Calgary's first indoor beach is set to open next weekend

Sep 14 2018, 11:54 pm

Don’t worry about the snowy weather, Calgary, because salvation is coming in the form of 800 tonnes of sand.

The Beach YYC, Calgary’s newest recreation facility and only indoor beach, is getting all ready to open its doors to the public this September 23 — which also happens to be the first official day of fall.

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Once the final touches are completed, the 13,000-sq-ft facility will house multiple volleyball courts, picnic tables for spectators, and — get this — a licensed cafe supplying beverages for after a day on the sand.

“We wanted to create a new place that could offer a little bit of the summer, all year,” The Beach YYC’s website reads.

“Somewhere to kick off your shoes and dig your feet in the sand, and then pick a sport and play that in the sand as well.”

The facility will also house games of soccer, ultimate frisbee, and more in addition to volleyball games, and the entire building can be rented out for birthday parties or a seriously awesome work retreat.

While it might not be quite the same as a day at the beach without a body of water to enjoy, Elliot Weinstein, the owner of The Beach YYC, said in an email to Daily Hive that adding a pool is a definite possibility.

“We don’t actually want to get the sand too wet, so will need to try it out once or so and see how it goes,” he said when asked about the potential of bringing in a portable pool.

The building will be kept at a balmy 18 to 19°C, with insulation below the sand to keep the courts from getting cold. There are also ceiling heaters that can be turned on to combat the -30°C temperatures of a Calgary winter.

The venue will be organizing different varieties of volleyball leagues and currently has a mix of Rec Mix 6s, Intermediate Mix 4s, and Competetive Mix 4s planned.

Drop-in nights, youth leagues, and monthly member cards are also in the works.

The more competitive volleyball players can get an idea of The Beach YYC’s league schedule on Dash Platform, and the company is working with local athletes to allow for cheap or free training possibilities.

We’ll see you at the beach!

The Beach YYC

When: Opens on September 23, 2018
Hours: Volleyball league schedules available here, drop-in hours to be determined
Where: 3030-2600 Portland Street SE, Calgary

DH Calgary StaffDH Calgary Staff

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