Decision On Grandstand Funding Postponed

Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s Ron Edwards addressing council on Monday. (Screenshot courtesy of the City of Medicine Hat)

The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s more than four-year negotiation with the city on funding a new grandstand will continue after council pushed a decision on the matter to its next meeting.

Ron Edwards, MHE&S general manager, told council he was only informed of the recommendation late Friday afternoon and still hasn’t seen details of the plan.

“I don’t know if I can make a decision on whether we’d agree to this or not because we don’t have the facts we need to look at,” Edwards told council. “This has been four-and-a-half years, and I can’t make that decision in three days or two days or the two hours we’ve been sitting here.”

City administration is recommending council supports a $15.8 million grant for the estimated $31.7 million dollar project that would include a 5,600-seat north grandstand.

The province would contribute $12.7 million with the remaining $3.1 million coming from the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede (MHE&S).

“I’ve absolutely seen no architectural drawings,” said Edwards, noting the city has hired the same designer of the proposed facility which MHE&S utilized.

He also noted some of the costing for the project is above what was anticipated.

However, the publicly available background on the project posted as part of Monday’s agenda package does include a comprehensive costing of the recommended grandstand project along with architectural drawings.

One of several drawings of. the proposed north grandstand included in Monday’s agenda package. (City of Medicine Hat)

Joseph Hutter, managing director of public services, told council the recommended new grandstand was a “like for like” replacement of the existing structure with some additions to bring the building up to current codes.

It would also include an elevator to assist with accessibility as well as an additional 400 seat capacity.

Hutter also confirmed to council the province is on board with the project, citing a 2022 letter from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Coun. Cassie Hider indicated during Monday’s meeting she won’t be supporting the project, indicating there a desire for a public swimming facility in the south end of the city and ice rinks in the north side.

With limited public funds available, “we need to pivot and learn what is a priority for our city,” she said.

The issue is scheduled to be before council again on Sept. 2.