Commonwealth Stadium getting new Elks turf for 2026

Commonwealth Stadium began work on new artificial turf about a month ago, which is expected to be completed by the start of next season.

There will be some new green next year at Commonwealth Stadium.

Work to replace the turf in the 56,400-seat central Edmonton facility started a month ago and is expected to be finished by the start of the season next spring.

The turf will be laid to the current dimensions of a Canadian Football League field: 150 yards long, including two 20-yard end zones, and 65 yards wide. When the CFL switches turf dimensions in 2027 – which will see the regulation field shortened by two yards and the location of the goal posts moved from the goal-lines to the backs of the end zones – the 47-year-old stadium will retain goal-post spots in both places to accommodate both pro and amateur play, Morris said.

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The city is covering the cost of the installation.

Morris said the new turf, approved by both Football Canada and Rugby Canada, will have “a lot of torsion” to help reduce the number of knee injuries.

“It prevents people from hurting their knees when they turn, when they torque on the turf,” he said.

Elks extend contracts of 2 defensive players

Edmonton announced on Wednesday they’ve signed defenders Kordell Jackson and Noah Curtis to contract extensions.

Jackson, a defensive back who’s been with the Elks the last two seasons, started all 18 games in Green and Gold in 2025 in which he recorded 78 defensive tackles – good for second on the team behind linebacker Joel Dublanko’s 80 – two sacks and an interception. The 26-year-old signed a two-year extension

Curtis, a defensive lineman who is now signed through next season, has been with the Elks since 2023 but missed all of the recently completed season with an injury he suffered in training camp. In 2024, the 27-year-old ranked second on the team in sacks (six).

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Darcy Seaton