Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Pavlov

If one wishes to mock Danielle Smith, one should really refer to her as bus boobs.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

With the war against Iran, oil prices are going to jump and we will likely have a surplus now. The property tax issue is some serious BS though, they do this to make it look like municipalities are making the increase.

They're fucking us for the water main issue and the Greenline lrt. The hick that is our municipal affairs minister hates cities, as does the rest of the Wildrose TBA controlled UCP.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

They're fucking us for the water main issue and the Greenline lrt. The hick that is our municipal affairs minister hates cities, as does the rest of the Wildrose TBA controlled UCP.

The UCP and TBA are basically MAGAts for sure, but for the sake of this thread, lets try to keep it about stadiums...

[Airboy]

TURF at Commonwealth Stadium will be changed twice this year. Putting Grass in for the WC pregames then switching to artificial right after. Was at the stadium this week and the drainage is almost finished. But putting Grass in will need some good weather to be ready for the WC pregames.

As for any major renovations that is on the books but currently shelved. They are upgrading necessary areas like mechanical and structural. But no money for a major over hall.
One interesting fact I learned from the City was that they only need 2 big events a year to break even.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Airboy

One interesting fact I learned from the City was that they only need 2 big events a year to break even.

If that’s the case, 2026 is going to be a good year for them: soccer, Guns N Roses, AC/DC, Foo Fighters, two nights of Post Malone…

Commonwealth has had a decent amount of big concerts over the past few years that would have otherwise skipped Alberta entirely. Lots of people bemoan putting public dollars into stadiums but I’d say Commonwealth is absolutely worthy of the investment (plus it’s publicly owned so we kind of need to).

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Airboy

TURF at Commonwealth Stadium will be changed twice this year. Putting Grass in for the WC pregames then switching to artificial right after. Was at the stadium this week and the drainage is almost finished. But putting Grass in will need some good weather to be ready for the WC pregames.

I was under the impression that turf would be installed over the artificial turf which was to be in place in May.

If the soccer game is June 1 and the opening home game for the Esks is June 20, that only gives them 19 days to rip out the turf and install the artificial turf and have some time to settle.

I'd like to see if there is some confirmation out there if this is what's supposed to happen.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by elly63

I was under the impression that turf would be installed over the artificial turf which was to be in place in May.

If the soccer game is June 1 and the opening home game for the Esks is June 20, that only gives them 19 days to rip out the turf and install the artificial turf and have some time to settle.

I'd like to see if there is some confirmation out there if this is what's supposed to happen.

Don't know the logistics but either way there is a lot to do. But that would make sense. When I was there last week they had a lot to do yet.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

If that’s the case, 2026 is going to be a good year for them: soccer, Guns N Roses, AC/DC, Foo Fighters, two nights of Post Malone…

Commonwealth has had a decent amount of big concerts over the past few years that would have otherwise skipped Alberta entirely. Lots of people bemoan putting public dollars into stadiums but I’d say Commonwealth is absolutely worthy of the investment (plus it’s publicly owned so we kind of need to).

It may be one of the reasons it has not been downsized. It was paid off years ago.

We were saying though, that if it was covered it would be used a lot more.

[Coldrsx]

I suspect that you might see more coming on this item and questions around why the City runs it versus an arms length or private group...


More to come.

[craner]

They should leave the natural grass in for the 2026 Elks season.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

They should leave the natural grass in for the 2026 Elks season.

As I mentioned earlier the artificial turf is on a schedule (bought and paid for) and was scheduled to be installed by May. I believe the field house AT install has already been completed.

From Telus Stadium at Université Laval in Québec to Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton:
GTR Turf's Synthetic Turf Technology Is Redefining The Standards of Canadian Football
GTR Turf Oct 21, 2025

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

I suspect that you might see more coming on this item and questions around why the City runs it versus an arms length or private group...

More to come.

Do you mean something like this:

Edmonton and Oilers look to score big investment on par with Calgary's arena deal
Keith Gerein edmontonjournal.com May 27, 2024

Multiple sources have confirmed to Postmedia that the Oilers Entertainment Group has been working with city officials and the UCP government on a plan to have the province make a major sports and cultural investment in Edmonton — including, potentially, upgrades Commonwealth Stadium...

However, it turns out there is some substance to this. Nothing has been finalized and everything could still fall apart, but the sources tell me all three parties have serious interest in getting something done in the near future.

My understanding is that city leaders are now working with OEG to complete a final package of proposals to take to the province.

As for the other parts of the potential deal, there are reportedly still some things to work out, including what to do with Commonwealth Stadium.

The city has previously asked the province for $180 million to modernize Commonwealth — a now 46-year-old facility that did not show well when Edmonton tried to land hosting duties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, there is a debate about whether the city is actually best served in the long run by sinking money into Commonwealth, or if it might be better to build a new, smaller stadium that is more soccer and/or concert friendly. That’s undoubtedly the more expensive option, and it’s unclear what the province might be willing to contribute and whether OEG would be involved.

[craner]

Not a Canadian stadium but Canadian athletes will compete here - and I thought this was pretty cool and worth posting:

LA Memorial Coliseum Renovation - 2028 Summer Olympics
http://https://youtu.be/I-ZJeD3DlO0?si=_P2fqme3kaE9iaJ3

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by elly63

Do you mean something like this:

Edmonton and Oilers look to score big investment on par with Calgary's arena deal
Keith Gerein edmontonjournal.com May 27, 2024

Multiple sources have confirmed to Postmedia that the Oilers Entertainment Group has been working with city officials and the UCP government on a plan to have the province make a major sports and cultural investment in Edmonton — including, potentially, upgrades Commonwealth Stadium...

However, it turns out there is some substance to this. Nothing has been finalized and everything could still fall apart, but the sources tell me all three parties have serious interest in getting something done in the near future.

My understanding is that city leaders are now working with OEG to complete a final package of proposals to take to the province.

As for the other parts of the potential deal, there are reportedly still some things to work out, including what to do with Commonwealth Stadium.

The city has previously asked the province for $180 million to modernize Commonwealth — a now 46-year-old facility that did not show well when Edmonton tried to land hosting duties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, there is a debate about whether the city is actually best served in the long run by sinking money into Commonwealth, or if it might be better to build a new, smaller stadium that is more soccer and/or concert friendly. That’s undoubtedly the more expensive option, and it’s unclear what the province might be willing to contribute and whether OEG would be involved.

I've heard from a number of folks that there is a desire to make this arms length or greater to bring 6-9-12 events to the site to really make better use of it, justify renovations, give a better cut to the Elks, improve offerings and modernize the facility.

[Airboy]

Also today was the day the OEG was meeting with potential design teams for the new entertainment centre. Any word out yet.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

I've heard from a number of folks that there is a desire to make this arms length or greater to bring 6-9-12 events to the site to really make better use of it, justify renovations, give a better cut to the Elks, improve offerings and modernize the facility.

I'm all for given Commonwealth some love and treating it like the largest stadium in Canada that it is. If that means transferring ownership to a private group instead of the City, so be it.

[jc_yyc_ca]

[SteelTown]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...pact-9.7117606