Council votes to explore controversial soccer stadium at the Memorial Centre

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Kingston City Council has decided to move forward in exploring the proposal for a soccer stadium by Victory Grounds Ventures at the Memorial Centre. 

In the week leading up to the decision, community members and organizations have expressed significant opposition. Currently, the petition to halt the project sits at over 5,600 signatures.

At the council meeting, concerns were raised about the impact on local events that utilize the space. Community members also argued that a stadium in the dense residential area would bring too much disruption. 

Proponents, including local sports advocates and business organizations, highlighted the potential economic benefits, practice space, and community pride the stadium could bring. 

While some councillors were frustrated by the lack of transparency in the process so far, the majority voted to proceed with gathering community feedback and drafting a lease proposal, with a final decision expected in March 2025. Critics, however, remain skeptical about the stadium’s compatibility with the neighbourhood.

Listen to the full story here.