Wanderers Block Functional Plan

The Wanderers Block Functional Plan presented three options and was reviewed by Regional Council. Following that, Council recommended a staff report on the feasibility of the plans. 

While I don't doubt the need for the Wanderers to have permanent space, there are a number of problems, though not the fault of the functional plan.  

The first challenge to the plan is that, due to space limitations (there are many stakeholders in the block, including the Halifax Lancers and The Museum of Natural History), the size of the stadium that could be built would limit the kind of sports and events that it could host. In all of the current functional designs, a CFL stadium would not be an option. I find that incredibly disappointing. I know that there has been much talk and some planning around where a stadium could be built that could accommodate more sports, and the suburbs have been suggested quite a lot. Other cities have tried to move their stadiums out of the downtown area and have not had the successes they planned.  The economic bump associated with big sporting events - including visits to hotels, restaurants and bars - don't commute. The best option continues to be to find space downtown.

The second challenge is that HRM truly can't afford it.  We already are facing financial challenges, and as I've mentioned previously, HRM gets no direct economic benefit from increased economic activity. HST goes to the province, while HRM's revenue is reliant on residential and commercial taxes. In order for a new stadium to make sense, the province and other partners will also have to invest up front.