Source: Toronto Star, original article by Mike Davies, Examiner Sports Director

Playground East strives to offer not only players but spectators a unique basketball experience.

Scarborough businessperson Sam Ibrahim and managing partner Jamie Coote purchased the SPIplex Sports Dome in October. They expect to complete work next week to convert the space into a basketball facility. It’s an evolution of The Playground that Ibrahim developed in Scarborough.

“I think it’s spectacular,” Ibrahim said. “I think it’s the best basketball facility in Ontario. I really do. It rivals most universities.”

It includes three NBA-sized hardwood courts with adjustable height hoops, a practice court, spectator seating, concession stands, a boardroom, a film room and change rooms.

There will be multiple television screens, a state of the art sound system and basketball artwork throughout the building.

“In terms of a high quality facility there aren’t a lot of places like it,” Ibrahim said.

“I think people who are basketball lovers, enthusiasts or even recreational will recognize the difference of high quality and someone who really has passion and love for something.”

It’s a place spectators will enjoy spending time at, he said.

“The entire facility is built so the parent or fan or brother and sister who may not be on the court is kept in mind. We have a feeding area for them, ample stands, good lighting, the merchandise stand, it’s all for the experience. We’ve spared no detail with things like music and televisions.

“The player is going to enjoy the high quality nets and the best hardwood floor you can buy. The player will appreciate there are no other lines on the court. It’s strictly for basketball or volleyball.”

Playground East has contracts with the Peterborough Youth Basketball Association and Clarington East Prep to begin programming in January.

“The interest has been overwhelming,” Ibrahim said. “We’re talking groups from Ottawa and Kingston and Toronto.”

Josh Williams, who runs Time 2 Hoop, will be the first user of the facility with the East Region Holiday Basketball Camp Dec. 28 to Jan. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The camp, for ages five to 18, is sold out.

“It’s amazing for a facility like this to come to this community,” said Williams, coach of the PYBA U13 boys.

“We’ve had our set of recreational centres and school facilities as our main gyms but now we have a facility we can call a basketball facility and play on the hardwood. It’s definitely exciting.”

Williams said most players haven’t been on an indoor court since March.

“It’s very exciting to be able to provide an opportunity for these kids and their families to get back indoors and have a safe way for them to play the game of basketball again.”

As long as COVID-19 doesn’t get worse and lead to a shutdown of basketball activity, Ibrahim expects to be busy in January.

“If we can hold on and actually get some kids in the gym I don’t think we’ll have any issue with having that place full for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Ibrahim said filling prime time evening and weekend time slots shouldn’t be difficult. He’d like to create after school programs and has been approached by men’s leagues about games after 10 p.m. He’s open for daytime rentals if there is demand.

He said he’s spent more than $100,000 to improve the lighting.

“Did I have to make that investment? I don’t know if I would have lost any business but I thought this place needed to be brighter, to look better,” he said.

Ibrahim has a long-term vision for the property which includes adding lights and seating to its outdoor soccer field and creation of outdoor tennis courts and a clubhouse and beach volleyball courts. A second dome with a turf field is a possibility.