Victoria velodrome association floats plan for $120M multi-use complex

The Greater Victoria Velodrome Association is shopping around a plan to build a $120-million velodrome complex in the municipality of Saanich, B.C.

A velodrome is a circular or oval-shaped track where cyclists train and compete, safe from road traffic.

David Attwell, aboard member with the association, says it's standard now throughout the world to develop cyclists throughvelodrome and track programs.

"And that's how you get Olympians," hetold On the Island host Gregor Craigie.

The association's current facilityWestshoreVelodromein Colwoodis an outdoor concrete track. It is used only four months of the year and it's aging.

The in-field of the facility isused by rugby, soccerand lacrosse players. Attwell says there's a lot of competition for time at the track anddemand for the use of the track for cycling. A bigger facility is needed, he says.

Multi-use facility

The new building would be multi-useand community-basedand include an indoor velodrome, according to Attwell.

"The problem is the velodrome by itself is not afinancially viable option ... Instead of thinking of it as a stadium with a velodrome, think of how European cities have a piazza, and around that piazza are hotels and residences and commercial space."

The proposed hotels, residences and commercial space would cost between $70 and $85 million to build. The cost for the velodrome, other sporting facilitiesand a recreation centre component would be $20 million, says Attwell.

Attwell says the complex would include an open public space that could be used for exhibitions, conventions and concerts.

The association is considering multiple Victoria sites for the complex, including University Heights andTillicumCentre.

Attwell says the Greater Victoria Velodrome Associationdoes not have a development partner. He saysSaanich doesn't have a capital budget for projects like the velodrome. The association is thereforeaiming forthe private sector tobuild the complex.Theywould then run it as a facility or lease it to the city.

Attwell says they donot yet have a projected timeline for the project.

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