Regina Sports Performance Centre: a dream becomes reality

AD VER TISEMENT Regina Sports Performance Centre: a dream becomes reality

Born from an idea that came to him on a trip, Aubrey Steadman embarked on a journey to make his dream of the Regina Sports Performance Centre (RSPC) reality. “Good thing I didn’t open a sports facility during a pandemic,” he laughs.

Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. In 2019, the family real estate business, Gene’s Realty Partnership, came to own the former Tartan Curling Club at 1464 Broadway Ave. Built in 1956 (coincidentally the same year Gene’s was founded by Gene Ciuca), the building itself was structurally sound but was in need of a little TLC.

Steadman says, “We owned the building next door, the former SGEU building, so it made sense from a commercial development purpose. However, there was an oversupply of office and retail space so it wasn’t the best time to build more retail space.”

Step back to the summer of 2018 and Steadman was on a trip with his 16 year-old son, Emmett Steadman, now a receiver with the University of Regina Rams, and several other young football players and coaches. The group travelled to several American university football camps including Northwestern, South Dakota and Cornell University. The camps were an eye-opener for the players, coaches and the parents as to how seriously they took training in the U.S. and the topnotch facilities they possessed.

Fast forward to February, 2019. Having seen these incredible training facilities, Steadman thought he could replicate, to a degree, the same training facilities he saw in the U.S. His son Emmett had just torn his ACL, MCL and meniscus in January playing for the U18 Team Canada team versus the U18 Team USA in the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas. He knew this facility would be a further opportunity for his son to both rehabilitate and train for the Rams. “I was selfish. I wanted to see the best for my son and this would benefit him— but I also knew it would benefit many generations of kids and athletes—not just my son.”

On September 1, 2020, the Regina Sports Performance Centre (RSPC) opened for business. The state-of-the-art facility boasts almost 40,000 square feet of training and classroom/meeting space over two adjacent buildings. The RSPC offers 20,000 square feet of FieldTurf and Polyturf field and court amenities, accommodating football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, junior baseball, pickleball, badminton and volleyball.

The RSPC also offers 15,000 square feet of cardio and weight equipment training space at Next Level Fitness including a 50-yardlong two-lane turf running track and 2,000 square feet of FieldTurf crossfit training space. Anderson and Associates Physiotherapy clinic is also onsite. Training and rehabilitation is also enhanced by the only underwater treadmill available to the public in Regina.

While it has been a labour of love and a significant financial outlay for Steadman, he hopes the community will see the value in supporting such a facility. It is also a family affair with his oldest son, Aidan, serving as the facility’s general manager. Emmett also helps out as a facility manager when not attending university. “Nothing is better than being able to work with family,” says Aubrey, who still works with his sister and father in Gene’s Ltd.

“We have an experienced sports physiotherapist, Scott Anderson, who has a clinic onsite. The clinic utilizes our facilities to provide further rehabilitation to their clients and provides onsite access to our athletes in need. We have specialized equipment specific to rehabilitation and strength building. We installed the same quality and brand of turf you find at Mosaic Stadium and have foam padding and netting to minimize player injuries.”

COVID-19 protocols are strictly adhered to. “We have purchased $20,000 in state-of-the-art sanitization equipment used by professional sports teams for both our field and equipment including an electrostatic Clorox 360 machine. The Clorox 360 completely envelops the area electrostatically in disinfectant, dries in 30 seconds and is ready to use in less than two minutes without ever touching the equipment. Health and safety were top of mind prior to the pandemic and we have stepped that up even more.”

While the RSPC is still asking those who are not fully vaccinated to continue to wear a mask for their own and others’ protection, they are also continuing social distancing and enhanced cleaning practices. “We want people to feel safe and comfortable training in our facility, and we will continue such measures for the foreseeable future,” says Steadman.

The RSPC hosts a variety of youth sports leagues, including the Regina Youth Flag Football League. They also have numerous football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse and other sports teams undertaking training along with individual clients. To enquire about rental and fitness membership enquiries, visit: reginasports.ca.

The Regina Sports Performance Centre boasts almost 40,000 square feet of training and classroom/meeting space over two adjacent buildings. The RSPC offers 20,000 square feet of FieldTurf and Polyturf field and court amenities, accommodating football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, junior baseball, pickleball, badminton and volleyball. PHOTO: RSPC