April 17, 2008 (Edmonton, AB) — Edmonton City Council yesterday approved plans to replace the aging Argyll Velodrome with a new, covered 250m facility. The proposed velodrome will be smaller than the current 333m outdoor facility, but will presumably be the first velodrome in Canada built to UCI standards reports the Edmonton Sun. The building plans also include a fitness centre, cycling track and walking track. A soccer field could also be included and the price tag might reach $32 million.

After studying nine potential sites, administration recommended building on the site of the existing velodrome at 6850-88 Street NW. The issue had been the cause of much debate with the local Argyll and Hazeldean community leagues both coming out opposed to the project, primarily because of traffic concerns. Supporting the velodrome project were: the Argyll Velodrome Association; Alex Steida (an Edmontonian and the first North American to wear the coveted yellow jersey at the Tour de France), Alberta Bicycle Association President Alan Schietzsch and various other figure heads from sporting and public bodies.

“After an all-day marathon City Council session, the velodrome project
was approved in it’s current location! There was plenty of opposition to fight, and it was a very close vote, but we did it. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. We just squeaked by, so props to the dedicated crew who showed up and made their presence known! Now that we finally do have a site approved, we start work on the capital campaign, We can now get onto action putting the finances in place so we can proceed,” stated Schietzsch in a press release after the vote. He also urged people to your support Edmonton BMX as they also seek a new location.

The Argyll Velodrome was originally built for the 1978 Commonwealth Games, but the structure deteriorated to the point that was closed in 1989. It reopened in 1995.under the management of the Argyll Velodrome Association. The group has been working on getting a new building since 2005.

Los Angeles currently has the only velodrome on the continent that meets UCI standards.

As we reported previously, velodromes were more common in Canada early in the past century. With the demolition of the Louis Garneau Velodrome near Quebec City in 2007, Canada is left with only eight functional velodromes:

– Argyll Velodrome, Edmonton, Alberta (333m outdoor),
– Bromont Velodrome, Bromont, Quebec (250m outdoor)
– Burnaby Velodrome, Burnaby, British Columbia (200m indoor)
– Delhi Velodrome, Delhi, Ontario (250m outdoor),
– Forest City Velodrome, London, Ontario (138m indoor)
– Glenmore Velodrome, Calgary, Alberta (400m outdoor)
– Juan de Fuca, Colwood, British Columbia (333m outdoor)
РV̩lodrome Caisse Populaire de Dieppe, Dieppe, NB (250m outdoor)