City councillors look to future of old velodrome tagged for demolition

Edmonton's city council has approved the destruction of the Argyll Velodrome. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson looks into what's next for the site.

After city council’s approval of money to demolish a longstanding Edmonton velodrome last week, a couple city councillors are already considering what the future of the space may look like.

The Argyll Velodrome is almost 50 years old, but with a new velodrome almost completely ready for opening at Coronation Park, council voted to allocate around $3 million from the 2026 budget toward tearing the 88 Street cycling dome down.

“It’s a very beautiful, prime location in our city that we could do something really creative with, so I’m interested in whatever happens next, doing an open process with many different partners,” Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz said of the area on Tuesday.

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Currently, the soccer branch of the Edmonton Juventus Sports Club has a 10-year head lease with the city for the location’s clubhouse and surrounding fields, including the track, said Juventus club director Rob Mosele.

“So we’re here for the long term,” Mosele said on Tuesday.

Also operating in the velodrome space on sub-leases is a rugby club, a BMX track, a community league and a Japanese association, Mosele said. He added the demolition makes sense as the Argyll Velodrome was on its last legs.

“We’ve been patching it up and trying to keep it going every year,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important that the new velodrome was built, because this one was pretty well done.

“Part of the deal is that we don’t use the track anymore for cycling, as it has to be decommissioned … we’re going to use the infield as soccer. We’re going to put soccer in there, set up our gear and just leave it.”

Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Reed Clarke said the need for soccer and cricket space bookings are at an all-time high in the city – making the Argyll location prime for new sports hubs.

“(Juventus) have been good stewards of the space. They’ve helped with the clubhouse. They’ve used it even though it hasn’t been ideal … so I think they’ve got to be included,” he said on Tuesday.

“Can we also expand them to other community uses? I’d be a champion of that, for sure.”

The demolition funding and process is slated for the 2026 budget, so decisions on the space are premature, for now, Clarke said. Both councillors believe any future development would focus on sports and recreation.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson