06/29/2021
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PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2021
Sports Community Rallies Together in Show of Support For SandBox Sports Inc
HAMILTON — Local businesses, Physical Educators, Sports Associations and Politicians are standing behind the long shuttered Sandbox Sports Inc and are asking the City of Hamilton why the world class facility is facing permanent closure.
Since March of 2020 Sandbox Sports Inc. has been closed for public or private use at its 680 Waterfront Trail home at Confederation Park due to provincial government lock down orders. Despite more than a decade of cooperation and positive relations with the community and the City of Hamilton, Sandbox Sports owners, Mark Zik, and Mike Leonard, have been expected to maintain all rent payments to the property owner, the City of Hamilton, without any consideration for their total loss all revenue streams.
Despite ongoing discussions with the City the owners have reached out to other community members for support. The Director of Sandbox Sports Inc, Mark Zik and President Mike Leonard, hope the city will come to understand that “the volleyball courts and juice bar have revitalized the park for the past decade. We have never been in bad standing regarding our lease and done everything to improve Confederation Park. We just want to be treated fairly and appreciated for the hard work we have put into giving Hamilton one of the best sports facilities in the province.”
Supporters such as Jeannine MacIsaac, Co-Head of Physical & Health Education and Athletic Director at Waterdown District High School states “On any given day during the season, you will see Sandbox Sports packed full of people. People who are laughing, being competitive, having fun participating and demonstrating a healthy lifestyle. Has City Council taken a serious look at what is at stake if this facility is forced to close because it has not been supported financially by us, the taxpayers?”
Other organizations such as the Ontario Volleyball Association, the Stoney Creek Disabled Sports Association and Defensa Volleyball have all written letters to the City of Hamilton showing their support for Sandbox Sports while highlighting the many positive relationships the small business has managed to develop throughout its history in Hamilton.
Defensa Volleyball, a youth female volleyball club announced that “The Hamilton Sandbox has been a staple in volleyball community for years. Their youth camps, adult A leagues and weekend tournaments have played a major role in growing the sport of volleyball in southern Ontario, losing a facility like this would have a devastating impact on the volleyball community while displacing thousands from playing the sport they love.”
Local MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek and Official Critic for Sports, Paul Miller, was asked what his thoughts were on the potential loss of Sandbox Sports. "It doesn’t seem to make much sense. There have been productive talks between the city and hard hit businesses such as the Hamilton Farmer’s Market that have resulted in their continued operations. I’m not sure why a company that provides the only form of outdoor recreation of its kind in our community has been left to fend for itself. While I must say that the current Provincial government has not done enough for small business as a whole, I do hope to see the city work more constructively with its tenants and come to an agreeable compromise. We have all been told that we are in this together and we have seen rent and mortgage deferrals throughout this pandemic. While we begin to open up it would be a shame to know that Hamilton’s premier beach volleyball venue was permanently closed due to rental arrears that could be paid back as we move forward.”
Mark Zik and Mike Leonard are hoping that this show of support is enough to convince the good people and politicians of this city that there are some things worth saving.
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