Whitby’s latest recreation center has been added to the lineup for the world’s largest youth lacrosse event. The arenas at the not-yet-open Fieldgate Sports Complex in Whitby will open early for the Ontario Lacrosse Festival from July 31 to August 9.
The grand opening of the Fieldgate Sports Complex is set for September 12, but a news release from the Town of Whitby stated that construction progress on the facility has “made it possible” for the town and its partners to safely host games in the twin arena pads.
During the festival, only the arenas will be accessible. The aquatics center, gymnasium, walking track, and outdoor recreational amenities will remain closed while final construction work, equipment setup, staff training, and operational preparations are completed ahead of the official launch.
“This is an exciting moment for Whitby and another important step toward opening the Fieldgate Sports Complex,” said Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Ontario Lacrosse Festival to our community and give residents an early look at our beautiful new arenas. I encourage everyone to come out and cheer on our local athletes as they compete alongside teams from across Ontario.”
Whitby will host thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, families, and spectators from all over the province during ten days of action at the Ontario Lacrosse Festival, organized annually by the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
“It’s great to be back in Whitby with a record-setting number of teams participating in this year’s Ontario Lacrosse Festival,” said Ontario Lacrosse Association Program Director Ron Mac Spayden. “The new Fieldgate Sports Complex is another first-class facility that supports community sports like lacrosse. We are excited about hosting festival games there this summer.”
Residents are encouraged to catch some games, support local athletes, and help welcome teams and families from across Ontario while getting their first glimpse of the new arenas in action.
“The chance for Fieldgate Sports Complex to host part of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Festival showcases outstanding progress made by our project team and partners,” said Town of Whitby CAO Matt Gaskell. “By opening just the arenas first, we can safely welcome residents, athletes, and visitors into this facility while we continue preparing other areas like the aquatic center and gymnasium for our grand opening on September 12.”
Last 30 Days: 53,887 Votes
All Time: 1,581,731 Votes
294 VOTES
Do you trust promises made by mayoral candidates in your city?
“It’s an exciting preview of how Fieldgate Sports Complex will support recreation activities, sport tourism opportunities, and boost our local economy for years ahead.”
The 2026 Ontario Lacrosse Festival will take place at 16 venues – including Fieldgate, Mc Kinney Centre, Luther Vipond Memorial Arena as well as Iroquois Park Sports Centre as its main venue – over ten days.
This festival draws more than 500 teams along with approximately 9,300 coaches and athletes competing across thirty-six provincial championships designed for participants aged between six to twenty-one years old. This makes it recognized as one of world’s largest youth lacrosse events with around annual attendance reaching about 55 thousand people.
An estimated $9.3 million was spent by visitors during last year’s event.
Tournament schedules along with event information can be found through the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
Fieldgate Sports Complex in Whitby
INSAUGA Canada’s Editorial Standards and Policies
Stay informed.
Subscribe now to receive our daily email featuring today’s top stories in your city!
Source link
