Withdrawal of Memorial Centre soccer stadium proposal sparks relief and hope for future alternatives

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

The proposal for a FIFA-grade soccer stadium at Kingston’s Memorial Center has been officially withdrawn, ending a contentious debate that divided the community. 

The proposal from Victory Grounds Ventures became a community discussion in January. Concerns from residents in the densely-populated neighbourhood surrounding the site included potential noise, traffic, loss of green space, and interference with community events. 

Victory Grounds Ventures Managing Partner Paul Barbeau cited possible legal issues as a key reason for the withdrawal. 

Despite the setback, Barbeau remains optimistic, stating that Victory Grounds Ventures is already eyeing two alternative sites.

“One of the things this last month and a half, two months has done is it solidified that this is a project that can work in Kingston,” Barbeau stated in an interview with CFRC. “Over and over we heard the population is excited about this project… just Memorial Centre wasn’t the right site.”

Listen to the full story here.