Stadium vote key to Halifax CFL proposal

EDMONTON The fate of the Canadian Football League’s expansion team in waiting is now in the hands of Halifax regional councillors and Mayor Mike Savage.

On Tuesday, they’ll debate a recommendation from Halifax Regional Municipality staff to make a one-time contribution of $20 million toward construction of a stadium that would house the Atlantic Schooners, if and when CFL governors approve expansion.

The stadium, as proposed by Schooner Sports and Entertainment (SSE), calls for a building with 12,000 permanent seats, 10,575 semi-permanent seats, and standing room for 2,000. An inflatable dome would allow yearlong use of the facility by community sports groups. The cost of construction is estimated at $100 million to $110 million.

“We look forward to receiving council’s decision,” SSE said in a statement on Friday. “We stand ready to work diligently with staff and the community to ensure the success of this game-changing community development.”

If the recommendation passes as proposed, the municipality won’t pay to own, operate or maintain the building, won’t provide a loan guarantee to SSE, and won’t share in any ticket surcharge revenue.

The recommendation also opposes the Shannon Park site chosen by SSE. However, a source said SSE has identified several potential sites in the Halifax area and is prepared to move on from Shannon Park.

The $20-million, one-time contribution was actually part of SSE’S original proposal in August. A source called the recommendation “good news” for the organization, which is expected to ask the government of Nova Scotia to double the provincial tax on hotel rooms, with the additional revenue used to support the stadium.