Calgary seeking bids for new stadium study: report

Photo: Blair Takahashi/COACHTAK/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The City of Calgary is searching for a third party to conduct a study regarding the possibility of building a new stadium, Global News reported late Wednesday.

“We have a desperate need for facilities and McMahon Stadium is way beyond its best before date,” Steve Allan of the McMahon Stadium Society told Adam MacVicar.

“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.”

Built in 1960, McMahon Stadium is located on campus at the University of Calgary in the northwest area of the city.

The venue is the full-time host of the Stampeders, the Calgary Dinos football team, and Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League (NSL).

It is widely viewed as outdated and incompatible with modern professional sports. Despite this, it is set to host the 113th Grey Cup on November 15, 2026.

The Stampeders have publicly acknowledged multiple times that McMahon Stadium is reaching the end of its lifespan.

In March, head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson told reporters the team will need a new home within “the next five to seven years.” In 2024, team president Jay McNeil claimed the long-term viability of the team was dependent on a new building.

The city also appears to recognize the limitations of McMahon.

“As we see the need for supporting local arts, culture, but also sports like the CFL, would strongly support a replacement for that facility,” said Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas.

“But as I say, the devil is always in the details, and I want to make sure that if taxpayers are asked to contribute that it’s in a fair way.”

In March, Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Crowley floated the idea of expanding GMC Stadium as part of a 20-year master plan for Stampede Park. The venue currently seats 17,000, with room for an additional 8,000 in standing room.

Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) president and CEO Robert Hayes indicated the organization would have a “keen interest” in the idea.

Though there are no plans for the Stampeders to flee McMahon Stadium anytime soon, the same may not be said for the Dinos.

In April, it was reported that the school was eyeing proposals to build a 3,500 to 7,000-seat stadium with a seasonal dome for year-round use. It would host multiple Dinos field sports, including football, soccer, and rugby, while also being open to public use.

$21 million had already been fundraised to support the project thanks to Dinos 5th Quarter, the football alumni group. According to Major Project Alberta, it is scheduled to enter the design phase this fall.

The Calgary Stampeders (4-6) will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-7) at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, August 29 with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT. The Tiger-Cats are coming off a 39-20 loss to the Toronto Argonauts, while the Stampeders were on bye.

The weather forecast in Calgary calls for a high of 19 degrees and a 60 percent chance of rain. The game will be broadcast on TSN, RDS2, CTV, and Crave in Canada, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on the Ticats Audio Network in Hamilton or 770 CHQR in Calgary.