Can’t get to your son’s hockey or granddaughter’s figure skating? Soon there will be an option to watch it from your smartphone or laptop, right here in Virden.
During their regular meeting on Nov. 21, Town of Virden Council discussed plans to implement Live Barn in the Tundra Oil & Gas Place (TOGP) arena. According to the company’s website, the system provides venues with a “fully automated, hassle-free” high definition live streaming and video storage solution at no cost to the facility, with an opportunity for revenue sharing.
For a membership fee of $14.95 per month plus taxes, parents, coaches and players may view amateur sports practices and games live or on demand. In Virden, the system will facilitate the streaming of hockey games, figure skating and possibly other sporting events. User groups will have the option of turning it off should other arrangements be in place or their on-ice activity not warrant a broadcast. The Virden Oil Capitals, for example, stream their home and away games through Flo Hockey.
During discussion on the matter, Coun. Tara Maxwell suggested that an agreement be drawn up between the Town, as owners of the venue, and applicable user groups which spells out the terms and conditions for usage.
“If we are going to own it, we should have an agreement with the people who are using it that they cannot use it for play review or for any type of misconduct review,” Maxwell said. She requested that the stipulation form part of the motion granting approval to proceed with the installation.
Maxwell also recommended that signs be put up advising that games are being live streamed and recorded, in order to mitigate the potential for offensive language or inappropriate comments to be picked up and broadcast. Coun. Bruce Dunning advised that such a sign is available.
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Jared Jaffray, who has been researching the matter, reported that the Town would receive 30% of the membership revenue acquired from sign-ups under the Virden discount code. As of the meeting, he was in the process of determining whether the arena has adequate internet service or if a dedicated line would need to be installed for Live Barn to operate.
Live Barn is expected to be up and running later this year.
