LETHBRIDGE, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation spoke out against the Alberta and Edmonton governments’ move to spend $166 million in taxpayers’ money on another downtown space for concerts and events.

“Taxpayers’ money already purchased both Alberta NHL teams a new arena. Taxpayers should not be paying to build extra concert spaces for the Oilers owner,” said Kris Sims, Alberta Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “The Oilers already make lots of money putting on concerts and events in the first arena taxpayers helped pay for, they don’t need a second one.”

If approved, the Alberta government will spend $97 million and the City of Edmonton will spend $69 million for the construction of an upgraded $250 million “fan park” in downtown Edmonton, next to the hockey rink where the Oilers play.

The plaza is intended to host hockey fan events during games for the Edmonton Oilers hockey team along with other for-profit concerts and events.

“The provincial government is planning on running a $5.2-billion deficit. Clearly the Smith government didn’t look very hard for savings if corporate welfare like this is getting approved,” said Scott Hennig, CTF President. “If the Oilers want to build yet another concert venue for smaller bands and second-rate MMA events, all while competing with the many other venues in Edmonton, they should pay for the whole thing themselves.”

The Alberta government announced a $5.2-billion deficit in Budget 2025 and the City of Edmonton raised property taxes by 6.1 per cent for 2025.

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