Vancouver City Council has given the green light for a significant budget boost for the PNE Amphitheatre project.
The budget has been increased by $46.16 million to incorporate the construction of the striking new Freedom Mobile Arch at the outdoor venue.
The total project cost has now surged to an estimated $183 million, nearly tripling the original budget of just under $65 million.
Although the council had signed off on the revised budget in a closed-door meeting back in May, the details only became public knowledge following the release of updated financial information by the city in October.
Construction on the new amphitheater is still ongoing, with plans in place for it to host the FIFA World Cup Fan Fest in June 2026. Additional funding has been secured to ensure that the project meets this deadline.
In earlier developments, the initial budget increase was necessitated in 2023 due to the need to relocate an underground pipe and unexpected archaeological discoveries.
During construction, various historical artifacts were unearthed, including weapons such as a German Howitzer and machine guns from the First World War era. These artifacts were recently returned to the Canadian Armed Forces in a ceremonial handover this past summer.