Round Table #1: Save The Coliseum
Held on July 21st & 23rd, 11:30am @ the Cactus 🌵 club on Jasper Ave.

From our first Round Table discussion, I received a number of submissions, which I’ll summarize here before preparing a full overview and report to follow.

Let’s start with Eugene Lin, who provided an excellent summary of his perspective and thoughts on our meeting.

Discussion Summary

During our discussion, we explored the many aspects and challenges associated with the Save the Coliseum initiative — including the significant annual costs tied to maintaining the unused Coliseum, estimated at approximately $1.5 million per year.

We also addressed the city’s plans for demolition, now projected to cost around $35 million. This decision forms part of the Exhibition Lands Redevelopment Project, intended to transform the area into a mix of housing, retail, and recreational spaces. However, this raises important questions about the viability of rehabilitation and reuse versus demolition, especially when considering both the financial implications and the potential community benefits of keeping the structure in use.

The initiative offers significant potential for collaboration with key organizations such as Explore Edmonton, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, EDMH, and Murray Soroka from the Jasper Place Wellness Centre, among others. These partnerships could help generate community support and explore sustainable, reuse-based solutions that benefit everyone involved.

A Reuse-Based Vision for the Coliseum

Projects associated with the Save the Coliseum initiative — such as developing a resort/hotel, community housing, retail, and event spaces — each serve distinct yet complementary purposes that together could create a vibrant, multi-use community hub built upon the reuse of the existing Coliseum rather than its destruction.

1. Resort/Hotel
   This component would aim to attract visitors and tourists, potentially revitalizing the area and supporting Edmonton’s tourism and hospitality industries — all while reusing the Coliseum’s existing structure.

2. Community Housing
   Integrating affordable and inclusive community housing addresses a critical need by providing accessible, affordable living options for seniors, families, and individuals with disabilities. This aligns with broader community goals and helps reuse the facility for long-term social benefit.

3. Retail Spaces
   Retail outlets would not only serve nearby residents and visitors but also create jobs and stimulate the local economy. These could include local boutiques, service providers, and larger retailers — reviving the Coliseum grounds into a thriving community center.

4. Event Spaces
   From concerts and sporting events to conferences and community gatherings, the Coliseum could again host diverse events, putting the arena back into use as a central cultural and entertainment venue.

Together, these projects form the foundation of a reuse-centered redevelopment strategy — one that preserves Edmonton’s history while reusing a solid, valuable building to meet today’s economic and social needs.

The impact of this initiative would be multifaceted:

• Economic: Stimulating the local economy through tourism, retail, and event hosting.

• Social: Providing essential housing, services, and amenities to residents.

• Cultural: Preserving a historic landmark by reusing it in a way that adds lasting community value.

Each element supports the others, creating a synergistic effect that could make the area more valuable and vibrant than ever before.

Follow-Up Remarks by Gregory N. Reimer

“By and large, Eugene is right on point with his summary and evaluation of our discussion. A few clarifications are worth making.

First, the annual costs of maintaining the Coliseum — often quoted at about $1.5 million per year — are misleading. The building has been in what’s called ‘dark mode’ since it closed nearly ten years ago, meaning no maintenance is being done at all.

If even minimal upkeep were maintained, we could hold an event there tomorrow — and the revenue from a single sold-out night would dwarf those supposed annual costs. In fact, we don’t even know the true cost of utilities, as I simply asked for two months’ worth of bills to help the city negotiate a better rate through my broker. The response from Councillor Ashley Salvador’s office was that I’d need to file a FOIP request to see them. Really?”

“Second, the demolition cost reported at $35 million is outdated — that figure was from when imploding the building was an option. Not anymore. Now, demolition involves removing hazardous materials like lead paint and asbestos, stripping wiring and fixtures, and even dealing with a protected species of bat in the rafters.

Sources close to the matter — who support saving and reusing the Coliseum — have heard figures well over $60 million for a full teardown. That’s as much or more than what it would take to rehabilitate and reuse the structure. Beyond the direct cost, we’d also be losing a building with a net worth of around $100 million.

So the real question becomes: are we willing to spend our property tax dollars not only to destroy a structurally sound facility but to lose a valuable city asset in the process?”

“In January 2023, TSN reported that the Coliseum sits on sixty-three piles that have stabilized it for nearly sixty years. It’s solid as a rock — built to last another 50 to 100 years. She’s not going anywhere.”

“And when we talk about housing, this isn’t just affordable housing — it’s community housing, based on the needs of Edmonton’s residents: families getting started, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and those in need of stability.”

Additional Contributors

Ben Gardner of Gardner Architects
Ben brings exceptional experience and insight to our discussions. With numerous projects under his belt, he’s a valuable contributor to the reuse and rehabilitation vision for the Coliseum. He noted that constructing a new hotel would cost around $10 million, highlighting how reusing the Coliseum’s existing structure could offer major savings. (And, by the way, he kindly picked up the lunch tab twice — it was supposed to be on me!)

David Marsh of Domcor
David’s main focus is saving and reusing the Edmonton Coliseum. His suggestion was to find a developer and secure ownership of the building. He expressed concern that outside projects might distract from the core mission, but rest assured — the primary goal remains saving and reusing the Coliseum.

The building belongs to the people of Edmonton, and they should have the final say in what happens to it and the site it stands on. Posted on the website are the three most proven ownership models, each allowing for investment and leasing options to raise funding for maintenance, operations, and the surrounding retail and travel industries. These details will be presented in the upcoming business and revenue plan for the project.

In Summary

The Save the Coliseum initiative is about more than nostalgia — it’s about reusing what already works, preserving a strong, valuable structure, and transforming it into something that continues to serve Edmonton’s people for decades to come.