• Stouffville has signed a new deal with Mentana Group for the long-awaited Ballantrae sports dome.
  • The Town officially ended its agreement with Ballantrae Sports Group, the original proponent contracted to deliver the project.
  • Mentana’s updated plans feature a FIFA-sized soccer pitch, multi-use courts, and fitness facilities.
  • Construction is expected to begin in late summer 2025, with the facility opening in 2026.
  • The original project stalled for two years, leaving residents frustrated by the visible lack of progress and loss of parkland and two sports fields.
  • The Town says the updated plan will help address community demand for indoor sports space and prioritizes local group access.

 

After years of stalled progress and growing community frustration, Stouffville has scrapped its original deal and is moving forward with a new partner to deliver the long-awaited Ballantrae Multi-Sport Complex in Ballantrae Park.

The Town formally announced the end of its agreement with Ballantrae Sports Group, the initial proponent contracted to build the facility. A new partnership with Mentana Group—a firm the Town credits with successful delivery of high-quality community sports and recreation infrastructure—was finalized today.

Design work is now underway, and construction is expected to begin late this summer. Plans for the dome complex include a versatile layout capable of supporting a wide range of sports and community programming.

The official opening is anticipated sometime in 2026, with a more detailed timeline expected in the coming months.

“At a high level, it will include a FIFA regulation soccer pitch which can be divided into smaller indoor turf fields, multi-use courts, fitness spaces, and amenities designed for all ages and abilities,” a recent Stouffville press release explains.

New conceptual renderings reveal Mentana’s vision for the “Air Dome Sportszone,” which includes a restaurant, gym, and lobby with timber accents and large exterior and interior windows.

“We made a commitment to this community, and we have worked diligently to honour it,” Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said in a Friday press release. “After exhausting every option with the previous leaseholder, it became clear that a new direction was required to ensure the delivery of this much-needed facility.”

The original project broke ground in April 2023, with hopes of opening that fall. First contemplated during the early days of Lovatt’s first mayoral term, the development struggled to gain momentum and ultimately stalled.

In the interim, the site saw the removal of an existing soccer field and baseball diamond, as well as the clearing of trees. A significant portion of Ballantrae Park has remained fenced off in anticipation of construction, exacerbating community frustration over the lack of visible progress.

During an April 29, 2025, town hall meeting, one resident voiced concerns about the long-delayed project and diminishing access to youth sports facilities.

“What’s the update on that?” she asked. “With this, with Soccer City being sold, our kids have less and less opportunities to play these sports because the facilities are not available.”

Lovatt acknowledged those concerns and pointed to the ongoing work with Mentana Group.

“We are very frustrated…with what’s happened with the vision for the dome,” he said. “Our goal is to see the dome come to completion. If for some reason it doesn’t, we will be taking legal action against [Ballantrae Sports Group]. They would need to restore [the park] back to the way it was before.”

While some community members have questioned the decision to replace public parkland with the privately operated sports dome, the Town continues to stress the need for expanded indoor sports infrastructure.

“Our sports organizations are growing, and they need additional facilities to expand their own programming. This is an efficient way of delivering that space,” Rob Braid, the Town’s Commissioner of Community Services, told Bullet Point News. “I think it’s going to be a phenomenal addition to the community.”

Braid noted that Mentana will not be charged for use of the land, but preferred, protected rates will be offered to local sports organizations. Some facility use will also be made available for Stouffville’s recreation programming at no cost to the Town.

Usage fees for other community bookings will be set by the dome’s operators.

As Stouffville takes a second swing at delivering the new community asset, all eyes will be on whether the new plan—and new partnership—can deliver where the previous one fell short.