Councillors to decide on $20.7M stadium upgrade
Commonwealth reno proposed for women’s soccer world cup
City leaders will decide Tuesday whether to recommend spending more than $20 million to renovate Commonwealth Stadium in preparation for the 2015 Women’s World Cup of Soccer.
A report submitted to the community services committee recommends spending $12 million to expand the southwest corner of the building and $8.7 million to rehabilitate the stadium itself.
The $12 million would be used to build dressing rooms, player medical rooms, referee areas and doping control rooms, while the $8.7 million would be spent on fixing the parking lot, the Jumbotron and the sound system.
“The main issue for me is, if we spend the money, what does that do to make Commonwealth Stadium more attractive for more national and international bids? I’m not averse to spending the dollars if we can show there’s a long-term benefit,” committee member Coun. Karen Leibovici said Monday.
The issue is much broader than the soccer tournament, Leibovici said. “It’s about what does this do to enhance the viability of Commonwealth Stadium for the future.”
In May, Edmonton was chosen as one of six Canadian cities that will host the major international event, along with Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Moncton, N.B. The tournament will feature 24 teams playing 52 games. Edmonton will host some of the quarter- and semifinals, and possibly the finals. The tournament will be the biggest Women’s World Cup to date.
Coun. Amarjeet Sohi, who also sits on the community services committee, said making the improvements for the world cup will put Edmonton in a better position to bid for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled for 2014.
“This is something we need to do,” Sohi said. “This is the largest single sporting event for women, and it will be phenomenal for our city, and we need to make sure we have the facility upgraded.”
The committee will also consider two alternative ideas. Both include the $8.7-million bill for stadium rehabilitation, but one proposes a $26.3-million redevelopment of the north concourse, and the second suggests using temporary trailers at a cost of about $4.1 million.
The money for the project is expected to reallocated from other projects that have been delayed or cancelled.
Funding decisions will be made when the city’s fall supplemental capital budget is released later this month.