Frequently Asked Questions
Who is involved in the project?
The City of St. Catharines, Tennis Clubs of Canada, the St. Catharines Tennis Alliance, and the Merritton Lions Club
Who is Tennis Clubs of Canada?
Tennis Clubs of Canada has over 40 years of experience in constructing and operating indoor tennis facilities. They currently operate eight indoor tennis facilities in Ontario. Tennis Clubs of Canada offers high quality, and affordable services, that are accessible to everyone. They take pride in working with the local community to provide a welcoming environment for new and existing players. They strive to create community hubs where clients experience a sense of belonging while enjoying the social, psychological and physical benefits of tennis, while generating employment opportunities for local residents.
What will Tennis Clubs of Canada offer at the dome?
Tennis Clubs of Canada will offer diverse club programming and instructional programs within the dome. Through their programming, members as well as non-members (public access), a wide variety of activities will be offered. Some of those activities include but are not limited to round-robins, house leagues, and tournaments.
What is the annual cost to the city?
All expenses are the responsibility of the operator, Tennis Clubs of Canada. There are no operational costs to the City of St. Catharines.
How is the St. Catharines Tennis Alliance involved in the project?
The St. Catharines Tennis Alliance was formed with the purpose of advocating for improvements to courts and programming while creating a community that all players can be part of. The St. Catharines Tennis Alliance will be making a financial contribution towards the project and will play an active partnership role in the operations of the facility. For example, from May to September, the St. Catharines Tennis Alliance will assist in providing public programming at the Community Park tennis courts.
Will pickleball be available inside the tennis dome?
While the primary focus within the dome is tennis, the project partners are considering the provision of pickleball at certain times throughout the week using temporary pickleball lines and nets.
Will the dome be up year-round?
No, the dome will not be up year-round. The dome will be up for the indoor operational season. The dome will be down for the outdoor season, from May to September each year.
What is the timeline for the project?
Following the community consultation, a report will be sent to Council for their consideration of the project in Q2. If approved, it is anticipated that the indoor tennis dome will be operational by Fall, 2024.
How will the tennis dome impact the Merritton Lions Club Labour Day activities?
The Merritton Lions Club is one of the four partners in the project who is working collaboratively to bring indoor tennis to the community. The indoor tennis dome will not impact Labour Day Weekend celebrations.
Why is the dome going in Community Park?
Through the City’s official procurement process, the proponents were able to select a location suitable for the dome. Tennis Clubs of Canada selected Community Park as its preferred location.
Where will users park?
Users may park in the existing parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts.
Will the dome be noisy?
The dome is an insulated bubble, so noise will be minimized by the structure.
How many people will be at the facility at one time?
Typically, the dome will have 15 to 25 people at one time.