The soccer field in Ilulissat must be covered with an inflatable, heated dome, which can be used all year round.
This is what the mayor of Avannaata Kommunia, Lars Erik Gabrielsen (S), thinks. And he expects a decision to be made at the next municipal council meeting on 26 June.
The soccer field in Ilulissat must be covered with an inflatable, heated dome, which can be used all year round.
This is what the mayor of Avannaata Kommunia, Lars Erik Gabrielsen (S), thinks. And he expects a decision to be made at the next municipal council meeting on 26 June.
– We lack sports facilities, and the opportunities in Ilulissat are very poor due to the infrastructure. When we say at the same time that there must be leisure activities, we are contradicting ourselves because of the poor framework, he says.
What he will propose is an “Airdome”. In February, three officials from the municipality visited such a facility in Finland together with Greenland’s Football Union, KAK. And the mayor believes that the visit should lead to establishment in the municipality. He will not say how much the dome costs, but calls it “challenging”.
– We are investigating the prices, without me saying more here, partly because otherwise it is very easily over-interpreted.
– Because the prices are a challenge, and if we start from the offers we get, we say that the price with stands is challenging, and therefore we will ask the municipal council if we can have the opportunity to investigate it further. This means that we can build it via Avannaa Development.
Avannaa Development A/S is the municipality’s development company.
Covering the soccer field in Ilulissat is not included in the municipality’s construction budget for this year or next year.
Can cost up to 50 million
Sermitsiaq has contacted KAK to find out how much Airdomes cost. According to the association’s director of development and projects, Nike Berthelsen, the air dome itself and the equipment cost around DKK 12 million.
If a foundation is to be made that is suitable for the Arctic, and if it is also to be secured against snow and ice, the price will be around DKK 25 million. If there are also to be grandstands, the price is estimated at up to DKK 50 million.
– About 50 Airdomes are in use in Finland, and more are still coming. They are designed to last for 30 years, says Nike Berthelsen.
Will also use it for exhibitions
According to the mayor’s assessment, the track should not only be used for sports if the project becomes a reality. Therefore, he says that he takes the project very seriously and believes that it can be implemented.
– The large hall can be used for many things. I have even understood it so simply that we can take it down in the summer and put it back up in the winter.
– We imagine that various trade fairs can be held and that they can also contribute to paying for the day-to-day operations, says Lars Erik Gabrielsen.
It is still uncertain whether the vision will become a reality. It requires a majority of the members of the municipal council to adopt it.
