Calgary seeks bids for stadium feasibility study amid McMahon Stadium questions

Calgary is taking steps to explore the possibility of a new major sports and event facility, issuing requests for bids on a feasibility study. This move comes as the future of the city's current primary venue, McMahon Stadium, remains uncertain.

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We have a desperate need for facilities and McMahon Stadium is way beyond its best before date.

The study will delve into market, financial, and operational feasibility to guide city officials on the path forward for McMahon Stadium and related infrastructure. The contract is expected to be awarded in October, with the study costing an estimated $875,000.

McMahon Stadium, built 66 years ago, is home to the CFL's Calgary Stampeders and the University of Calgary Dinos. The University of Calgary, which owns the stadium, has also begun exploring its own stadium development. Steve Allan of the McMahon Stadium Society highlighted the "desperate need for facilities" and stated the current stadium is "way beyond its best before date."

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We spent close to one million dollars fixing the sewage and water problem because that would’ve put the building at risk of failure, potentially, before the Grey Cup.

Despite the questions surrounding its future, McMahon Stadium is slated to host the 113th Grey Cup game later this year. Allan noted that significant funds, close to one million dollars, were recently spent to address sewage and water issues that posed a risk to the building's operations ahead of the event. He expressed hope for a new stadium within the next eight years, aligning with the lifespan of the recently installed artificial turf.

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What we’re really asking our consultants, when we’ve awarded this work, to focus on is field sports. That could be CFL football, it could be soccer.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Stampede and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation are also evaluating bids for a contract to study the feasibility of multi-purposing GMC Stadium for field sports like CFL football and soccer. Jim Laurendeau, the Stampede's executive vice-president, sees potential in leveraging the existing "half of a CFL stadium" on Stampede Park, provided it aligns with their master plan and prioritizes animal safety.

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half of a CFL stadium