Eugene Lin’s submission came as a result of a face-to-face meeting that centered specifically around the reuse of the Edmonton Coliseum.

Eugene felt that not enough emphasis had been placed on a plan supporting the Coliseum itself. As a result, a more constructive plan based on community needs was put into motion. It took months of research to develop a more comprehensive development plan. Much of the effort involved obtaining greater knowledge of the Coliseum’s six levels and interior. This research is ongoing, as access to the building has yet to be granted. However, our prayers may soon be answered—Councillor candidate Jesse Watson, who previously worked for the city’s Real Estate department, may be able to gain access to reports confirming the structural integrity of the building. In his professional opinion:

“The Coliseum is built out of and supported with concrete. It’s not going anywhere.”

Rehabilitation and Restoration

The rehabilitation of the Coliseum and its interior would begin with cleaning up mold and debris from years of neglect. It would also include the humane release of any animal species currently inhabiting the space.

The cost of such a restoration—bringing the building up to code requirements—is estimated to range from $15 to $30 million. Further work toward reuse will be modeled after similar projects, once all estimates are gathered. These will come in far below the $100+ million required for demolition.

Ice Level

The lower level, commonly referred to as the “ice level,” includes the loading dock on the east side of the building. This would support goods and supplies for retail stores, restaurants, bars and grills, and community, cultural, tourism, educational, and health centers.

Other important points of access include a large overhead door on the west side designated for emergency vehicles. Elevators near the VIP entrance and a garage on the northwest side of the building would cater to vertical mobility and logistics. We also propose relocating the helicopter pads to an area designated for additional administrative and employee parking, which would offer LRT access.

Main Level

The main level provides up to four main public access and exit points with 50,000 square feet of floor space (not including the arena). It offers limitless opportunities.

Eugene expressed concern about the shift from physical retail to online ordering. To address this, we propose bringing back “The Internet Café”—a secure space offering phone and laptop services that cater to both local and international customers.

Further interior development would aim to attract Canada’s most successful retailers, such as:

• Starbucks

• Tim Hortons

• Lululemon

• Canadian Tire

A vehicle service centre would be located in the parking lot, adjacent to a dealership and a vehicle production facility. Featured vehicles would be showcased in a main-floor showroom, along with a tourism agency that serves train, bus, and airline booking. These agencies would lease space at half the usual cost, with 20% of all revenue going directly back to the city every month—a dependable revenue generator.

The main level will also host 24-hour fast-food restaurants, including A&W, Tim Hortons, KFC, and McDonald’s. This aligns with the latest research conducted by the ECC (Edmonton Chamber of Commerce).

Upper Floors

Two of the upper floors and skyboxes will be devoted to:

• Education (K–12)

• Public Health

These initiatives will be supported by donations, share trading, and funding from all levels of government—qualifying this opportunity as a nation-building project.

The arena itself can also play a role in fundraising and community engagement through initiatives like “Split the Pot.”

Top Level

The top level will no longer be home to basic concession stands offering only popcorn, pop, and hot dogs. Instead, it will house four family-friendly pubs and grills with patios and large TVs, so none of the action in the arena is missed. Guests can enjoy their meal, then return to their seats to watch the remainder of the event—no rush required.

Potential for Additional Development

If the Coliseum does indeed have six full levels as reported, then one level—with approximately 40,000 square feet—remains open for future development. This space may be allocated for community and cultural initiatives to meet the evolving needs of Edmontonian’s.

Round Table #7 is on the horizon—more updates soon.

Stay tuned. Stay engaged. Save the Coliseum.

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Greg N Reimer
CEO, President & Head of Business Development
The Goldfire Group