Round Table #8: Save The Coliseum – with Mayority Candidate, Councillor Tim Cartmell
Everyone attending Round Table #8 was looking forward to meeting with Councillor Tim Cartmell. Personally, I was optimistic—his leadership speech had promised a practical, cost-saving approach to city management. My hope was that he would consider the ongoing effort to Save the Edmonton Coliseum and explore how the facility could be repurposed for the benefit of northeast communities and the city as a whole.
To everyone’s surprise, including a full table of participants, Councillor Cartmell dismissed all ideas related to preserving or reusing the Coliseum. His response was clear and repeated: “The building is coming down—it’s coming down.”
He further stated that the latest demolition cost, projected at $65 million, would not affect property owners. When presented with structural data confirming that the Coliseum remains sound and concrete-built, he reduced the discussion to a crude “V” diagram drawn on a napkin, insisting that the matter was settled.
When asked about the building’s structural support columns, he again responded, “It’s coming down.” This was particularly surprising given his background in engineering and business leadership.
During the discussion, I cited examples of the Coliseum’s historical success as a revenue generator—such as concerts where ZZ Top drew over $5 million in ticket sales in one night, with tickets priced around $400 each. However, Councillor Cartmell focused solely on net profit after expenses and downplayed major acts like The Eagles, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, and Supertramp, all of whom performed to sold-out crowds.
Several round table participants who had worked at the Coliseum noted they had never once encountered Tim Cartmell during their time at Northlands, raising further questions about his familiarity with the venue’s operations and history.
In essence, Edmonton does not have a spending problem—it has a revenue problem. Continually raising property taxes is not a sustainable solution. Neither is demolishing older, structurally sound buildings that can be repurposed for a fraction of the cost.
Rehabilitation of the Coliseum could deliver massive long-term savings for federal, provincial, and municipal governments alike, creating new opportunities in education, healthcare, arts, community programs, culture, and tourism—all within an existing structure that is already built and paid for.
Unfortunately, Councillor Cartmell’s performance at this round table was disappointing and dismissive. Instead of offering leadership and solutions, he dismissed well-researched proposals and relied on rhetoric over reason. Based on this interaction, it’s difficult to view him as a credible front-runner for Edmonton’s top office.
The city deserves a leader who listens, collaborates, and recognizes the value in preservation and practical investment—not one who ignores opportunity and repeats, “It’s coming down.”