145 years in the making
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wanderers grounds history a h i sto r i c l o cat i o n t h at dat es bac k to t h e 1 8 0 0 s
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Early Years
Historic Events
Gathering Place
The Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club (founded in 1882) begins the land’s legacy as a home for sports in Halifax, hosting various events including cricket, rugby and soccer.
Several of Halifax’s historic sporting events, such as amateur sports championships and international rugby, were played at the Grounds. Babe Ruth took to the plate during a baseball game in 1942.
For parts of three centuries, Nova Scotians have come together at this special piece of land to celebrate sport in the community.
s tat e o f t h e g r o u n d s i n 2 0 1 5 The Wanderers Grounds was not publicly accessible. “The Wanderers Grounds, unlike the Central and North Common, are permanently enclosed and not publicly accessible except during booked special and sport events that are open to the public. By comparison, the Public Gardens and Camp Hill Cemetery are also on the Common and are fenced but are regularly open to the public. The enclosure of, and limited access to, the Wanderers Grounds has been possible since the legislation was passed in 1886 and the fence subsequently erected. With the fencing and gates in place, the field cannot be used for any sport without a booking, accessed for any other use, or even walked across. This enables the field to be maintained and used as a key facility for certain sports. Hosting a professional soccer team here would be consistent with the current use and not result in an area of parkland being lost to general public access.” (Wanderers Grounds Stadium Council Report, 2017)
Despite its longstanding role as Halifax’s outdoor sport & entertainment venue, by 2015 the Wanderers Grounds had fallen into a state of disrepair. Due to the poor state of play, the field was only used for an average of 325 hours per year from 2010-2016. 3
T h e r e v i ta l i z at i o n o f t h e wa n d e r e rs g ro u n d s 2015
2017
2019
2023
2026
State of the Wanderers Grounds
Approval of Pop-Up Stadium
Halifax Wanderers FC begin play in Canadian Premier League
Canadian Women’s National Team host Brazil
HRMWanderers issues tender for the Halifax FC begin play in purchase of temporary bleachers
Failed international Rugby test match
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2015
Friendly vs Fortuna Düsseldorf
2018
Canadian Premier League
Permanent Stadium Proposal
Addition of a new Club, the Halifax Tides FC.
2023
2025
c u r r e n t s tat e o f t h e wa n d e r e r s g r o u n d s
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Portable Toilets
Aluminum Bench Seating
Improper East-West Field Orientation
No Running Water
Inadequate Lighting for Night Matches
Light Poles Obstructing Sightlines
h a l i fa x d es e rv es b e t t e r.
Challenges o f t h e wa n d e r e rs b l o c k
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Making it Fit Following our previous proposal in 2023, HRM commissioned a Wanderers Block report which confirmed that a stadium could indeed fit on The Block without displacing our fellow user groups.
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Based on Option 3 presented in the report, it is clear that the field can be rotated to the FIFA-recommended north-south orientation while allowing space for the Lancers, Lawn Bowls Club and greenhouses to all have space needed for additional growth and revitalization.
HRM Wanderers Block Functional Plan, 2025
Challenges o f t h e wa n d e r e rs b l o c k
2 Amenities The pop-up nature of the venue has many limitations that are negatively impacting the experience for citizens and hindering the quality of events we are able to bring to the HRM.
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These limitations include: 8 years without running water, no flushing toilets, aluminum bench seating, modified shipping containers for locker rooms, a gravel concourse, uncovered seating and many other challenges where Halifax deserves better.
Challenges o f t h e wa n d e r e rs b l o c k
3 Community Access The natural grass playing surface has limited the Wanderers Grounds' ability to be used by the community. A conversion to an artificial field turf surface will unlock over 5,000 hours of available field time that can now be utilized by community groups, youth sport organizations, and Citadel High School.
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Challenges o f t h e wa n d e r e rs b l o c k
4 Hospital Parking During the QEII expansion project, 600 parking spaces have been eliminated adding to a significant parking shortage in and around the Wanderers Block. The provincially-owned land adjacent to the Wanderers Grounds is the logical location to add parking. Our options, therefore, are to lose a proven downtown outdoor sports & entertainment venue to a future parking garage, or find a creative solution that allows parking, entertainment, and recreation to all occur on the same site to best serve our citizens. 9
Challenges o f t h e wa n d e r e rs b l o c k
5 Funding The inability to allocate significant public money to the building of a permanent stadium has been a major reason for the prolonged use of a temporary venue. HRM has a capital budget shortfall that is putting an incredible amount of pressure on resources and forces a number of difficult decisions around sport & recreation infrastructure. With the upcoming capital requirements at the existing HRM-owned Scotiabank Centre and Forum estimated to cost more than half a billion dollars, there is realistically no solution to give citizens the outdoor sports & entertainment venue they deserve. 10
Our solution Wa n d e r e rs g ro u n d s The Wanderers will privately fund the construction and ongoing operations of the stadium that will unlock, maximize, and modernize the existing Wanderers Grounds in a way that is long overdue. This permanent stadium allows for the hosting of 50+ outdoor events that the HRM deserves, putting Halifax on par with other cities. The installation of an artificial grass surface will unlock over 5,000 hours of community field time.
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By incorporating a parking garage under the stadium, this will address the hospital parking shortage in an aesthetic that fits within the neighbourhood.
