Langley Township will find $7.725 million to build a new double gymnasium on land behind the Langley Events Centre.

The project will use Township and Langley School District land to the east of the current structure, and will be funded by land sales and surpluses, said Township Mayor Jack Froese.

The council voted on the matter in a closed-door meeting earlier this year, but the results of the vote hadn't been released when the LEC went public Friday with the expansion plans.

The LEC plans a double gym, with an indoor turf/dry floor facility, a new change room, storage, and support space, and they want it to be substantially finished by March 2013.

The "ambitious" timeline, said a release from the LEC, will allow the facility to be used for the two busiest months on the centre's calendar, when championships are being played.

The new space will enhance the number and size of sporting events that will be able to use the facility.

It has also brought in a number of new partners to the facility.

Wrestling BC, the BC Lacrosse Association, Volleyball BC and Volleyball Canada are on board, and Jared Harman of the LEC said more are to be announced.

"The expansion of the Langley Events Centre is being undertaken to accommodate the large demand for additional sports and entertainment programming we experience at the facility from Langley and the surrounding areas," said Harman, the director of business development.

"Currently games, tournaments, events or provincial team training are held almost every weekend of the year here at the LEC, and this new facility will allow even more to occur."

Froese noted that it will mean an easier time scheduling school events. The Langley School District has been a partner in the building from the begining.

"It's becoming more and more difficult to fulfill our obligations," Froese said, as the facility becomes busier and there are more teams vying for time.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com