Business is booming at the Langley Events Centre and the facility is getting even bigger.
The Township announced plans on Friday to construct a new double gymnasium and indoor turf/dry floor facility which will be built east of the LEC.
"The expansion … is being undertaken to accommodate the large demand for additional sports and entertaining programming we experience at the facility," said Jared Harman, director of business development from the LEC.
"Currently games, tournaments, events or provincial team training are held almost every weekend of the year here at the LEC and this new facility will allow even more to occur."
The project budget is $7.725 million and is being done in partnership with the B.C. Lacrosse Association, Wrestling BC, Volleyball BC and Volleyball Canada.
Other community and sporting organizations will be announced later.
The construction will eliminate about half of the back parking lot, although a new lot — in partnership with the Langley School District — will be made east of the indoor tennis facility.
In addition to the double gymnasium and indoor facility, there will be eight additional change rooms, storage and support space. All of this will be constructed on Township-owned land. There is also a ticket office.
Adding two more gymnasiums will enhance the number and size of events being held in Langley as the facility looks to host even more youth and high school events.
Some of these include hosting Wrestling BC events.
"BC Wrestling is excited to hear of the recent facility expansion announcement," said Penny Gardner, the executive director of Wrestling BC.
"We see a fantastic opportunity to improve the standard of our fixture events and enhance the quality of provincial programs with the exceptional amenities and services that the Langley Events Centre has to offer."
The addition of an available year round indoor turf facility combined with the three artificial turf fields at Willoughby Community Park provide a unique opportunity for the BCLA to feature both field lacrosse and box lacrosse in one location, as highlighted by Sohen Gill, BCLA President,
“The BC Lacrosse Association is extremely excited about the new opportunities that Langley's additional facilities will present for our membership. We have a tremendous relationship with the LEC, and adding a dry surface facility will provide a venue to host some of the best lacrosse players in BC with national, provincial and local team programs and events in Langley."
The target completion date is March 2013, just in time for the LEC's two busiest months of events and championships. It is expected some work will also be completed over the summer so the facility is fully operational for the start of the high school and university school year and sport seasons in September 2013.
Since it opened its doors in 2009, the LEC has become a major hub for provincial, national and international sporting events.