In a City of Edmonton committee meeting Tuesday, members voted on a funding model to redirect millions towards upgrading the scoreboard and sound system at Commonwealth Stadium.
Officials said the upgrades are needed as both components are reaching the end of their lifespan, and the manufacturer is not making replacement parts, and that is raising concerns over the system breaking down.
With two major international events slated to take place in Commonwealth Stadium in the next two years, officials want to ensure the system will work.
“It just takes a significant amount of time, because of the size and the technology of the Jumbotron, in order to get it in place for next season, for next spring, we need to order this equipment in August,” Director of Commonwealth Stadium Evelyn Ehrman said.
On Tuesday, the city’s Community Services Committee approved a funding model to cover the $5,280,000 needed to replace the system.
The committee approved $5 million to come from funding to build a twin arena near Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre, and hundreds of thousands more diverted from the Stadium Reserve and funding for equipment for Commonwealth Stadium.
“The funding was already allocated from another project with conditions of getting partnerships, which we haven’t gotten,” Mayor Stephen Mandel said. “So the money is sitting there, and can go to something productive, so the scoreboard is in need so it’s an obvious allocation.”
Council asked the Edmonton Eskimos to contribute, but they declined – the team said they’re working to determine the financial implications of moving training camp and an exhibition game in 2015 to make way for the Women’s World Soccer Championship.
With files from Nicole Weisberg
