Since the new FC Edmonton stadium plans are still in the air I think they basically have 3 short term options for the next 2 - 3 years. Option A - Probably the easiest and cheapest. Keep using Foote Field and put in a new 4th gen artificial turf field temporary lines could be put on for soccer and football to improve the look of the field for soccer games. This would solve the most frustrating and unprofessional aspect of Foote Field. Option B - Move to Clarke Stadium - Install more seating to increase capacity to 5000. Stadium has artificial turf already which I don't think has permanent football lines on them like Foote Field. Cost? Option C - Build a modular stadium like Empire Field in Vancouver that the Whitecaps use and capacity is approx 20000 and cost was $14 million. Cost would be less for FC Edmonton as they would only need 5000-8000 seats for now. I think option A is the best as its cheapest, Foote Field is located on the rapid transit line, and the 3500 seats there are enough for the moment and extra bleachers could be set up to increase capacity if needed.
What they really need to do is push for a stadium to coincide with the 2015 women's world cup that would be soccer specific and in a central location. As for now, if they could team with University of Alberta to get a surface with no permanent lines, that would be the best option.
Option A: Foote is owned and operated by the U of A. They are gonna make the decision on what turf is going into the field. Full Stop. Option B: Clarke has permanent lines and only the city can approve changes. Full Stop. Option C: Never think of the concept unless you know where they can put it, which is nowhere. You also forget that neither the Lions or Caps paid for the facility. Full Stop. NASL knew the issues when they let FCE into the league, since not doing so would mean to NASL to begin with.
So then FC Edmonton would have to come to an agreement with U of A maybe where they would pay for all or part of the artificial turf. Same with Clarke and the city. I'm not sure but I thought commonwealth stadium was changed to artificial turf and the city picked up part of the tab?
As pointed out above, it's university controlled, but wouldn't it at least be worth some thought to put some temporary stands around what looks to be a pristine, real grass soccer pitch right next to Foote Field? According to Wiki it already holds 1,500 people and has a press box and scoreboard. Not ideal, but it would seem to me to make for better temporary home than the headache-inducing bright Canadian Football field the play on now. Put some bleachers in behind the goals, some more plus tents on the opposite sideline a la Vancouver at Swangard, and viola. Instant upgrade. The only snag I can see is that the soccer field has no lights, so they'd either have to install some or play all day games.
I realize that FC Edmonton would have to negotiate with the University and most likely pay the full bill for a new turf field but nothing is impossible it wouldn't be out of the question if the right deal was agreed to and why wouldn't the university want a new free turf field? FC Edmonton will have to play at Foote or another temp location for the next 3-5 years so they might as well improve things for now(although watching the FCE vs FTL game yesterday the field at foote seems to give the away teams initial problems adapting, as Shaun Saiko said, and gives an advantage to FCE).
Prosoccercdn, do you go to the FC Edmonton home games? If you do, I am curious what the game day experience is like for a local fan of the team. The games are nearly impossible to watch online with Foote Field's markings and the bright endzones. I'm also curious what FC Edmonton fans think about using the West field. IMO drSoFlaFan makes a good point about using the West field. According to Wikipedia, " The West Field is designed for track-and-field training and competition. It features a 400m Mondo IAAF running track, as well as separate areas for long jump/triple jump, high jump, pole vault, discus, hammer, shot put, and javelin. Inside the track is a natural-turf soccer field. Like the East Field, the West Field features a press box, electronic scoreboard, and has a capacity of 1,500 spectators." It would seem like a less expensive an option to add lights to the West field rather than replace a 4 year old turf field on the current field. The only issue here is the track around the field would probably need protected from foot traffic. The additional seats might need to be added to the far side of the field opposite the stands as another option. Of course this all needs the blessings of the university! Anyways, I live in Ohio so I have no idea if any of this could work but I liked the idea fwiw.
I say copy building this stadium. It's the Mardan Sports Complex in Turkey and it seats 7400 but looks twice the size. In all seriousness, Edmonton will need to partner with Soccer Alberta to build a cheap field 6000 seat stadium that doesn't cost much in maintenance though to really go forward.
I don't go to the home games as I live in Metro Vancouver BC but my family has ties to Edmonton and have friends there and have visited it regularily. I will have to get out to a game next time I'm in town. Using the west field sounds like a good idea.
Thats a beautiful looking stadium, perfect for the NASL and it does look quite big. Another roof on the left grandstand and the acoustics would make it pretty loud as well plus room to expand capacity on the end in the future.
The other amazing thing is that the end where that camera shot was from also has a three tier stand. For a stadium with only 7400 seats it does look imposing.
This is a great looking little stadium! Just curious - what is Soccer Alberta? Is this the same as the Alberta Soccer Association? Since I'm not familiar with the Canadian soccer structure - what would you see as the benefit of partnering with this group? Thanks - the questions are done for now...
I get the pro grass debate, but I don't think it's a reality for Edmonton. Edmonton can easily have freezing temperatures and snow at the beginning and end of the NASL season. I recall at the Nutrilite game against TFC that there was snow pushed off to the side at Commonwealth. Those kinds of conditions will destroy natural grass and will cost a ton to maintain. I think a high quality turf is more of a reality for us.
There is a bunch of discussion occuring on the ESG forum http://www.edmontonsoccerfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=153 about FCE moving to Clarke Stadium (adjacent to the 50000 seat Commonwealth Stadium). Much of the discussions would appear to be preliminary and there hasn't be any confirmation from the front office. Nevertheless, by appearances, most agree that (Rabbit) Foote Field is not feasible and options are being sought out for 2012.
I don't even mind Foote as a location, I just want to see a better turf without permanent football lines. Sadly, Edmonton doesn't have anything for options yet.
There is scheduled to be a press conference on Monday regarding Edmonton's role in the 2015 Women's World Cup. http://the11.ca/2011/09/23/edmonton-mayor-fifa-officials-to-discuss-womens-world-cup-bid/. Perhaps news of new facilities or locations will be revealed.
Apparently the Fifa officials were brought to Foote Field and Commonwealth, so maybe and hopefully new field turf allowing temporary lines may be installed at Foote. I can't see them ever playing with the astroturf with the permanent lines at Foote currently. The Mayor also spoke about a SSS with 10-15k seats in Edmonton that may be a legacy of the WWC 2015. Fingers crossed!
new story about the Press conference is up at http://the11.ca/2011/09/26/fifa-head-of-womens-competition-gives-edmonton-stamp-of-approval-for-wwc/. Article mentions a SSS as a legacy for the city.
Recent story from the11.ca http://the11.ca/2011/10/21/fc-edmonton-city-officials-meet-to-discuss-stadium/
Interesting http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/01/15/bottjer_blog/ “We play the Dutch system, which means playing out of the back. However, we played on a small field at Foote Field at the University of Alberta, which wasn't perfect as it is only 67 yards wide. And that created a big problem for a team that was trying to play wide and rely on its speed. However, we are 99 per cent sure that we will be moving over to another facility where will be on a much wider field, which will allow us to play our system at home,” Petrone said.
Very interesting. keep us informed. A change of venue and an improved field would be nice for those guys.
Reading the other posted articles linked here and around, my conclusion is that they will be playing at Clarke Stadium. Of course maybe it won't be...
Interesting that the schedule just announced has no home field, just "Edmonton, Alberta" and that all but three of the home games are on Sunday afternoons at 2:05pm local. There's one Saturday night and two Wednesday nights. So either they preferred Sunday afternoons, or could only get Sunday afternoons at whatever venue they're going to use. Or perhaps their main venue has no lights and the other three games are going to be played somewhere else?