The cost of building a grandstand at the Community Knowledge Campus west turf field has gone up by 50 per cent. The original budget was $3.145 million dollars, but the lowest tender came in at $4.722 million, with a roof. It would be $4.46 million without, but the Community Living Committee has recommended they go with one.
The design also includes one thousand seats for spectators and 8 dressing rooms. A spotter’s
boxes, concession, storage and workshop for turf maintenance equipment are also in the works. Construction is expected to take 12 months, so work needs to start in June if it will be ready for the 2018 Alberta Summer Games.
Community Living Director Garry Roth argues having the grandstands means the city can host a higher level of sports events than it can currently. Right now, the field can only host peewee events, as they came already changed into uniform. Other levels have complained about not having anywhere to change clothes.
“With the addition of the grandstand and its amenities, the field will be able to host sporting events at the college, provincial and national levels,” Roth explains. “This will create opportunities for the city to host events such as ACAC Conference Championships and the Alberta Bowl.”
A report presented to the Community Living Committee Tuesday showed hosting the Alberta Bowl could mean $192,094 in net economic activity to the city, with an ACAC Conference Championship bringing in a potential net amount of $29,194.
With a grandstand, the adult Women’s Western Canadian League and Men’s Alberta Football League teams could also use the turf. Roth adds that having those things could also mean the city could form a Canadian Junior Football league team, like the ones in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina. College level soccer championships couldn’t use the field last year as it lacked seating and change rooms.
The recommendation to go with Southwest Design & Construction Ltd. will go to council for final approval on June 12th. $1.15 million dollars is already in the 2017/2018 budget, which means the city would need to borrow $3.572 million.
That would be borrowed over a 20 year period at an interest rate of 2.98 per cent, with annual payments of $220,810. Once complete, the project would be put on the list of regional facilities in the Joint Recreation Master Plan, which would mean some funding coming its way.