Melville City Council has decided not to pursue hosting the 2028 Saskatchewan Summer Games, citing major infrastructure gaps and high costs.
A city review found Melville lacks a regulation rubberized track, full-sized soccer fields, and sufficient hotel capacity to meet Games standards.
While some venues—such as the pool and softball diamonds—would need only minor upgrades, others would require major construction or temporary facilities. Key projects included a 400-metre track and field complex ($1.54M–$1.83M) and two regulation soccer fields ($700K).
The total estimated cost to host, including infrastructure, food, and volunteer support, ranged from $2.99M to $3.30M—leaving a funding shortfall of up to $2.3M even after $800,000 in provincial grants. The event would also require 1,000 volunteers, nearly 40% of the city’s working-age population, and temporary accommodations for almost 1,900 visitors.
Council opted instead to focus on targeted facility improvements to position Melville for future hosting opportunities without overextending municipal resources.
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