However, the staff report rejects the choice of Shannon Park as a site for the facility. Funding would be contingent on another location being approved by council, as well as other terms.

The stadium proposed by SSE would be a 24,000-seat facility with an inflatable winter sports dome that could be used for professional football and community sports. SSE said the stadium could host one to two major concerts a year and a minimum of one Grey Cup every 10 years.

The staff report recommended a one-time payment of $20 million «upon substantial completion of the stadium.»

SSE had asked for $41 million to $79 million, according to the report. It also recommends the company pay full property taxes on the stadium and the land.

It said Halifax should take no ownership of the stadium, make no loan guarantee, and not participate in ongoing capital or maintenance costs.

What councillors said

«The original costs were, what, $41 [million] to $70 million, and this report is suggesting we might be able to do this for $20 million. I can support that,» Mayor Mike Savage said during Tuesday’s debate.

Councillors Sam Austin, Waye Mason, Lindell Smith, Shawn Cleary, Richard Zurawski, Matt Whitman and Tim Outhit voted against the motion.

Outhit told council he could not support spending $20 million on a recreational facility when the municipality needs a new police station, a new library in Bedford and improvements to transit services, roads and sidewalks.

The issue has been a polarizing one, said Coun. Lorelei Nicoll, who voted in favour of the deal.

«What I’m hearing from residents is they really want one or they really don’t want one. But those that don’t want one, they want a hospital,» she said.

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