| Commonwealth Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Location | 11000 Stadium Road Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7 |
| Opened | 1978 |
| Renovated | 2001, 2010 |
| Owner | City of Edmonton |
| Surface | Grass (1978-2010) FieldTurf artificial turf (2010-present) |
| Construction cost | C$20.9 million ($68.5 million in 2012 dollars[1]) Renovations: C$22.17 million ($27.2 million in 2012 dollars[1]) Total cost: C$95.7 million in 2011 dollars |
| Capacity | 60,081 |
| Tenants | |
| Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) (1978–present) Edmonton Drillers (NASL) (1979–1981) Canadian Soccer Association |
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Commonwealth Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, it is primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Opened in 1978 the stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton and was built to replace Clarke Stadium. With a permanent seating capacity of 60,081, Commonwealth Stadium is the second largest stadium in the CFL behind Olympic Stadium in Montreal, 66,308. Commonwealth Stadium has been the host venue for the Grey Cup championship game four times; 1984, 1997, 2002 and 2010.[2] The average attendance for all four games was 61,565.[3]
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Commonwealth Stadium was built for the 1978 Commonwealth Games,[4] held in Edmonton. In the early 1970s, a group of Edmonton sports enthusiasts organized a bid to host the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Initially, when Edmonton was chosen to host the games, thought was given to rebuild the existing Clarke Stadium to make it large enough to host the main track and field, and other sports events for the games. However, by late 1974, there was substantial agreement that a new larger stadium was the best option.[5] In January 1975, the Edmonton City Council decided to build a new over 40,000-seat stadium adjacent to Clarke Stadium.
Despite considerable opposition from residents and community groups in the new stadium area, construction began on the new facility in March 1975.[6] Construction of the new Commonwealth Stadium was a massive undertaking. 500,000 cubic yards of dirt was removed for the stadium infield, and this excavation work required 40 trucks, eight earth movers, backhoes, excavators, and other heavy equipment.[5] Construction was completed in 1978, prior to the start of the Commonwealth Games on August 3, 1978.[7] The stadium cost $20.9-million to build, and the original capacity was approximately 42,500.[8] Commonwealth Stadium boasts one of the largest outdoor screens in the world. The Sony Jumbotron boasts a 16:9 aspect ratio and features full animation, split-screen, and slow-motion replay, making viewing events at the stadium that much easier and enjoyable.[9]
The stadium was expanded by about 18,000 seats to a total capacity of 60,081 for the Summer Universiade Games held in 1983. The stadium also underwent major renovations in 2001, costing $22.17 million.
On March 10, 2010, the city council approved the replacement of the grass with artificial turf. It cost $2.6 million to change the turf and was completed in May 2010 before the start of the 2010 Edmonton Eskimos season. This was the last CFL stadium to switch to artificial turf.[10][11]
The new surface installed at Commonwealth was FieldTurf Duraspine Pro,[12] and it was the newest version of the product at the time and it is the same surface that was installed at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro Massachusetts, home of the New England Patriots. 21 of 32 NFL teams play or practise on FieldTurf.[13]
The new turf installed at Commonwelath Stadium has a field area of 109,908 square feet (10,210.8 m2). A total of 35 rolls were installed, each roll was 15 feet (4.6 m) wide by 239 feet (73 m); The seams are stitched together, not glued. There is a "shock pad" underneath the playing surface that provides additional cushioning. 12,400 cubic metres (1900 truckloads) of existing soil and turf was removed. Hauled back was 14,600 cubic metres (440 loads) of bottom ash. The infill material comprised a mix of 165 tons of rubber and 340 tons of sand. A mix of sand and cryogenic (recycled) rubber pellets keep the grass fibres upright and help give a natural grass look and feel to the surface and ensures excellent playability in all weather conditions.[13]
The turf has a positive environmental impact. It Eliminates the need for water and fertilizers and has a life expectancy of 15 years.[13]
In 2010 $112-million was set aside for a field house,[14] a state-of-the-art locker room (patterned after the Green Bay Packers locker room) and two floors of new office space at Commonwealth Stadium, which include a Eskimos football operations office floor, media rooms and a game-day hosting area.[15][16][17] The stadium improvements also include new lights with much higher brightness which are HDTV compatible.[18] The locker renovation includes individual fans, internet ports, and cellphone recharge hook-ups.[19][20][21]
The long-planned transition to the new, wider green seats from the impossible-to-replace finally falling-apart original orange and red seats will reduce stadium capacity by three seats per row. Expected to cost $12 million over three years of installation, the final transformation is expected to begin in 2012. "When the stadium is completed with the new green seats, the entire cost, including construction back in 1978 will be about $200 million," said Rick LeLacheur. LeLacheur also said, "The replacement value of Commonwealth Stadium would be significantly beyond a half a billion dollars."[22]
The stadium has permanent seating for 60,081, but can hold more with temporary seating.[23] On September 26, 2009, the record for largest crowd to attend a regular-season Eskimos home game was set at 62,517 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[24] The second largest crowd in stadium history was the Grey Cup game on November 28, 2010, with 63,317 in attendance. The largest crowd was an estimated 65,000 for the U2 360° Tour concert on June 1, 2011.[25]
Commonwealth Stadium is divided into 2 levels: Lower and Upper deck. The Lower deck has rows numberd 1–45(A and B); the Upper deck has rows numbered 46–84. Covered areas are: Westside row 36–45B and Eastside rows 38–45B. There is no smoking in the stadium. Section C in the lower deck is non-alcohol (for Edmonton Eskimos games only). Double-letter sections in the lower deck are bench seating. The home bench is on west side (for Edmonton Eskimos games only). The scoreboard can be seen on both ends. Replays are broadcast on the north end.[26]
The stadium is the second largest in permanent capacity in Canada, after Montreal's Olympic Stadium.
