Report recommends holding off on HRM stadium

A feasibility study released Friday is recommending Halifax regional councilnotproceed with the building of a stadium for the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The reportsays the city didn't get the funding needed to pay for the stadium, estimated to cost between $54.8 million and $71.1 million.

The city spent $100,000 on a phase one report and about $375,000 in consultants' fees.

Council has todecideon a stadium byMarch 31, a deadline set by the Canadian Soccer Association to keep Halifax in the running to be one of the host cities during the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer event in 2015.

HRMcommitted $20 million towards the cost, but the provincial governmenthas said it'snot interested in helping out that left the private sector.

In January, Mayor Peter Kelly sent a letter out to businesses asking for contributions for "one of the most exciting projects Halifax has seen in recent years."

"I feel very disappointed that we're not able to achieve this one, and I feel like we must have missed something because we weren't able to convince all the partners that this was the time in which to move forward," Kelly said.

"There's disappointment around what more we could have donebut we have to look forward for this opportunity for the future."

Council requested an extension of the original Dec. 31 FIFA deadline.

The associationgave the cityathree-month extension, with the deadline of March 31.

Council will vote on whether to move forward Tuesday.