About Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium sits in northeast Edmonton, a 10-minute LRT ride from downtown — Canada’s largest stadium and one of the most versatile outdoor venues in the country. With 56,302 seats, it is the home of the Edmonton Elks and the stage where Canada has hosted the world in athletics, soccer, and football.
Built for the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the stadium has served Edmonton for nearly five decades. It is the primary home of the Elks (CFL), but its resume extends far beyond Canadian football: the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, 12 matches of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, five Grey Cups, and concerts from U2 to Beyoncé have all played out here.
The original 42,500-seat structure was designed by Ragan, Bell, McManus Consultants and built at a cost of C$20.9 million. Expansions in 1982 pushed capacity above 60,000 for the 1983 Universiade, and a 2012 seat replacement project settled the current capacity at 56,302 with wider, more comfortable seating. Total investment in the stadium exceeds C$200 million across all renovations.
Commonwealth Stadium’s open-air design means you experience Edmonton’s weather firsthand. Summer CFL games are warm and long-lit (sunset after 10 PM in June), while late-season matches can bring frost and snow. The FieldTurf surface installed in 2010 handles it all.
Getting to Commonwealth Stadium
Public Transit
Commonwealth Stadium has excellent LRT access — the Capital Line station is directly adjacent to the stadium, built when the LRT opened in 1978.
→ Via Capital Line LRT: Take the Capital Line to Stadium Station (84 Street and 111 Avenue). Your Edmonton Elks game ticket is your free transit pass — free LRT, bus, and Park & Ride service runs 2 hours before and after every home game.
→ Via Bus: Routes 2, 3, and 101 serve Stadium Transit Centre, located between the LRT station and the stadium.
Free bike valet service is offered for all Elks home games and major stadium events. For trip planning, use the ETS Trip Planner or call 311.
Driving + Parking
Commonwealth Stadium is at 11000 Stadium Road NW, Edmonton, Alberta. The Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) connects Edmonton to Calgary and Red Deer.
→ From Calgary (~187 mi / 301 km): Take the QEII Highway (Highway 2) north the entire way. About 3 hours on a divided multi-lane highway.
→ From Red Deer (~97 mi / 156 km): Take Highway 2 north. About 1 hour 45 minutes. Red Deer is roughly the midpoint between Calgary and Edmonton.
→ From Saskatoon (~326 mi / 525 km): Take Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) west the entire way. About 5 hours 15 minutes. Check road conditions before departing.
The North Lot at Edmonton EXPO Centre (7515 118 Avenue, via Wayne Gretzky Drive) costs $16.50 per vehicle (debit/credit only). Season Ticket Holders park for $10. Free Park & Ride is available with your game ticket — ride the LRT one stop from the North Lot to Stadium Station.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate in Edmonton. The primary rideshare zone is the curb lane on 112 Avenue eastbound from 95 Street to Stadium Road, with a secondary loop at the northwest corner near Lot A (90 Street). A ride from downtown Edmonton runs CAD $8–$15; from Edmonton International Airport about CAD $45–$65.
From the Airport
→ Edmonton International Airport (YEG): 20.5 miles (33 km) south of the city, about 30 minutes by car. By transit, take bus 747 to Century Park LRT station, then the Capital Line to Stadium Station — about 1 hour 5 minutes total.
Edmonton’s former City Centre Airport (3 km from the stadium) closed in November 2013. YEG is the only operating commercial airport serving Edmonton.
History of Commonwealth Stadium
Edmonton City Council approved a 40,000-seat stadium in January 1975, and construction began that March on the former site of the Rat Creek Dump. Designed by Ragan, Bell, McManus Consultants and modeled after Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, the venue was built at a cost of C$20.9 million and opened on July 15, 1978, in time for its inaugural event.
1978 Commonwealth Games (August 3–12, 1978): The stadium’s first event. 1,474 athletes from 46 nations competed, and Canada achieved its all-time best performance with 45 gold medals and 109 total medals.
1983 Summer Universiade (July 1–12, 1983): Hosted athletics events and ceremonies. The upper tier was expanded to 60,081 seats at a cost of C$11 million for this event.
2001 IAAF World Championships (August 3–12, 2001): 1,677 athletes from 189 nations competed. The stadium received a $24 million facelift with a new facade, concourse, lighting, and all-weather running track.
2010 Grey Cup (November 28, 2010): Montreal Alouettes defeated Saskatchewan 21-18 before a record crowd of 63,317 — the largest in stadium history. Tickets sold out before the CFL season started.
2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup (June–July 2015): Edmonton hosted 12 of 52 tournament matches, including the opening match (Canada 1, China 0 before 53,058 fans), a semifinal, and the third-place match.
106th Grey Cup (November 25, 2018): Calgary Stampeders defeated Ottawa Redblacks 27-16 before 55,819, the most recent of five Grey Cups hosted here.
Commonwealth Stadium has given Edmonton a world-class stage for nearly 50 years. From the Commonwealth Games to FIFA, from Grey Cups to U2, this open-air colossus in Canada’s north has proven that great events can happen anywhere — even at 53 degrees latitude.
Photo Gallery
Fun Facts
At 56,302 seats, Commonwealth Stadium is the largest stadium in Canada — the record attendance is 63,317, set at the 2010 Grey Cup.
The Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) were the last CFL team to play on natural grass, holding that distinction until FieldTurf was installed in May 2010.
The 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship final drew 47,784 fans — a world record for attendance at a youth women's soccer match that still stands.
Stadium Location
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the seating capacity of Commonwealth Stadium?
- Commonwealth Stadium has a seating capacity of 56,302 in an all-seater configuration, making it the largest stadium in Canada. The record attendance is 63,317, set at the 2010 Grey Cup.
- How do I get to Commonwealth Stadium by public transit?
- Take the Capital Line LRT to Stadium Station, directly adjacent to the stadium. On Edmonton Elks game days, your game ticket is your transit pass — free LRT, bus, and Park and Ride service runs 2 hours before and after the game.
- Is there parking at Commonwealth Stadium?
- Yes. The North Lot at Edmonton EXPO Centre costs $16.50 (debit/credit only). Season Ticket Holders park for $10. Free Park and Ride is available with a valid game ticket via LRT.
- Does Commonwealth Stadium have a roof?
- No. Commonwealth Stadium is an open-air stadium. A roof was debated during construction but rejected due to the additional $18.2 million cost. Edmonton winters can be harsh, but CFL games are played in summer and fall.
- What events have been held at Commonwealth Stadium?
- Major events include the 1978 Commonwealth Games, 2001 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup (12 matches), five Grey Cups (1984, 1997, 2002, 2010, 2018), and concerts by U2, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce.
- What surface does Commonwealth Stadium have?
- Commonwealth Stadium has FieldTurf Duraspine Pro artificial turf, installed in May 2010. Before that, it was one of the last major stadiums in Canada with natural grass.
Last updated: 2026-02-26
