Trinity Western University CIS Athletics may have a new home in late 2008, after being given an opportunity to partner in a $45-million events and recreation facility.

“We’re looking at being one of [the facility’s] premiere tenants,” said Blair Whitmarsh, Dean of the School of Human Kinetics and chair of the TWU task force that is currently discussing the venture with the Township of Langley.

The centre, funded equally by the Township, provincial government, and private partners in the Langley Development Group, will house a 2,200-seat triple gymnasium and a 3,500-seat arena, among other amenities.

Whitmarsh noted that the Township asked TWU Athletics to be a part of the facility, at virtually no cost to the university. As it stands, TWU would not have to contribute any funding to the construction of the centre, and would only have to share part of the profits gained from ticket sales to volleyball and basketball games.

“We are very open to it,” Whitmarsh noted. “We’re excited as to the possibilities.”

Whitmarsh noted that along with use of the triple gymnasium for volleyball and basketball practices and games, the school would also be granted use of a team room and office area. He said that home offices for professors and coaches would still be kept on campus, as well as all recreation services, intramurals, and chapel services.

With such a major opportunity presented to the school, Whitmarsh noted that one of the largest drawbacks would be the distance factor for spectators.

The centre will be built at 200th St. and 80th Ave. in the Langley community of Willoughby, which is a 15-minute drive from the TWU campus.

“Obviously, we’d prefer to build a $40-million facility right here,” Whitmarsh said, “[but] the benefits outweigh the costs.” Whitmarsh added that for larger schools, such as the University of British Columbia, students have to drive at least 15 minutes to get to home games held on the same campus.

“It’s [just] Trinity Western students getting used to this concept,” he said, of driving off campus for games.

The drive should be shortened by about 10 minutes in the next five years, Whitmarsh noted, as the provincial government is set to extend Labonte Ave. (the street across from TWU’s entrance) to meet up with 80th Avenue. The new road would go straight through to 200th Street, ending up at the entrance of the new rec centre.

For Township Councillor Jordan Bateman, the partnership will serve to benefit both the school and the community.

“TWU is still a little bit of a secluded community,” he said. “This, I hope, will change that.”

Bateman noted that basketball is already a big sport in Willoughby’s neighbouring community, Walnut Grove, which he said will “cross-promote” TWU’s CIS basketball team.

“We’re trying to cultivate a sporting community,” he said.

Similarly, Whitmarsh said that TWU Athletics hopes that the Langley community would “adopt Trinity Western as their team,” and added that playing in a brand new gym would help to create an exciting atmosphere.

TWU’s current David E. Enarson gym was built in 1968, when the school campus consisted of just 100 students.

“At the time, it was the largest gym in the Fraser Valley,” Whitmarsh said. “Now we have high schools with three gyms.”

Despite not having formally agreed to a specific partnership model yet, Whitmarsh said, “we’re just extremely excited that they would consider us in this way. We’re honoured and very thankful. It’s quite remarkable.”