By Jay Westman
Coming soon to Lansdowne Park: invasion of the bubble people.
Sports bubble people, that is.
Three large domes will be built by the end of the month on the recently re-turfed field surface to accommodate winter-league sports teams such as teams from the Ottawa Nepean Touch Football League.
The league has been playing winter games on the older domed field behind Lansdowne for the last six of their 37 years in existence.
The enclosures will be on the new, grass-like turf which is far superior to the surface that exists in the old dome.
“We’ll get rid of obstructions, our turf will be better. (In the old dome) we just used indoor-outdoor carpet,” says league president, Ed Laverty.
He says Lansdowne already has its new turf, and the tentative start for the winter season is Nov. 20.
The league consists of 160 teams with 12 to 18 players each. They compete provincially with teams from other cities including Hamilton, Scarborough and Mississauga.
Players and organizers alike are looking forward to the improved facilities, which will be a big step up from playing in the old bubble, says women’s league co-ordinator Jennie Esnard, who also plays in the organization.
“That was scary. In the middle of the winter, if there was a bad snowstorm, one end zone would end up with a sheet of ice on it — it wasn’t sealed properly for the winter.
“It was a great facility, (but) more for the track athletes.”
Esnard, who’s been in the league for 21 years, says the new field is looking good.
“I went out and checked out the turf, I’m totally impressed. I think there’s a huge excitement in the touch football community (about the new domes), because we’ll be able to introduce a women’s league this (winter), which we couldn’t do before because we didn’t have enough time for it.”
Local resident Crystal Rhyno has recently joined the league, and looks forward to her first winter season.
“I played in the summer ONTFL league, (and now) our team’s going to play in Lansdowne. It looks like it will be a lot of fun, like we’re playing real football, kinda cool,” the MacLaren Street resident says.
The league will compete for valuable playing time with indoor soccer leagues, field hockey and Ultimate Frisbee.
“Three fields on Lansdowne Park, and they’re totally booked now. We’re glad we (booked) our hours when we did,” says Laverty.
Lansdowne Park apparently hasn’t lost its magic for attracting sports fans, even if it can’t attract a new CFL franchise.