Executives with Canlan Ice Sports, the Canadian-based firm that purchased the former Lake Barrington Field House, visited the Chicago area this week, stopping by what is now the Canlan Sportsplex in Lake Barrington.
Adult leagues, youth leagues, special events and a revamping of the concession area are just some of the plans for the Lake Barrington sportsplex, which is one of the largest indoor sports facilities in the Midwest.
“It seems like we’re getting good momentum,” said Canlan CFO Mike Gellard.
Canlan operates 21 facilities in the United States and Canada. Primarily operating ice rinks, the firm has recently been branching out, purchasing soccer fields, volleyball courts and multi-sport facilities like the one in Lake Barrington.
Joey St-Aubin, president and CEO of Canlan, said one of first priorities is getting to know the community and developing new programs based on the needs of the area.
“Our concept is that we’re trying to program out as much as we can to accommodate groups in the area,” St-Aubin said. “We’re in the business of developing new and innovative programming. It’s part of our plan to diversify.”
One such example is the increasing number of children and adults in America playing soccer due to the growing popularity of the World Cup.
“We’d like to capitalize on that,” he said.
Canlan Senior Vice President Mark Faubert said there is ample opportunity in the area to bring in new leagues like pickle ball, dodge ball basketball, flag football and other sports that can be played on the 85,000-square foot indoor turf area.
Faubert said the Canlan team also wants to increase the visibility of the 175,000-square foot facility.
“The challenge you have is the low-density area,” he said. “We need to become a destination.”
Also very important, Faubert said, is that Canlan work with other area businesses like the many new businesses in Lake Barrington’s Pepper Park to promote the facility.
“We need to be working together,” he said.
Canlan purchased the Lake Barrington Field House in January and have since been focusing on how best to use the building and connecting with the Barrington-area community to develop a more abundant roster of leagues and programs.
“We’re very positive about the outcome and where we can take this building,” said Faubert.
On Monday, April 20, new signage went up outside the sportsplex, and a day later, the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for the new facility.
