Visuals of Commonwealth Stadium began circulating on social media after being published on the City of Edmonton’s website. However, the city council has only approved design work costing $3.05 million and has not agreed to proceed with the extensive renovation.

City lacks funds for such a large-scale project

Administrative staff completed a long-term master plan for the renovation of Commonwealth Stadium in 2016. It included a series of potential upgrades that would take five to seven years to implement, but the previous city council chose not to continue with the first phase in the 2019–2022 capital budget. This could change if other funding sources become available. The stadium renovation has been on the mayor’s public wish list for provincial funding since at least 2023. Mayor Sohi believes that if the Alberta government is providing $330 million to Calgary for a new arena, then support for renovating Edmonton’s stadium is justified. Fans awaiting the grand renovation of Commonwealth Stadium might be interested in the bc game platform, which offers a wide selection of over 10,000 games and bets beyond just Canadian sports.

Councilor Ashley Salvador agrees. The stadium, just outside the Ward Métis area, is a major driver of economic activity for the city and western Canada, she said. Large crowds have come to the city for summer concerts, including Pink and Metallica. Right now, we have very little money on the city side and no clear prospects for other funding sources to actually carry out these upgrades. That is the biggest question mark for me. The city itself does not have the capacity to fund a project of this scale at the moment, she said.

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Are financial black clouds looming over Edmonton?

Municipal infrastructure projects are approved in stages, so there’s no guarantee that the stadium project will continue to the next phase. No funds have been reserved for construction. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi does not believe the $250 million renovation project is currently feasible—unless the Alberta government and the Elks can contribute. Neither party has made public commitments to cover the costs. In addition to a long list of large ongoing projects, the city faces a potential 13% tax increase next year. Furthermore, part of the city’s operating budget is allocated to debt repayment for capital infrastructure projects, accounting for 10% of available funds.

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Enough for interim fixes

In a statement sent on Saturday, the Edmonton Elks reported that they are continually seeking ways to work with the city to improve conditions at Commonwealth Stadium. We have discussed with city officials how to prioritize improvements to Commonwealth, but we are still in the early stages, said Edmonton Elks Vice President of Marketing and Fan Engagement, Evan Daum.

Smaller-scale upgrades have occurred over the years. At the end of 2022, the city council allocated $1.2 million from a special reserve for building maintenance. This included a new Jumbotron, new speakers, stadium lighting, and concession and food service equipment.