City funding proposal for Stampede upgrades could be ready in coming weeks

By Medicine Hat News on April 15, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A final proposal for the city to help fund Stampede grandstand redevelopment and expansion could come forward next month, a committee heard Monday.

The five-year-old issue became a public appeal for municipal funds in 2023 with Medicine Hat Stampede officials stating they had secured a funding model with the province, but it required significant city cash and loans.

Most recently, city hall staff presented a list of funding options to council that could see up to half the estimated $40-million project covered by municipal funds, but delayed a decision until a provincial review of major fairs and ag societies was complete.

City public services head Joseph Hutter said Monday that report is done, and senior staff from both organizations are set to meet today to discuss next steps.

That could result in the issue moving back to council next month.

Committee member, Coun. Robert Dumanowski, said he wants a straightforward decision item when it does return.

“Point blank: I don’t want to see this delayed again,” said Dumanowski, who registered a lone vote against postponing the issue in February.

Other council members said several weeks to perform additional due diligence was worth the wait.

Stampede officials said earlier this year that they need an answer soon to capture the 2025 construction season to undertake the badly needed work and expand its ability to earn rental income.

The project would see one 50-year-old wooden grandstand down and be rebuilt. The other would see structural and other upgrades, while the 40-year-old commercial kitchen would be renovated and a secondary project would add event-hosting rental space.

Depending on a list of options from staff this winter, the city’s portion could be as high as $19 million, but with a variety of components and management responsibilities raising or lowering the costs.

City administrators state that the city could offer to raise its portion of project’s cost to cover half of what would be a city loan, on condition that the Stampede raise the other half.

“That will likely still be the recommendation for council’s consideration,” said Hutter.

Hutter said information from the provincial report is being limited, but he is confident there are no major changes planned for operating grants for the Medicine Hat Stampede.

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