The Green and Gold Club at Commonwealth Stadium offers the most exclusive way to enjoy the Edmonton Eskimo football club, it can be used for entertaining clients, rewarding employees and it can be use to take in a game with friends and family at your own table in the Club. The club sports two large television screens, a delicious buffet which is served 90 minutes prior to kick-off, a wide choice of beverages and superior service by the Sawmill staff makes the table the best seat in the house. Tables of six are available and receive one parking pass on the west side of the stadium. The Club remains open 30 minutes after the final whistle.
The Executive suites (10 seat and 16 seat) at Commonwealth stadium are heated suites and they are furnished to complement the green and gold interior color scheme. The 10 seat suite has a carpeted living room with a leather sofa or loveseat and coffee tables; a 20" wall-mounted television (with game broadcast and basic cable channels available); Counters with a bar sink and upper and lower cabinets; it also has an under counter mini-fridge for beverages; Custom-made EE bar stools with drink rail overlooking the window; a Sliding glass door outside to the exterior viewing seats; Private restroom and coat closets and private telephone. The suite contains a complimentary copy of the Esks Game Day program for the current game; 3 parking passes; Special game promotions and handouts. Western Food Services provides the Catering and Beverage service to all suite holders. Menu are available upon request.
The 16 seat suite is available for one game rentals if needed. The suite is located on the main concourse on the west side by section A. The 398 square feet suite is furnished to complement the green and gold interior color scheme. It has a carpeted living room with leather sofa or loveseat and a coffee table. The suite has a 20" wall-mounted television (game broadcast and basic cable channels available), a counter with bar sink and upper and lower cabinets; an under counter mini-fridge for beverages; custom-made EE bar stools with drink rail overlooking the window; a sliding glass door outside to the exterior viewing seats; private restroom and coat closet; a private telephone for your use. The 16 seat suite also has complimentary copies of the Eskimo Game Day program each game, with special game promotions and handouts placed in the suite prior to the game. The catering/Beverages service is also provided by Western Food Services and a menu is available upon request. Two (2) parking passes are also provided.
The stadium was, until 2010, one of the few major facilities in Canada to have a natural grass playing surface. As such, Commonwealth Stadium often played host to international soccer matches and tournaments, and is the home field for the country's national soccer teams.
Despite the completion of the soccer-specific BMO Field in Toronto, Commonwealth Stadium remains a major venue for soccer in Canada due to its capacity. Commonwealth stadium was last resodded in April 2007 in preparation for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2010, Edmonton City Council approved the replacement of the turf with artificial turf, which was completed in May 2010. The City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Eskimos teamed up to do the 50/50 cost-shared project which rung in at $2.6 million.[27]
The Esks "Sold Out" Commonwealth Stadium during the regular season on September 26, 2009 when 62,517 fans poured through the turnstiles to watch the Esks host the Saskatchewan Roughriders, on a Saturday afternoon. This was the first time in Esks history standing room only field level tickets had to be sold in order to accommodate the crowd. Previously the Eskimo single regular season game attendance mark was 62,444 on Friday, September 5, 2003 vs. Calgary.[28] The Esks largest regular season crowd in the 2010 season was 47,829 against the Roughriders, and they never had a home crowd under 30,000. The esks lowest attendance in the 2010 regular season was 30,442.[29] The average home attendance for the Eskimos in 2011 including preseason and regular season was 34,055.[30]
Commonwealth stadium is served by Stadium Station along the LRT (201) line and the Stadium Transit Centre (served by Routes 2, 120 and 127) adjacent to the LRT station. Through their Green & Go program with the city of Edmonton, which began in June 2008,[31] the Eskimos provide free transportation to Commonwealth stadium.[32] There is no other professional sports team which provides this service outside of the Eskimos.[22]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Clarke Stadium |
Home of the Edmonton Eskimos 1978 – present |
Current holder |
| First game
|
Host of the NHL Heritage Classic 2003 |
Succeeded by McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alberta |
| Preceded by Estadio Olímpico, Seville, Spain |
Host of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics 2001 |
Succeeded by Stade de France, Paris, France |
| Preceded by Stadionul Naţional, Bucharest, Romania |
Host of the Summer Universiade 1983 |
Succeeded by Universiade Memorial Stadium, Kobe, Japan |
| Preceded by Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, California |
Home of the Edmonton Drillers (NASL) 1979 – 1981 |
Succeeded by Clarke Stadium |
| Preceded by Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch, New Zealand |
Host of the Commonwealth Games 1978 |
Succeeded by Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Sports Centre, Brisbane, Australia |
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