Eye in the TCC sky
Life just got a little bit more luxurious for Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) patrons.
A new webcam streaming live footage of action inside the TCC’s fieldhouse is up and running.
“We did it for two reasons,” said Jeff Putnam, the city’s parks, recreation-facilities and business-operations supervisor.
“No. 1, we’ve got 1.3-million visits every year now and, during peak periods, patrons want to know what the activity level is.
“They can maybe make a decison between doing drop-in basketball, running on the indoor track or going swimming.
“Secondly, we think it’s going to be a real powerful tool for marketing our facilities around the world.”
The camera, located in the southwest corner of the fieldhouse, looks down on the indoor track, circuit-training area and basketball courts.
Privacy issues are not a concern, said Putnam, as the camera takes video of a public area and “it’s far away enough that you can’t recognize individuals.”
None of the footage is recorded or archived.
“We’ve gone through the legal issues making sure there’s no privacy issues,” Putnam said.
“There’s no concern there.”
A city press release said tournament and event planners can view the TCC’s facilities in real time to assist in decision-making and bid proposals.
Putnam described the camera, worth about $2,500, as “middle-to-high end in commercial quality.”
The cost to run the camera year-round is minimal, Putnam added.
Two more cameras, keeping an eye on the Canada Games Acquatic Centre and Hillside Stadium, will be operational this year.
In 2012, the city plans to install cameras in McArthur Island Sports Centre, giving users a bird’s-eye view of both the NHL- and Olympic-size ice surfaces.
Interior Savings Centre, NorBrock Stadium, McArthur’s soccer fields and Rayleigh Slo-Pitch Park might also be home to cameras in the future.
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