Prairieland Park asks Saskatoon committee for $8M for new soccer stadium

Prairieland Park is asking the City of Saskatoon for $8 million to go toward the construction of a soccer stadium.

Steve Chisholm, chair on the board of directors for Prairieland Park, made the pitch to city council's planning, development and community services committee on Monday.

The open air stadium, which is expected to cost $28 million to build, would be home to a Canadian Premier League team. Prairieland hopes to break ground in 2023, with games starting in 2024.

Prairieland is asking the city for $8 million to be paid over the course of eight years.

Chisholm said the stadium would be "game-changing" and would act as a generational facility.

"It not only serves the needs of today, but it serves the needs of Saskatoon going forward," he said. "It will provide recreation, physical wellbeing. It will give citizens and youth an opportunity, and outlet, for not only physical, but mental health."

Chisholm said elite soccer coming to Saskatoon could will bring more opportunities for young players to develop, which could then lead to them earning scholarships and the potential to go pro.

Stadium cost estimated at $28M

Ward 6 Coun. Cynthia Block asked Chisholm if Prairieland Park is doing a capital campaign for the project. He responded that there is potential for one, but it would depend on the reaction from the city.

Chishollm said Prairieland is expecting there will be extenuating costs due to the trend of interest rates and costs of construction. He said a capital campaign would be used to cover any over-budget costs.

Ward 1 Coun. Darren Hill asked if there is an estimate that reflects the current construction prices. Prairieland CEO Mark Reiger responded that the current estimate is $28 million, but there is a $2-million contingency due to potential supply chain issues in construction.

Hill asked Reiger if Prairieland would consider adjusting the proposed amount, reflective of current construction prices, before submitting a request for provincial and federal funding.

Reiger said the ask from the city would stay the same.

"We will take the responsibility for finding the money for cost overruns, whether that's through a capital campaign or Prairieland Park having to invest more funds into the project," Reiger said. 

The committee voted to request a report from city administration on the funding request.