Montreal's Olympic Stadium still costing Quebecers 50 years after the Games

In 2024 Quebec announced an $870 million project to replace Montreal Olympic Stadium's damaged roof, with officials saying work is on time and on budget and expected to finish in 2028.

Montreal's Olympic Stadium began 2026 still under construction and without a roof. The provincial government announced in 2024 it would spend $870 million to replace a roof that had been torn in thousands of places. The stadium and its upkeep have been a recurring public expense since the 1976 Games. Officials involved with the current project say the work is proceeding on schedule. Key facts: - Quebec announced $870 million in 2024 to replace the stadium roof after the existing cover showed extensive tearing and risked closure. - The government lists additional stadium-related investments not included in the $870 million, including about $20 million for sound equipment and $28.6 million for the electrical system. - Officials say the new roof is expected to last 50 years, the project is on time and on budget, and construction is scheduled for completion in 2028. - The main stadium was completed for the 1976 Games, but its original roof was not finished until 1987; a 1998 replacement made of Teflon-coated fibreglass later proved unreliable in heavy snow. - A McGill civil engineering professor described the original design as more of an architectural concept than a practical structure and noted early maintenance shortfalls as factors in ongoing costs. Summary: The provincial investment is intended to replace an aging roof and update other systems so the stadium can remain in use year-round and increase revenue, according to government statements. Officials report the project is on schedule with completion expected in 2028 and the new roof projected to last five decades. The stadium's original design and past maintenance decisions have been cited as contributors to its long-term expenses.