Roeselare opens new SportExpo facility at Expohallen: “A remarkable achievement”

Roeselare’s Expohallen now have a new role alongside their long-standing function as an events venue. The city has opened SportExpo, providing 4,000 square meters of indoor sports space for clubs and schools.

The new facility includes a modern gymnastics hall for Elastika, an indoor tennis court for tennis club Alexander, an omnisports area and two multipurpose sports halls. Sports alderman Piet Delrue said the infrastructure provides much-needed additional indoor capacity. Elastika president Tom Denys said the club had lacked enough room at its previous location in Rumbeke.

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The new infrastructure provides much-needed additional indoor space for both sports clubs and schools.

The new hall gives the gymnastics club space to work both vertically and horizontally. Elastika ended last year with 450 members and expects that number to grow because of the improved facilities. Alexander, which already has outdoor courts nearby, will also use the new indoor court.

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We are very happy. In recent years we were based in Rumbeke, but we did not have enough space there. We do here.

The Expohallen date from 1974 and were originally built for sports, fairs and events. Two of the five halls have now been fully converted into permanent sports facilities. The other three remain available for fairs, events and sociocultural activities.

Mayor Kris Declercq said the arrangement allows sports and other activities to continue side by side. SportExpo forms part of the Schiervelde sports and recreation site, which also includes Sportoase, the Knack and Bevo volleyball clubs, football and tennis facilities. The sports space was completed at speed.

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Three halls will retain their familiar role. Sports and other activities can have a place here alongside each other.