Halifax agrees to contribute $20M toward construction of stadium for CFL team

Halifax council has voted to move ahead with a stadium project by a business group hoping to land a CFL franchise for the East Coast city.

Council voted 10 to 7 to accept a staff recommendation of a one-time $20-million contribution toward construction of a stadium, on the condition an acceptable new location is found.

The vote gives a boost to the initiative launched by Schooner Sports and Entertainment (SSE).

The business group had proposed building a $110-million, 24,000-seat stadium in Shannon Park on land near the city's MacKay Bridge that was formerly used for military housing.

Council made its decision after reviewing a staff report that recommended against the Shannon Park site in favour of finding another.

The decision comes after SSE's proposal narrowly averted being killed outright in October when council voted nine to eight to proceed further with a staff study.

(CTV Halifax)