Adjust the Plan: Keep the Edmonton Coliseum in the Future of Exhibition Lands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Edmonton Coliseum: Deconstruction Is Not the Same as Demolition — And the Plan Can Still Be Reworked

EDMONTON, AB — Aug 24, 2026 — The future of the Edmonton Coliseum should not be treated as a foregone conclusion.

With no firm demolition date currently scheduled and the Exhibition Lands development plan continuing to evolve, SaveTheColiseum.ca is calling on the City of Edmonton, the Province of Alberta and the Government of Canada to adjust and rework the plan before irreversible decisions are made.

Recent concerns about the functionality of Exhibition Lands during construction have raised an important question: Does the current plan make the best long-term use of Edmonton’s public assets?

SaveTheColiseum.ca believes the answer requires another look.

The Edmonton Coliseum and its surrounding lands remain strategically positioned to become a major economic, educational, medical, cultural, tourism and sports destination. Rather than removing the building from Edmonton’s future, the Coliseum should be incorporated into the long-term Exhibition Lands strategy.

A Reprieve Creates an Opportunity

Recent public discussion surrounding the Exhibition Lands development has highlighted concerns about maintaining the ability to host events while major construction is underway.

That creates an opportunity to step back, reassess and rework the plan.

The area identified for Exhibition Lands development does not necessarily require the elimination of the Coliseum. A coordinated plan could allow the Coliseum to become an important component of the broader redevelopment rather than an obstacle to it.

The distinction matters.

Deconstruction is not the same as demolition.

Deconstruction and reclamation work can continue to provide information about the building, its systems, utilities and site conditions while Edmonton evaluates whether the structure can be economically restored and reused.

SaveTheColiseum.ca believes that opportunity should be fully investigated before the building’s future is permanently decided.

Edmonton Needs Infrastructure — and the Coliseum Can Be Part of the Solution

The future of Exhibition Lands cannot be considered independently from transportation infrastructure.

Access to and from north Edmonton, the Yellowhead Trail corridor and the Coliseum site requires long-term planning for residents, visitors, commercial traffic, emergency vehicles and major events.

One proposed area of investment is the 66 Street and Yellowhead overpass, with a preliminary estimate of approximately $1 billion for major infrastructure improvements and additional access considerations.

Additional truck and emergency-vehicle access has been estimated at approximately $200 million per kilometre, depending on the infrastructure ultimately required.

These investments should be evaluated as part of a comprehensive Exhibition Lands strategy rather than considered separately from the Coliseum.

LRT Connectivity Must Be Preserved and Expanded

The proposed 115 Avenue LRT Station should provide accessibility equal to or better than the existing Coliseum Station.

At the same time, SaveTheColiseum.ca believes the existing Coliseum Station should remain part of the transportation discussion, alongside consideration of a future north Coliseum station.

Three strategically located LRT stations could increase transit access, improve ridership opportunities and support the development of a major year-round destination.

A preliminary estimate places the combined LRT-related investment at approximately $800 million, subject to detailed engineering, planning and procurement.

Parking should also be treated as an asset rather than an afterthought.

Coliseum parking could be used throughout the year, including event parking and a potential park-and-ride program. A proposed model could include daily parking at approximately $20 per day, hourly options and free parking passes for qualifying park-and-ride users.

Edmonton Should Pursue Its Fair Share of New Sport Funding

The timing could not be more important.

The federal government has announced approximately $1 billion in new sports funding, creating a significant opportunity for communities across Canada to modernize and expand sport infrastructure.

Edmonton should aggressively pursue its fair share.

The Coliseum site already has many of the characteristics required for a major sport, recreation, entertainment and community destination. Instead of spending money simply to remove an existing asset, Edmonton should examine whether federal and provincial funding can help transform it into a modern, productive facility.

Reclamation Work Should Inform the Decision

The ongoing reclamation work at the Coliseum should provide valuable information about the building and site.

SaveTheColiseum.ca has sought additional information regarding the work and believes the results should be made available to the public.

The building and lands are public assets. Their future should be openly discussed, publicly documented and subject to transparent decision-making.

The reclamation process should establish what can be retained, what needs to be replaced and what modernization would be required to bring the facility back into productive use.

It should not automatically be treated as confirmation that the building must be removed.

A New Vision: The Edmonton Coliseum Powerhouse

SaveTheColiseum.ca is proposing a fundamentally different approach.

Instead of allowing the Coliseum to remain dormant or proceeding directly toward removal, the building could become an economical, self-supporting and revenue-generating Powerhouse serving Edmonton for decades to come.

The concept would combine major event capacity with education, medical services, tourism, recreation, commercial leasing, affordable housing and other community uses.

The building would be modernized rather than simply preserved.

Modern HVAC and Building Systems

A major arena-scale HVAC retrofit is estimated at approximately $15 million to $35 million, depending on the final engineering requirements.

The modernization could include:

• Custom multi-ton chillers

• Commercial air-handling systems

• Rebuilt duct networks

• Modern heating and cooling technology

• Improved energy efficiency

• Updated controls and building-management systems

The final cost would be established through detailed engineering and competitive procurement.

Turn the Coliseum Into an Energy Asset

The large roof and exterior surface of the Coliseum present an opportunity to explore large-scale solar generation.

