Demolition of Regina Exhibition Stadium underway

Regina Exhibition Stadium demolished The 98-year-old Regina Exhibition Stadium met the wrecking ball Tuesday.

Tuesday marks the end of an era for a long-standing city landmark. The Regina Exhibition Stadium was built in 1919 and now, almost a century later, it has a date with the wrecking ball.

The demolition begin at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 17.

The doors to the arena officially closed in 2010, but before that events drew huge crowds from around the province for decades. Its cracked and crumbling walls are proof.

The facility has played host to concerts, hockey games, farm shows, the Ice Capades, the Shrine Circus and so much more.

Hundreds of thousands of people have sat on the wooden bench seats to cheer on the Regina Pats at the rink until the team moved to the Agridome when it opened in 1977.

The exhibition building also drew some major musical stars. Back in the 50's and 60's Paul Anka, the Who and the Beach Boys all put on shows at the building. Even Johnny Cash has graced the stage.

In recent years, the exhibition stadium was a major centre for Agribition. In November, the final cattle show was held in what so many fondly just call "the old barn".

Construction is already underway on the new international trade centre which will replace the current facility.

The trade center will feature a 150 thousand square foot multiplex with three exhibit halls and a mezzanine level. The $37 million project is designed to be utilized throughout the year.

The new facility will attach all buildings on the Evraz Place property, except for the new Mosiac Stadium, making Evraz Place the largest interconnected event complex in Canada.

The new trade centre is expected to be complete in 2017 and will open in time for Agribition.