The association overseeing men's amateur soccer in Calgary is raising alarms about the deteriorating condition of the city's natural grass soccer fields. The Calgary United Soccer Association (CUSA) has received numerous complaints from teams about poor field conditions, even though the 2026 outdoor season began only recently.
Complaints Range from Uncut Grass to Unsafe Surfaces
Gripes from players and coaches include uncut grass, unsafe playing surfaces with potholes, missing or faint field lines, and non-working floodlights. CUSA executive director Stacey Hatcher noted that the association has asked players and coaches to document any deficiencies and has requested a meeting with the city to address the issues.
"At the end of the day, I want fields that are good enough to play on and that players aren't going to be injured," Hatcher said in an interview. "Some of those potholes are pretty big and if you're running full bore ... you're probably not looking down to avoid potholes on the pitch."
Injuries and Field Closures
Hatcher highlighted that the worsening state of the fields is affecting players, coaches, referees, and community sport as a whole. She is aware of at least one injury resulting from a player catching their foot in a pothole while running. The city-owned soccer field in Forest Lawn was closed this week due to potholes and is expected to remain closed until the end of June for maintenance. Four city-owned fields at New Brighton Athletic Park are also closed for maintenance, forcing CUSA and other soccer associations to reschedule games.
City Responds to Concerns
In a statement, a city spokesperson said outdoor soccer field conditions can vary at this time of year depending on weather, ground conditions, and how quickly the pitch dried out after winter. The condition of athletic fields this year has been challenged by repeat snow and frost extending into May. "Our teams are actively managing and maintaining fields across the city, including adjusting bookings and closures where needed to protect the playing surface and support long-term quality," the city representative said in an email.
Hatcher hopes the public posts will spark a conversation among other sport groups using the fields and help gather evidence quickly and transparently. "I want to understand the full scope," she added.
