Langley Township's $130-million indoor soccer centre targets Spring 2027 opening
The 108,000-square-foot Smith Athletic Training Centre in Willoughby is on track to open in Spring 2027, giving youth soccer players a full-sized indoor field year-round.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on dailyhive.com.
A major indoor soccer facility in Willoughby is on track to open in Spring 2027, giving youth players in Langley Township a full-sized field they can use through rain and cold. Daily Hive Urbanized reported on October 31, 2026 that construction is progressing on the Smith Athletic Training Centre, with solid glulam timber arches spanning 80 metres (262 feet) now rising over the site.
What is being built
The Smith Athletic Training Centre is a 108,000-square-foot enclosed building at 7550 208A Street in Willoughby's Smith neighbourhood. The Township of Langley is funding it at a budget of just under $130 million for its first two phases, covering both the indoor facility and outdoor park improvements.
Inside, the building will hold a full-sized soccer pitch, spectator seating, change rooms, food and beverage facilities, a merchandise store, and training rooms. Acton Ostry Architects and MJMA Architecture & Design designed the project. Wright Construction and Smith Bros. and Wilson Ltd. are building it through a progressive design-build process.
Daily Hive reported that installing the timber arches proved harder than expected. The Township confirmed to the outlet that assembly took longer than anticipated.
The outdoor fields are already open
The three outdoor synthetic turf fields at the same campus opened in September 2025. Player shelters and some spectator seating were completed earlier in 2026. The campus also includes a large plaza, public washrooms, a playground, landscaped areas, and new road and pedestrian connections, as reported by Daily Hive.
Youth sports
The facility is for youth sports. In a pre-election interview in August 2026, outgoing Mayor Eric Woodward told Daily Hive the centre would give Langley United Soccer Association more predictable hours. "For them, they'll be able to have a lot of predictable programming hours, regardless of weather or timing or other things," he said. He also said he believed indoor capacity could reduce the need to build more outdoor fields, and could save taxpayers "tens of millions down the road." Those were his own figures, offered to the outlet in August 2026.
What comes next
The indoor facility targets a Spring 2027 opening. Langley Township's new Council takes office on November 2, 2026. Residents who want to follow the project can visit the Township's Smith Athletic Soccer Campus page for updates, or visit the site at 7550 208A Street in Willoughby.
Questions this story answers
What is the Smith Athletic Training Centre in Langley Township?
The Smith Athletic Training Centre is a 108,000-square-foot indoor soccer facility under construction at the southeast corner of 208A Street and 78 Avenue in Willoughby's Smith neighbourhood. Daily Hive Urbanized reported on October 31, 2026 that the Township of Langley is building it as part of a broader campus that already includes three outdoor synthetic turf fields that opened in September 2025.
How much does the Smith Athletic Training Centre cost?
Daily Hive Urbanized reported the project budget is just under $130 million for its first two phases. The municipal government is funding the investment, which covers both the indoor facility and outdoor public park improvements at the Smith Athletic Soccer Campus.
When will the Smith Athletic Training Centre open?
The indoor facility is targeting completion in Spring 2027, according to Daily Hive Urbanized's October 31, 2026 report. The three outdoor synthetic turf fields at the same campus have already opened, with the first having opened in September 2025.
Where is the Smith Athletic Training Centre located?
The facility is at 7550 208A Street in Willoughby, Langley Township, near the southeast corner of 208A Street and 78 Avenue. Two new Langley School District schools, stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle School and Emery Dosdall Secondary School, are planned to open nearby in September 2027.
What is the distinctive architectural feature of the Smith Athletic Training Centre?
Daily Hive Urbanized reported the building uses a series of solid glulam timber arches that span 80 metres (262 feet) across the width of the building. The outlet noted installation took longer than expected because assembling the structure proved more difficult than anticipated, even for a contractor experienced in timber construction.
Who designed and built the Smith Athletic Training Centre?
Acton Ostry Architects and MJMA Architecture & Design designed the facility. Wright Construction and Smith Bros. and Wilson Ltd. are carrying out the construction through a progressive design-build process, as reported by Daily Hive Urbanized on October 31, 2026.
Who will use the Smith Athletic Training Centre?
The facility is intended for youth sports, with Langley United Soccer Association among the primary users. Outgoing Mayor Eric Woodward told Daily Hive Urbanized in a pre-election interview in August 2026 that the centre would give the association more predictable programming hours, regardless of weather. Two new neighbouring schools designed for 2,800 students combined will also be close to the campus.
How does the Smith Athletic Training Centre fit into the Township of Langley's recent recreation investments?
Daily Hive Urbanized noted the soccer campus follows the Township's $149-million ARENAS at Langley Events Centre, a five-rink complex that opened nearby at Willoughby Community Park in September 2026. The reporter described the Township as making a broader municipal effort to increase access to youth recreation as demand grows in its fast-growing communities.
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