Superdome at Ben Franklin Park

The Superdome at Ben Franklin Park provides residents and organized sports teams with year-round access to much-needed facilities in the west end. The $5.86 million Superdome is a state-of-the-art, air-supported sports dome that provides a FIFA-approved international soccer field that can be reconfigured into three mini-fields for seven-on-seven play and practices. The field is also suitable for a wide range of sports including soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, Ultimate, cricket, golf and more. Parents, kids, coaches and players appreciate the climate-controlled, mosquito-free playing environment.

Benefits of BFP Superdome to residents

• Utilization of a Public Private Partnership (P3) has ensured productivity, efficiency, and best value for the City through the acquisition of a specialized private partner who takes on many of the risks associated with this project.
• Addition of much-needed indoor space for soccer, Ultimate, golf and other recreational and sporting activities during the winter months
• Increased recreational programming and services respond to the significant demand in the west end of the city, without incurring debt
• TMSI, the facility’s private-sector partner, provides use of the facility to community groups throughout the year at a market rate.

Location

The Superdome is located in Ben Franklin Park at 191 Knoxdale Road. View a map to Superdome.

Milestones

The process leading up to the completion of the Superdome began in 2002 when staff at the City of Ottawa defined a need for a year-round field sports facility in the west-end. In February 2007, TMSI was awarded a contract to build the facility and it opened for business in November of the same year.

Project Partners

The BFP Superdome was created as a result of a Public-Private Partnership between the City of Ottawa and Thunderbird Management Services Inc (TMSI). It was the two’s second joint-venture. The City and TMSI had partnered three years earlier on the Superdome East at the Hornets Nest.

About TMSI

Thunderbird Management Services Inc. (TMSI) is a locally owned and operated company that manages and owns recreational facilities in the Ottawa area and eastern Ontario. Currently, TMSI manages a number of tennis, golf and soccer facilities and programs, as well as one of the largest summer camp programs in the area. Learn more about TMSI by visiting the TMSI Web site (link is external).

Contact the Superdome at Ben Franklin Park

Superdome is available for use year round. Visit their Web page (link is external) for the latest contact info.

The Superdome at Ben Franklin Park is located at 191 Knoxdale Road where it supports all sorts of activities and includes:

• A 24-metre-high, state-of-the-art dome that surrounds 80,000 sq. ft. of climate-controlled environment
• FIFA-approved full soccer field, containing three mini fields
• Replacement of natural turf with Canada’s only NFL-level 51-ounce Omnigrass turf, which is specially designed to reduce player injury and has low slide resistance
• Opaque insulated dome, which provides cooler temperatures in summer and better heat retention in winter
• Enhanced lighting inside the dome as well as in the parking lot
• Computer-controlled energy and inflation system with special sensors designed to reduce energy consumption and optimize the dome according to weather changes
• Easy access from the Hunt Club Road
• Ample free parking

Other features, such as a raised foundation sill and upgraded Tedlar-coated dome fabric help ensure that Superdome will be maintained at peak condition over the years.

All facilities built in partnership with the City of Ottawa are wheelchair accessible.

The Superdome at Ben Franklin Park was completed under an innovative Public-Private Partnership (P3) between the City of Ottawa and TMSI Sports Management, which ensured best value for the City. The terms of the partnership are:

• The City and TMSI have a 20-year P3 agreement, including two 5-year renewal options.
• The facility will transfer to the City for a nominal fee at the end of the agreement’s term.
• TMSI was responsible for the design and construction of the project, with City approval.
• TMSI operates, manages and maintains the facility, and is responsible for the development, marketing and delivery of programs.
• TMSI and the City entered into a Municipal Capital Facilities Agreement to provide the facility with relief from property taxes, development charges and permit fees.
• TMSI sets hourly rates for the use of the facility.
• Users purchase time directly from TMSI.

Financial framework

• TMSI invested $3.783 million in the purchase and construction of the dome.
• City prepared the site for the facility by extending municipal services including water and sanitary – at a cost of $2.079 million.
• The City will pay the replacement cost for the artificial turf at the end of its lifecycle (in about year 10).

What is the Superdome at Ben Franklin Park?

Superdome is an air-inflated sports facility serving west-end Ottawa residents.

What is special about BFP Superdome?

Superdome has many advanced features, such as sensor-based climate and inflation control, 51-ounce rubber Omnigrass to reduce player injury, Tedlar-coated exterior fabric to increase life of the dome as well as reduce discoloring, enhanced interior lighting, leading-edge insulation to help optimize field conditions in all four seasons, and more.

How big is BFP Superdome?

Superdome measures 330 x 214 ft. and has a 65 ft. high ceiling.

How big are the fields at BFP Superdome?

Superdome’s FIFA-approved field measures 308 x 183 ft., and can be configured into three mini-fields measuring 95 x 183 ft. each.

Where is BFP Superdome located?

Superdome is located at 191 Knoxdale Road in the Ben Franklin Park at the intersection of Greenbank and Hunt Club Roads. View a map to Superdome.

What types of activities does BFP Superdome support?

Superdome supports a wide range of field sports, including soccer, football, rugby, Ultimate, cricket, golf and more. The facility holds a number of summer camps for kids and the facility can be used for any activity that needs a flat, weatherproof and climate-controlled year-round space.

How do I contact Superdome?

Superdome is available for use year round. Visit their Web page (link is external) for the latest contact info.

Along the path towards completion of new city facilities under Public-Private Partnerships, there are a number of reports presented to various Committees and Council, which form the basis for decisions about location, scope, budgets, timelines and other issues related to the facility. You can review the reports related to BFP Superdome, as follows:

26 June 2002
Public-Private Partnerships

23 October 2002
Public-Private Partnership (P3) Projects for Earliest Implementation

14 February 2007
Public-Private Partnership (P3) For Indoor Sports Dome at Ben Franklin Park – Final Approval