Fredericton’s historic exhibition grandstand faces final teardown

The New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition has begun dismantling its long-standing grandstand at the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds after the city rejected an appeal that aimed to reverse a demolition order. The order was issued on September 9 when officials determined the grandstand posed several safety hazards, including rusting structural components, asbestos risk, missing protective guards, litter accumulation and concerns over possible falls.

The exhibition challenged the order in October, but the appeal was dismissed. Following that outcome, the board of directors voted to comply with the demolition requirement. Exhibition executive director Rae Tretiak said the board understood the city’s reasoning more clearly after the hearing and agreed that removing the structure was the best option.

Demolition began about a week ago. Crews started by clearing materials beneath and around the seating area and removing debris from the roof. After this stage, they will dismantle the steel frame and remove the concrete base to eliminate any risk of tripping. Tretiak estimates the project will take between two and three months and cost approximately $400,000.

Many residents have stopped by to view the structure one last time as the area holds strong community memories. The grandstand has been closed since 2017 and boarded up since 2023, and it served as a central gathering place for events, including a memorable royal visit in July 1959. The structure rests beside a racetrack that still occasionally sees horse use, even though official races ended in 2016.

Planning discussions for the land continue, with one possibility being its use for a future middle school, though no decision has been finalized. At the same time, the city and the exhibition are involved in an expropriation process over the future control of the grounds. Four objections were submitted ahead of the November 17 deadline as part of those ongoing negotiations.