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Queen’s University’s varsity sports programs could be in trouble…because the neighbours are complaining about loud whistles?

Andrew Bucholtz

Ever heard of a sports team in trouble because its fans make too much noise? Queen's University (disclosure: my alma mater) says the future of some of its varsity sports, including the football team that's competed since 1882, is up in the air thanks to an exceptionally Canadian complaint—neighbours who are concerned the university's sports events (and accompanying sounds, such as whistles and PA announcements) are too loud. Events on the university's West Campus, which include the Golden Gaels' CIS football and soccer games, as well as intramural sports and community leagues, are apparently producing noise that violates the city's bylaws, and local residents have started to formally complain, causing the university to have to apply for an exception. That application isn't going well, causing the school's athletics department to launch a #SaveOurFields campaign Thursday and encouraging students and alumni to lobby city council. Here's the key part of what their site says:

Athletic facilities at West Campus have been used by Queen’s varsity, intramural, and community sports groups for more than four decades. In 2011, the University added an artificial turf field, which has increased the quality of surface and practice and game times available to Queen’s and community sport groups.

The use of the Queen’s fields are subject to the City of Kingston noise control bylaw, which prohibits the use of whistles and any amplified noise at all times.

A small number of people who live near West Campus have formally complained to the city and publicly expressed concern that noise emanating from varsity, intramural, and community games on the West Campus fields is negatively affecting them. Some seek a total ban on the noise coming from these fields. ...

Queen’s has responded to our neighbours’ concerns by significantly reducing our exemption request to the city; now, we are simply seeking an exemption that would allow our varsity teams to play a full season on the fields, and provide for a limited number of games for community use.

That limited exemption request still doesn't seem to be going over well with at least some members of the city council, though. From Paul Schliesmann of The Kingston Whig-Standard:

"Queen's has altered the ask, but it's still not enough," said city councillor Liz Schell. "I don't know where this is headed." ...

"I don't think Queen's have made their case so that people feel comfortable that when there's a game on a west campus field that the noise is directed only at the field and will not spill over into the neighbourhood," said Schell. ...

"I don't think Queen's has make their case that they can ensure the noise will not intrude on their backyards," she said. "And that is what they want. They do not want amplified sound. In general, people were not convinced they will have quiet enjoyment of their yards this summer."

So, should those who moved into an area that's hosted big sports events (including CIS football games) for over 40 years be able to "quietly enjoy their yards" even if it forces Queen's to move games to another location (which it doesn't currently have, and seems unlikely to get given the issues the school's faced fundraising for athletic projects recently)? According to the school, that could be the consequences if they don't receive a bylaw exemption:

The inability to blow game whistles on these fields will make them unusable for game-related activities (varsity, intramural, and community). As a result we would need to find new venues to host Queen’s football, soccer, and all other games. These fields would no longer be available for use by the community.

Further, the restrictions around the use of the PA system for intermittent game-related announcements and at Richardson Stadium for in-game music will mean that we are not compliant with sport and hosting standards.

“All members must comply with OUA hosting protocols and requirements in order to maintain their membership. Non compliance will result in a review of that institution’s membership and its’ participation in the sport that does not adhere to OUA regulations.”

There are also significant safety and risk management considerations involved with large attendance events that make the use of PA announcements a requirement.

We will be unable to meet a minimum professional standard in hosting a sporting event, which will place the future of Queen’s varsity and recreational sports that rely on these facilities in jeopardy.

However, Kingston mayor Mark Gerretsen has been disputing those claims on Twitter (after coming under attack from Queen's alumni), saying that games aren't threatened:

Gerretsen added that half the complaints come from people who work at Queen's, which is ironic, but fits in with a long tradition of university people complaining about athletics. That's happened many times at Queen's, and also played a key part in the collapse of the joint University of Toronto/Toronto Argonauts stadium plan last decade (thanks to noise complaints as well!), a big part of why the Argonauts are still searching for a home.

We'll see whether the university's stance that this is a major crisis or Gerretsen's stance that it's being blown out of proportion proves correct, but one thing's obvious; it would be awfully hard for Queen's to move football games elsewhere, considering that there isn't much funding for anything athletics-related. The current stadium saw part of its bleachers condemned last year, and much of money for the necessary renovations only came in thanks to a donation from Guelph football coach Stu Lang (who happens to be a Queen's alumnus). The hockey rink promised in 2007 still hasn't been built. Thus, the options for the football Gaels at least appear to be Richardson Stadium or nothing. If Kingston's council refuses to let them play there over noise complaints, their future could be dire indeed.