An increase of gym bookings in Centretown is forcing sports clubs to search for alternative venues and activities.
It’s hockey season, but arena space isn’t the only scarcity in Centretown. According to the Ottawa Sport and Social Club, free space in gymnasiums has become as rare as a natural hat trick.
The shortage of gym space is forcing the OSSC, one of the largest facility renters, to seek out new spaces to play.
The club, which celebrated its fifth anniversary Feb. 16, provides adults with co-ed sports leagues, tournaments and social events. Participants register to play in activities that range from soccer to ultimate frisbee.
League members now have to travel out of the Centretown area to access certain facilities. Some of these gyms are in locations as far away as Hull, Kanata, and Nepean.
“Though the majority of our leagues play in and around the Centretown area, we certainly have branched out to nearby areas in order to accommodate growth,” said Andrea Bailey, director of creative ideas and marketing.
The club has experienced a 30 per cent membership increase each year since 2003.
“Sometimes an amazing facility is a little farther away, and the quality of the facility is worth going a bit farther for,” Bailey said.
Bailey said that the club had to come up with new ideas to manoeuvre around the issue. “We are able to rely on strong partnerships and relationships to assist us when looking for extra space.”
These partnerships include school boards and the City of Ottawa.
Jane Gorman, supervisor of community use of schools at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board said larger gyms, like the one at Hopewell school, are in high demand, but that there is always space available in smaller gyms.
“Specific to those schools (in Centretown) I can’t say there’s been a huge increase, it’s always been pretty busy,” she said, adding that smaller gyms are becoming more booked due to activities like taekwondo, which are gaining more popularity.
Larger spaces are needed for people who play sports such as volleyball and floor hockey, forcing participants to commute farther.
Beth-Anne McGarry, who plays floor hockey once a week with the club, said it is not convenient to always be switching locations, but members do it because they enjoy their OSSC experiences.
“Convenience-wise going out to Hull is very inconvenient,” she said, adding that many people do not have cars and must car pool to locations that are further away.
However, the club is not only about playing sports.
“Some individuals, they really click, and go do things outside of the sports,” said McGarry. “I guess that’s why [the OSSC] have their tagline “recess for adults” because it really is.”
McGarry liked her experience so much that she became an OSSC volunteer evening co-ordinator. She ensures that all of the equipment is set up for the players.
McGarry said games are a good place for friends to catch up.
“Some people aren’t playing, they’re just socializing,” she said. “It’s a good mix.”
Since the club is for adults, games are scheduled in the evening on weekdays. However, they do offer weekend programs, and the OSSC is incorporating new programs to allow for growth and to see some happy customers.
“We have recently launched a new Outdoor Adventure program which includes one-day events as well as seasonal multi-week programs aimed at exposing adults to a variety of outdoor sports like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking,” said Bailey.
As rare as gym space may be this season, the OSSC need not worry. Members like McGarry will continue to commute out to events because it is more than just about physical activity.
“You get out there – it’s a social gathering as well as the sports.”