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HFX Wanderers FC_Wanderers Grounds_Alex Allan

Halifax Wanderers stadium proposal features 10,500 seats, underground parking

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A new proposal from the Halifax Wanderers would put a $70-million-dollar stadium on the current grounds for the team.

Team owner and founder Derek Martin says the current stadium is not good for the long term because it does not have running water, and teams use shipping containers instead of locker rooms, among other issues.

It would be privately funded and include 10,500 seats, as well as 650 underground parking spots that could also be used by workers at the QEII hospital.

Martin made the presentation to council on Tuesday.

The city would continue to own the land and lease it to the Halifax Wanderers.

Mayor Andy Fillmore pointed out that about a year ago, the city looked at another proposal from the Wanderers that would have required some taxpayer funding, but this new proposal does not.

“And here we are a year later with an opportunity to solve some other problems including parking for our hospitals at a cost that is a fraction to HRM taxpayers,” says Fillmore.

He says he would like to see more information about the plan.

Councillor Trish Purdy was also on board. She says it is a multi-million-dollar gift.

“It is going to solve several problems that HRM has right now,” says Purdy.

On the other hand, Deputy Mayor Patty Cuttell says the downtown is already packed, and studies show more things might be too much.

“When you have simultaneous events happening at the Convention Centre, the Scotiabank Centre, on the waterfront, in other areas, you can actually reach a tipping point where things stop working. Transportation systems stop working. The noise becomes unbearable,” says Cuttell.

Council voted nearly unanimously for staff to do a report on it, with only Deputy Mayor Patty Cuttell voting against.

Other aspects of the plan

The field would be made of turf that could used year-round. There would be a roof over all the seats. During the winter, it would have a bubble dome protecting it from the snow.

The plan includes rotating the field, so it has a north-south orientation, which is the FIFA recommendation, changing how the sun falls across it throughout the year.

That would still allow for space for the Halifax Lancers horse riding school, as well as the Lawn Bowls Club and greenhouses, according to the plan.

There would also be a permanent stage for hosting concerts.

a couple of kids playing a game of soccer

Muskies soccer teams close out play at all-Ontario championships

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There will be no playoff appearances for the Fort Frances Muskies soccer teams.

Both the boys and girls teams were eliminated from further play today at their respective all-Ontario AA championships.

The boys’ chances were dashed in their Friday morning game, a 3-nil loss to North Albion Collegiate Institute from the Etobicoke area.

The Muskies finished off the round-robin portion of play with a 1-nil win over Peterborough’s Crestwood Secondary School.

Tyrus Smith scored the game’s lone goal at the 2-minute mark.

The Muskies finished with a win, a draw and two losses.

In Belleville, the Muskies girls team stayed alive with a 1-1 draw against Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School in a Friday morning game.

The Muskies gave up the opening goal 15 minutes into the game before Peyton Dolyny scored her second of the tournament 14 minutes later.

The Muskies were overmatched in their afternoon contest against Hamilton’s St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, losing 9-nil.

The girls finish the tournament with a win, a draw and two losses.

a couple of kids playing a game of soccer

Muskies boys/girls still in hunt at OFSAA soccer championships

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Mixed results for the Fort Frances Muskies soccer teams at the all-Ontario AA championships.

The girls team is 1-1, while the boys have a loss and a tie following the first day of competition.

The boys, playing in Milton, were shut out 2-0 by London’s Westminster Wildcats before playing to a 1-1 draw against Courtice’s Holy Trinity.

In their game with Holy Trinity, the Muskies trailed 1-0 in the late stages of the game before Dax Laplante booted the ball into the opponent’s net at the 57-minute mark to earn the draw.

The girls’ team, playing in Belleville, was shut out 3-0 by Denis Morris Catholic High School from St. Catherines in their opener.

In the afternoon contest, the Muskies defeated Silverthorn Collegiate from the Toronto-area, 3-1.

The Muskies trailed early, giving up the first goal within seconds from the start of the game.

Kali McCormack scored two goals, five minutes apart in the first half, with Payton Dolyny giving the Muskies some insurance with a marker early in the second half.

Both teams resume play on Friday.

The boys have games against North Albion Collegiate Institute from Etobicoke in the morning and Crestwood Secondary School from Peterborough before the playoff round begins.

The girls continue play Friday, facing Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School from Hamilton.

BMO SOCCER CENTRE SoccerNS-3

BMO Soccer Centre gets $277K+ from feds for major upgrades

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Big changes are coming to the BMO Soccer Centre in Halifax, as the federal government is investing more than $277,000 to upgrade the facility into a modern training hub for Halifax Tides FC and the wider soccer community.

On April 18th, Halifax MP Lena Metlege Diab made the funding announcement, stating that the improvements will create a year‑round, high‑performance training space for the team, further supporting the growth of women’s professional soccer in Atlantic Canada.

Executive Director of Soccer Nova Scotia, Lindsay MacAskill, says, “It’s a great example of bringing community and high‑performance together, with more young people—especially girls—seeing what’s possible in our game.”

Upgrades include modern locker rooms, treatment areas, staff offices, and enhanced training facilities and equipment, all aimed at meeting professional‑team standards while continuing to serve thousands of local players, coaches, and families.

“The upgrades to the BMO Soccer Centre facilities have already improved the quality of our training, recovery and team morale,” says Halifax Tides FC player Saorla Miller. “Having a place to call our own and grow as a group is essential in building a successful club where players want to be. It is special for us, as it gives visibility to our team and shows kids they can dream big and be in our shoes one day.”

Diab says the project will boost local sport, support athletes, and strengthen the regional economy by allowing the team to have access to quality training at home.