Pitch Indoor Sports opens in Sarnia, offering a 24/7 indoor turf facility designed for athletes, teams, and community use.
A new indoor sports facility is taking shape in Sarnia, offering a flexible, year-round space designed for athletes of all ages and abilities.
The idea behind Pitch Indoor Sports has been years in the making.
“The story behind Pitch started in 2018,” said founder Jamie Downton, noting that after more than 15 years of coaching, local off-season training options were limited. “Our off-season training options through the winter were limited to school gyms with a lot of restrictions, or driving to London or Chatham. As a parent to 10 and 8-year olds at the time, it was not an ideal situation.”
What followed was a long road to bring the idea to life.
“I decided to form a business case on an indoor facility and proceeded to spend the next four years working through the business plan,” Downton said, adding that after an unsuccessful attempt to launch in early 2020, it took another four years before the opportunity aligned.
At its core, the facility was built with a simple goal in mind.
“Ultimately, the inspiration was having a place for our kids to train, grow and learn while keeping them here in Sarnia-Lambton,” Downton said.
That vision has since expanded.
“It has grown from just for the kids to athletes and active people of all ages,” he said.
The facility aims to fill a gap in the local recreation landscape.
“There was no indoor turf facility freely available to our many sports organizations in town,” Downton explained. “There was not a full-scale, 24/7 turf facility that catered to a multitude of field sports.”
Pitch is designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, including soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, and rugby, along with training programs and fitness support.
“We cater to field sports and anything else that would typically be played on a field in the summer,” he said.
The space itself reflects that flexibility.
“The entire facility is around 10,000 square feet. It features the ability to be split into two half fields, or it can be six batting cages, or any variation within,” Downton said, adding that it also includes a fitness area and pitching machines, with additional technology on the way.
That versatility is what sets it apart.
“The flexibility of the space and the lack of restrictions is what really makes Pitch practical,” he said. “The community being formed at Pitch is becoming second to none.”
The facility is also positioned as a hub for both organized sports and everyday activity.
“All of these,” Downton said when asked about the target audience. “We cater to sports organizations, not for profit social services, individual athletes, teams, schools and anyone looking for a place to host an active event or birthday party.”
Early partnerships are already in place, including with the Bluewater Flag Football League and the Sarnia Brigade, which will use the space as their winter home.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on community impact and keeping local athletes close to home.
“To provide, support, sponsor and help along all athletes and active people,” Downton said. “There are a lot of talented athletes in Sarnia, it would be great to see them stay through their childhood careers.”
For the team behind Pitch, the investment is personal.
“My wife Jessica and I have invested our lives into bringing this to the community,” he said. “We are here to serve and support you, not just through the winter, but 24/7/365, and look forward to being a part of your athletic lives for the long-term.”
Pitch Indoor Sports will host its grand opening open house on April 18 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., inviting families, athletes, and local leagues to tour the facility, meet the team, take part in demonstrations, and learn more about upcoming programming.
Address: 1781 London Line, Sarnia, ON N7T 7H2
Phone: (226) 776-2255
