They shoot, they score! With the BMO Centre back in the swing of things, members are back out on the pitch in no time. Having closed their doors for 19 months, the facility is excited to have balls flying around the pitches again. With a new set of precautions and protocols in place, the future is looking bright for the indoor soccer facility. New front door screening has made things seamless with keeping Covid under control, and players are excited to be back.
President and General Manager Tom Partalas is relieved to have opened the doors once again. “It was a year that we don’t want to remember. It was a year that hopefully we’re not going to have in the future because it took a toll on everyone, and from the 19 months that we were closed, we were only open for about 12 weeks. So financially, of course, it wasn’t the best year to have, but we struggle and we made it. We made it through and we hope we can stay open now.” Partalas hopes to keep the doors open for the entire winter season and beyond.
With having the doors reopened to the public, comes in a new set of precautions and safe guards in place to keep everyone safe. “Well, the changes were almost monthly, weekly, daily, like, we have to follow certain protocols, which we call it the return to play from Ontario soccer and of course, the COVID protocols.” Returning players will also have to be fully vaccinated and show proof of their passport when they arrive. “So when people are coming in, and as the new directive that we got from the local public health unit, as of October 31st, people who will be coming into the BMO Centre 12 years of age and older, they have to be fully vaccinated. Whether it means that just the younger kids 12 and under they can come in and they don’t have to show us proof of vaccination but people who are 12 and older if you’re a player, a parent, a spectator, coach, whatever, you have to be fully vaccinated, so that’s as of October 31st.” Partalas says that he wants to make sure that corners are not cut, so that seasons don’t do the same.
With having the full vaccination rule in place, it gives the public a breath of ease around the Centre. “If we maintain and if we stay with the protocols or the guidelines or the mandates that the government and the health unit is putting on us, we can survive. We will be okay. I don’t think there will be major issues. And if we get over 90% of the population vaccinated, I think we’re in for a good year and hopefully good years to come.” Partalas hopes to see a positive reaction from the public to ensure full capacity play.
Comments