Organizers of Brampton cricket tournament say city has fan base to support permanent facility

As a major cricket tournament wraps up in Brampton this weekend, organizers say the city has the fan base to support a permanent facility for the sport.

Jason Harper, director of the Global T20 Canada cricket tournament, said on Friday that teams have been playing in a makeshift stadium in Brampton, but the sport has a "steady" fan base in the city and the hope is that it will get a permanent facility. Brampton last hosted the tournament in 2019. 

"We'll get there and one day we will have a purpose-built cricket facility that will see us host international competitions on a more regular basis," Harper told CBC Toronto.

Harper said the city has been incrementally improving the cricket field at the Brampton Sports Park, CAA Centre Sports and Entertainment Complex, 7575 Kennedy Rd S., where the tournament is located. The Canadian men's event runs until August 6.

"We are constantly and incrementally improving the standard that we have," he said.

With the intent of building a "multi-purpose" cricket facility, the City of Brampton has launched an expression of interest process for companies interested in taking on the challenge of transforming what it calls City Lands, a site located by Highways 410 and 407, following a public survey that closed on Feb. 28.

The cricket facility would have 20,000 seats for spectators, the city says in a request for expression of interest document.

Rowena Santos, regional councillor who represents Wards 1 and 5 in Brampton, said in a June 15 news release that Brampton is a "growing hub for cricket users, partnerships, facilities and events."

She added: "Continued investment in enhancing our local cricket infrastructure will ensure we meet our community's current needs, while supporting future