Commonwealth Stadium renovations done in time for Grey Cup

Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton is ready to host the 2010 Grey Cup with the help of Clark Builders, which recently completed several key components in a multi-million dollar renovation under a tight deadline.

“The timeframe and the deadline has been a big challenge because there was a fixed event at the end,” said Clark Builders project manager Clive Martin.

“We have met our targets and the deadline for the space needed for the Grey Cup.”

The company is working with the Edmonton Eskimos and the City of Edmonton on the expansion of stadium grounds at the Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre, which hosts the 2010 Grey Cup on Nov. 28.

“There are several components to this project and some were handed over last year, for example, the west parking lot which has 200 stalls,” said Martin.

Clark is just finishing up a field house that has 90,000 square feet on three levels. It houses an artificial turf field, running track, stretching area and weight room on another level.

Construction of the $26 million facility began in April 2009.

It is currently ready for occupation and is being prepared for the Grey Cup celebration, which runs from Nov. 25-28.

“They are going to have a tailgate party, so we won’t install the artificial turf and a few other items until December or January,” said Martin.

The work also includes a $9-million renovation of the stadium’s office space, shared with the City of Edmonton.

“We have extended the building closer to the field and put in new balconies to view the field and new locker rooms,” Martin said, adding that hosting rooms will be available for the Grey Cup.

The retrofit also includes a spa, change rooms, media centre and treatment rooms.

The third component of construction at Commonwealth stadium is the full-scale rejuvenation of the existing Commonwealth Sports and Fitness Centre.

The $60 million renovation of the 94,000 square foot building contains a 95-metre fitness pool, a recreational pool, change rooms, offices, an open gym with a lobby that ties all the areas together.

The fitness centre and pool are not scheduled for completion until 2011.

The total cost of the Commonwealth stadium expansion and renovation is $95 million.

At peak construction there were about 230 people working on the project.

Edmonton city council approved the replacement of the stadium’s grass field with artificial turf in March.

The cost of changing the turf was $2.6 million and the project 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.

The stadium also underwent major renovations in 2001, costing $22 million.

Commonwealth Stadium is the second largest sports stadium facility in Canada, and has been the home to the Edmonton Eskimos for more than 30 years.

The stadium was originally constructed in 1978 as the primary sports facility for the Commonwealth Games.

The stadium’s original capacity was 42,500 seats and was expanded by 18,000 seats in 1983.