U.S. real estate firm plans stadium, entertainment district for Halifax area

An American firm has plans to build a sports stadium and entertainment district in Halifax.

A sports entertainment real estate firm is planning a 25,000-seat sports stadium inside an entertainment district for the Halifax region that will include housing, primary care, hotels, retail and hospitality businesses.

Mason Williams created Ridge Haven with his partner Robert Millet. Williams operates out of Las Vegas, Nev.

“We plan on bringing something very special to Atlantic Canada,” Williams says.

“You have an entertainment-anchored venue surrounded by real estate,” he says, citing several developments around the United States as examples.

The project began around two years ago, but Williams says they’ve been adding to their team and picking up steam while planning and processing permits.

“I think the biggest thing is we’re not asking for any tax dollars to fund the stadium,” he says.

“Our model is significantly different. This is not a CFL stadium, this is an entertainment venue. According to our research, it would be the biggest venue in a six-hour radius.”

Williams says the property will be a weekend destination if they can get it built but there are some obstacles.

“Our biggest obstacle is water and sewer,” he says. “The water and sewer is something that takes a lot more time than people realize. We’re trying to figure out the servicing.”

The proposed area for the development is outside Halifax Regional Municipality’s service boundary said Halifax water in an email to CTV. Any extension would have to be initiated by HRM or the province, said the utility.

Councillor Cathy Deagle Gammon says there is no formal application for the project with Halifax Regional Municipality.

The company hasn’t submitted any applications because they are still looking at parcels of land, Williams says.

“We’re going to max out the usable land we’re able to acquire,” he says. “We’re probably not going to look for anything less than 150 acres.”

Ken Bagnell, CEO of Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic, said the project looks exciting.

“If there’s private investors who want to build in Nova Scotia, I think we should have our arms wide open,” Bagnell says.

Anytime there is a bid to build sports infrastructure in your city, Bagnell says you have to take the offer seriously. He says they are always looking for partners who will build facilities that expand opportunities for athletes and the stadium could be used for more than sport.

“It’s really important for investors and people with dreams to know Halifax is a place they can come and have a fair shake of making their dreams a reality,” Bagnell says.

Ridge Haven has no existing deals with sports teams or franchises. Williams says they want to establish the permanent venue business plan first.

“We feel Halifax has the most potential in all of Canada for something of this scope and magnitude,” Williams says, adding they want to be welcome in Halifax and the project has to be environmentally responsible.

Deagle Gammon says she doesn’t believe taxpayers dollars should be used for any for-profit sports entity.

“There’s potential for residential development in that area,” she says. “The devil’s in the details.”

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