Quebec will continue the renovation of the Olympic Stadium

According to information obtained by Radio-Canada, Quebec will announce on Monday morning that it will replace the roof and technical ring of the Olympic Stadium.

The work is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but is unlikely to reach a billion dollars. Caroline Proulx, the minister responsible for the file, will reveal the cost estimate during the announcement.

Previous estimates reported by La Presse ranged from $750 million to $1 billion. The project is expected to take four years to complete.

Necessary repairs include dismantling the existing roof, replacing the technical ring that connects the entire structure of the stadium and building a new roof.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said he wants to make the stadium a “positive symbol” for the province. After the renovation, the stadium will be able to host events throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions, but it cannot do so now.

The government estimates that once construction is complete, Olympic Stadium operations will bring in about $150 million a year, more than double the current estimate of $68 million.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante welcomed the news.

“Olympic Stadium is a jewel of the metropolis, a symbol of the city and contributes greatly to the dynamism of Montreal's east side,” he said in a statement from his office.

“We want a permanent solution for the stadium and its roof. So it is very good news that the government can announce investment in the required repairs.”

Alexandre Leduc, NSC for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, said the move was “the only logical choice”.

“The stadium is an architectural jewel and a powerful symbol of Hochelaga and Montreal,” he said in a statement.

Repair rather than tear

According to Radio-Canada sources, the government was considering demolishing the stadium.

The story continues

Violation of the updated “cost of inaction” estimate would cost “more than $2 million” in lost rental income, making it financially unviable.

In recent years, the stadium has attracted more than 1.5 billion dollars of private and public investment. According to government estimates, the assets of the Olympic District are about 10 billion dollars. The demolition would destroy a large part of these assets and affect the Olympic Park and the nearby metro network.

If it wasn't repaired, the stadium would have to be closed for the winter, and within two years, the roof would be torn off, and then completely demolished.

The Olympic Stadium can accommodate 50,000 spectators. By comparison, the Bell Center seats more than 21,000 people.

To justify the renovations in December, Proulx said Quebec missed out on Taylor Swift's tour because “we don't have a stadium that can do a show like that right now.”

Since mid-December, the Olympic Stadium has been closed to allow exploration work to be carried out to replace the roof. The decision forced CF Montréal to move its opening match in April to Saputo Stadium.