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Wanderers Soccer team pitches permanent stadium proposal, community members oppose

Derek Martin, owner and founder of the Halifax Wanderers presented a proposed permanent stadium in community planning meeting. Photo from Halifax Wanderers Facebook page.
Haeley DiRisio - CKDU - Halifax • NS | 19-09-2023
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Wanderers President and Founder Derek Martin presented a permanent stadium proposal for the current grounds during a Community Planning Committee last Thursday.
The proposed stadium is estimated to cost around $40 million to complete.
During the meeting, the committee heard from several members of the public about their concerns for the future of the current Wanderers soccer team grounds.
Members of the Friends of the Common community group and neighbours of the area spoke about the noise pollution the Wanderers soccer games have had for the past five years on the neighbouring park, Halifax Public Gardens. The Wanderers' ground sit adjacent to the Gardens in an area of the Halifax Commons.
Martin explained when he found the field it was in bad shape which limited the field to “recreational leagues and dog walkers,” adding that all he could see was “its potential.” The Wanderers team has played for 400,000 community members and raised $200,000 for various local charities, Martin said.
The presentation included that the permanent stadium could be a new space for other sports matches such as football and high school sports as well as be used as a concert venue.
Those who spoke during the public participation said that the permanent stadium be put in a different location.

“What we all know is the Public Gardens cannot be moved but the soccer stadium most certainly can go elsewhere,” David Bentley, an area resident said.

The Wanderers have been renting the space as a “pop-up” stadium since 2018, playing Canadian Premier League games.

“The staff report from 2017 said that this is not an appropriate location for a permanent, ongoing, professional soccer league,” Howard Epstein from the Friends of the Common said.

Community members said the Wanderers have taken over the space and are no longer making the area accessible for all people. Those who spoke said they would like to see the Wanderers find a new home for the permanent stadium and that the fields return to a more publicly accessible area.

“What distinguishes the Halifax Common is that it is for all our common use,” Vince Calderhead, a neighbour of the area said.

The contract for the sports team with Halifax Regional Municipality is due to expire in 2024, Coun. Waye Mason said a staff report would be needed to see exact costs.

Several councillors agreed the space would be appropriate for the permanent grounds because of its access to parking, transit and that it would also fulfill the commitment the municipality has for an artificial turf field somewhere on the Common.

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