Preliminary estimates include approximately $2.5 million to $3.5 million to cover the Coliseum roof with paintable solar panels, together with approximately $500,000 to $1 million for electrical converters, wiring and associated systems.

Labour and preparation have been preliminarily estimated at approximately $200,000.

A further $3.6 million to $5.4 million could be required to explore paintable solar panels across portions of the exterior walls.

The objective would be more than reducing the building’s operating costs.

The Coliseum could potentially become an energy-producing component of the Exhibition Lands and contribute electricity to the broader power system, subject to engineering, regulatory approval and grid requirements.

Wind turbines are not currently considered a preferred option because of the infrastructure, permitting and rezoning requirements involved.

Education: 60 Classrooms and 1,200 Students

The Coliseum could also become an important educational resource.

The proposal calls for an educational centre incorporating approximately 60 classrooms serving up to 1,200 students.

At a preliminary estimate of $30,000 per classroom, the classroom component would represent approximately $1.8 million before accounting for specialized facilities, technology, common areas, accessibility, mechanical systems and other construction requirements.

The objective is to create a modern educational environment within a larger multi-use community facility.

A Community Medical Centre

Another proposed component is a community medical centre.

The concept envisions approximately 60 rooms with four recovery beds per room, creating capacity for up to 240 patients, along with two operating theatres and emergency-room accessibility.

A preliminary estimate of approximately $86 million has been identified for the emergency-room component.

The broader fully serviced medical facility has been preliminarily estimated at approximately $230 million, including restoration, new construction, code compliance and required building systems.

Because the Coliseum structure already exists, the proposal contends that a significant portion of the investment could go toward restoration, modernization and new construction rather than starting entirely from scratch.

Housing, Hotels and New Revenue Opportunities

The Coliseum should also be considered as part of a larger economic development strategy.

SaveTheColiseum.ca intends to explore hotel, affordable-housing and commercial leasing opportunities that could significantly expand the economic potential of the Exhibition Lands.

The objective is not simply to save a building.

The objective is to create a destination capable of generating revenue, attracting visitors, supporting businesses, creating employment and providing services to Edmonton residents.

What Is the Cost of Doing Nothing?

Edmonton has already experienced the consequences of leaving a major public facility dormant.

Historical City information has placed the annual holding cost of the vacant Coliseum at approximately $1.2 million to $1.5 million per year.

Meanwhile, the economic opportunity associated with a major event and community facility has continued to disappear.

Lost revenue and economic opportunity associated with the Coliseum’s prolonged closure could now exceed $600 million.

That number represents more than an accounting exercise.

It represents concerts that could have been hosted, events that could have been attracted, visitors who could have been brought to Edmonton, businesses that could have benefited and community services that could have operated within the facility.

The question is no longer simply “What will it cost to save the Coliseum?”

The more important question is:

“What will it cost Edmonton if we don’t?”

A $30 Million Contingency — and a Fixed-Cost Approach

The proposed reuse strategy would include a preliminary $30 million contingency for unforeseen costs and overruns.

As a non-profit organization, SaveTheColiseum.ca proposes pursuing fixed-cost agreements wherever practical and entering into contracts only when the scope, pricing and responsibilities can be clearly established.

The objective is straightforward:

Know the costs before committing Edmonton to the work.

The Coliseum Belongs in the National Infrastructure Conversation

SaveTheColiseum.ca intends to include infrastructure and Coliseum reuse considerations in its submission to the National Projects Office.

The proposal is based on a simple premise:

Edmonton should not spend billions creating new infrastructure while simultaneously removing an existing large-scale public facility that could potentially serve many of the same community needs.

The Coliseum represents an existing asset with tremendous potential.

Its future could include sport, entertainment, education, health care, tourism, recreation, housing, commercial activity and community services — all within one integrated development strategy.

The Powerhouse Opportunity

The Edmonton Coliseum does not have to remain a symbol of what Edmonton once was.

It can become a symbol of what Edmonton can become.

A restored and modernized Coliseum could serve as:

• A major sports and entertainment venue

• An educational centre

• A community medical facility

• A tourism destination

• A recreation centre

• A commercial leasing hub

• An energy-producing facility

• A hotel and housing opportunity

• A year-round event destination

• A transportation and park-and-ride hub

This is not simply about preserving a building.

It is about preserving an opportunity.

Save the Coliseum. Rework the Plan.

SaveTheColiseum.ca is calling for an open, transparent and independent evaluation of the Coliseum’s reuse potential before irreversible steps are taken.

The Exhibition Lands plan should be flexible enough to incorporate the Coliseum.

The public should be able to see the reclamation findings.

Infrastructure requirements should be assessed as part of the complete development.

Federal and provincial funding opportunities should be pursued.

And the economic potential of the existing building should be measured against the full cost of removing it and replacing the functions it could continue to provide.

Edmonton has an opportunity to correct course.

Adjust the plan. Rework the plan. Reuse the Coliseum.

The future of Exhibition Lands does not have to be a choice between development and the Coliseum.

The Coliseum can be part of the development.

Media Contact:
Greg N Reimer
CEO, President & Head of Business Development
The Goldfire Group
📧 gregreimer@thegoldfiregroup.com
📞 (780) 457-0799