addition to other specials and programs.
In May 2018, it was announced that Spruce Meadows were behind a new Canadian Premier League soccer club, Cavalry FC, who will play at their facility in a modular, 5,000-seat stadium starting in 2019.[8]
In late December 2018 Construction began on a new 4,000 seat covered grandstand on the eastern edge of the Meadows on the Green horse ring. The stadium will feature 2,000 additional temporary seats during soccer matches.[3]
In late January 2019 the capacity of the grandstand was updated to be 4,500 seats, with a further 1,500 split between the north and south ends of the pitch.[5]
Recent concerns
Recently, the Southern family, who have owned the facility since its inception, have become vocal regarding the encroaching city development—once several kilometres outside of town, Spruce Meadows is now located adjacent to the
In the late 1990s, the Southerns successfully lobbied the City of Calgary to rename the stretch of Highway 22X that runs north of the facility from Marquis of Lorne Trail to Spruce Meadows Trail.
See also
References
- ^ Spencer, Donna. "Calgary's Cavalry FC to share soccer pitch with four-legged athletes". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ Rieger, Sarah (May 17, 2018). "Cavalry FC, Calgary's new professional soccer team, to debut in 2019". CBC News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ a b White, Ryan (December 27, 2018). "Construction underway on new soccer stadium at Spruce Meadows ahead of CPL launch". CTV News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Spencer, Donna (April 30, 2019). "Calgary's Cavalry FC to share soccer pitch with four-legged athletes". The Canadian Press. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ a b "Preparations continue apace at Meadows on the Green as Cavalry FC count down to CPL kickoff – AFTN". Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ "Cavalry FC to Host Inaugural Home Match on May 4, 2019,". Cavalry FC. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ Laing, Zach. "Cavalry FC open inaugural season with 2-1 victory". Calgary Sun. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ "Cavalry FC, Calgary's new professional soccer team, to debut in 2019 | CBC News". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 18, 2018.