It’s a proposed facility that would include an indoor cycling and running track, access to a public pool and a fitness centre – but its price tag has grown to higher than first thought.
The coordinator of the project, Rachel Dumont with the City of Edmonton, told CTV News that the price of the Argyll Velodrome – now at $111 million – comes from having a clearer understanding of what the project would require.
The price is now $11 million higher than the last estimated cost, and officials said it is for 60 percent of the design. It’s a price tag Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Knack admits is high.
“We just don’t have the money to do it all at once,” Knack said.
The Argyll Velodrome Association would contribute $20 million to the project, now leaving the remaining $91 million to the city.
“We only have a little over $120 million available over the next four years for new growth projects, and this is $91 million,” Knack said. “So you’re talking about using about 75 percent of all of our funding over the next four years.”
The indoor facility would replace the existing, aging velodrome on Edmonton’s south side, where athletes rely on good weather to train.
“The velodrome itself would be incredible from a trainability standpoint, because it just gives us that proper environment and that stimulus that is required to train at an elite level,” Triathlete Jason Jama said.
Meanwhile, plans for the project could change if Edmonton’s bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games is successful.
“I think if we were able to get that, then we’d be able to reduce the cost and potentially get it done sooner,” Knack said.
“There are so many competing projects out there, of course I want to see this project move forward but we need to be realistic as well,” Dumont said. “Hopefully they can figure something out.”
The report will go before the Community Services Committee Monday.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