The Wanderers Grounds T h e gat h e r i n g p l ac e t h at was m e a n t to b e Solar panel-covered stands
Turf field for community use and concert seating
10,500 capacity for sports 17,500 for concerts
Field in proper NorthSouth orientation
Fixed stadium seating
Opportunity for bubble dome in the winter
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Permanent stage for concerts
Extended field for Canadian Football
Hidden parking garage with 650 parking spaces to service the hospital
C r e at i n g a s p o r t & e n t e r ta i n m e n t h u b Beginning construction in January of 2027, the Wanderers Grounds will become the outdoor sport & entertainment hub of the region with the flexibility to properly host a multitude of events:
Outdoor concerts and performances Professional & international soccer matches Amateur field sport competitions (such as rugby, flag football, field lacrosse, field hockey). High school sport competitions Professional Canadian football games Outdoor hockey games Assorted community events 13
The new Wanderers block The 2025 Wanderers Grounds functional plan report assumed no collaboration with the Province nor the already recommended relocation of the HRM depot. After consultation with the Province and the Lancers, the Wanderers engaged DesignPoint to survey the Wanderers Block and ensure that the new stadium can fit while providing the desired expansion for the Lancers, a new lawn bowling green, and appropriate space for future horticultural revitalization as per option 3 in the functional plan report.
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c o l l a b o r at i o n w i t h s ta k e h o l d e r s
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Halifax Tides FC
Halifax Lancers
The Halifax Tides FC will be provided equal lease terms as the Wanderers (i.e. financial terms, scheduling, dedicated locker room fulfilling their needs, match day branding).
Expansion of the Halifax Lancers’ indoor and outdoor spaces to allow for continued growth and improved caring of the resident horses.
Wanderers Lawn Bowling Club New bowling green and clubhouse for the Wanderers Lawn Bowling Club.
additional challenges 1.Through the transformation of the Wanderers Grounds into a true sports & entertainment hub, the Wanderers still require a dedicated home base for daily training. 2.Despite the addition of a new all-weather field, the demand for recreational field time in HRM continues to exceed availability. 3.The groundwork required to bring running water to the Wanderers Grounds may take longer than anticipated, meaning that both the Wanderers and Tides potentially need a temporary home stadium. 16
m ay b a n k c o m m u n i t y h u b A d d i t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y f i e l d t i m e i n da rt m o u t h Full-size artificial turf pitch with capacity for a dome in the winter
Olympic-sized Flag Football field (220' x 160')
2-story building equipped with changerooms, washrooms, cafeteria, and office space
Main entrance
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220' x 160' parking lot
m ay b a n k c o m m u n i t y h u b The new hub will serve as the Wanderers’ daily training facility while also providing 5,000 additional hours of community use. By constructing an Olympic-sized flag football field, we will be providing a facility to embrace what is projected to be the fastest-growing female sport in North America. In the event of prolonged stadium groundwork, Maybank could serve as a temporary stadium due to the proximity of parking at Mic Mac Mall. 18
c o l l a b o r at i o n w i t h s ta k e h o l d e r s
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United DFC
Storm Soccer Club
Atlantic Canada Elite Flag Football Club
Partnering with local youth soccer Club United DFC to allow year-round use of the fields and facility for both boys and girls teams.
Partnering with local youth soccer club Storm Soccer Club to allow year-round use of the fields and facility for both boys and girls teams.
Partnering with Atlantic Canada Elite Flag Football Club to allow year-round use of the fields and facility for both boys and girls teams.
summary i n v est m e n t p ro p o sa l
Wanderers Grounds
Maybank Community Hub
Construction of the permanent stadium and parking garage at the Wanderers Grounds
Construction of Maybank Community Sport Hub in Dartmouth
Halifax Wanderers FC to assume full responsibility for the capital costs and ongoing operational costs of the stadium construction
Halifax Wanderers FC to assume full responsibility for the capital costs and ongoing operational costs of Maybank community hub
Field to be made available for community bookings through HRM parks & recreation
Fields to be made available for community bookings through HRM parks & recreation
Opening in May 2028
Opening in May 2027
Projected Total Capital Investment of $100,000,000 20
The ask To t h e H a l i fa x R e g i o n a l M u n i c i pa l i t y 1. Enter into a 99-year land lease for both the Wanderers Grounds and Maybank fields with the Halifax Wanderers FC. HRM will maintain ownership and control of the land to ensure equitable renting of the fields to the community. The Wanderers will assume the full financial risk and operating responsibility for both locations, while retaining all revenues generate from their operations.
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2. Redirect the funds already approved under tender HRM-2026-0323 for temporary bleachers toward the permanent groundwork required for flushable toilets and support the moving of the Lawn Bowling Club green and Halifax Lancers outdoor riding paddock.
the timeline
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September 2026
January 2027
May 2028
Present proposal to hrm council
Begin Construction at both locations
re-Opening of wanderers Grounds
November 2026
May 2027
Final approval
Opening of Maybank
Summary H a l i fa x Wa n d e r e rs p ro p o sa l
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Community
Taxpayer $
Pride of Place
Unlock 10,000+ hours of premier all-weather field access for citizens of all ages and abilities.
Canada is facing an infrastructure challenge that requires local Government to partner with private enterprises to get things built.
Not a single, large-scale outdoor sport or music event can take place in Halifax without the need for portable toilets.
Every Nova Scotian will likely need to visit the QEII at some point in their life, and they should be able to park.
Private investment at the Wanderers Grounds and Maybank Fields frees up taxpayer money to be spent on essential services across all of HRM.
As a City that considers itself one of Canada's best, it is safe to say that we deserve to flush.
145 years in the making
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