Permanent stadium proposal opposed by Commons preservationists

Advocates hoping to preserve the Halifax Common are concerned by the municipality’s work to develop plans for a permanent soccer stadium on the Wanderers Grounds.

Howard Epstein, one of the directors of Friends of Halifax Common, said the development would “privatize what is not just public property, but a particularly central and important piece of public property.”

“As a taxpayer,” said Epstein, “why is it a priority to spend $40 million on this?’”

According to city spokesperson Brynn Budden, municipal staff are “in the pre-design stage” of a new stadium for the Halifax Wanderers soccer team. The team currently plays in a temporary stadium the municipality allowed to be built on the Wanderers Grounds, opposite the Public Gardens on Sackville Street, as an experiment to see if Haligonians supported local professional soccer.

The new stadium will also be used by Halifax Tides FC, which is the first professional soccer club for women in HRM. The team will play in the newly formed Northern Super League and have their first games in April 2025.

The temporary stadium was granted in 2017 and the Wanderers had their first season with the Canadian Premier League in 2019. Team owner Derek Martin proposed a new, permanent stadium in September 2023. He proposed a city-funded $40-million stadium to be built on the Wanderers Grounds, which is part of the historic Halifax Common.

The Halifax Commons was originally a 235-acre park used regularly by the military. It spanned the area between Robie Street and North/South Park streets, from South Street up to Cunard Street. The city has allowed parcels of land to be developed over time, typically under the condition that it continues to serve the public. Parts of Dalhousie University, the Halifax Infirmary and IWK were built in this area.

This particular block of Halifax Commons hosts the Halifax Lancers equestrian club, the Wanderers Lawn Bowling Club, and several greenhouses used by the Public Gardens.

The current stadium for the Wanderers can seat roughly 6,500 people. Membership passes to the 2024 season were sold out this year. The 28-game season starts in April and often runs through October and November. The new stadium would hold 8,500.

The Friends of The Public Gardens (TFPG), an advocacy group that supports the historic character of the park, don’t want noisy neighbours. Just across the street from the current temporary stadium, the group already needs to schedule summer concerts in the gardens around game days, said Judith Cabrita, chair of the group.

“It interferes with the peace and solitude that people are looking for when they come to the gardens,” said Cabrita.

Both Friends of Halifax Common and TFPG would rather see this block of the Commons return to its original use.

“Its main, and almost exclusive use,” said Epstein, “should be amateur sports.”

The city is currently working with FBM Architecture. They hope to have a final plan in the next few months to present to regional council. Wanderers owner Derek Martin could not be reached.