About

The Leisure Centre Soccer Pitch is a City-owned facility and was founded in 1949 as the Grande Prairie Memorial Arena. In 1984 the Mayor and GP Hockey Legend Oscar Blais re-named the arena as the Johnny Macdonald Arena. Johnny MacDonald’s roles in the game were many: manager, coach, counsellor and mentor to hockey enthusiasts across the age spectrum. Grande Prairie's first covered arena, the Wapiti Rink, was built in 1919. Johnny was Rink Manager until it was replaced in 1946 by the Memorial Arena.

This facility is a quality multi-use venue, which features sporting events, youth and adult recreation programming and family activity opportunities. The Leisure Centre Soccer Pitch is one of two spaces in the City that offers an artificial turf surface, accommodating several sports including lacrosse, soccer, cricket, and ultimate frisbee.