Pro Stadium Design Without the $40M Price Tag
How Sea Can Guys Helped Halifax Wanderers Kick Off with a Scalable, Cost-Effective Container Stadium
Launching a professional soccer club without a permanent stadium is a formidable challenge. For the Halifax Wanderers, this was the reality in 2019. Faced with budget constraints and the urgency to establish a home ground, they turned to an innovative solution: a modular stadium constructed from shipping containers.
Sea Can Guys played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life, delivering a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective stadium design that met the immediate needs of the club and its supporters.
The Challenge: No Stadium, Limited Time, Big Expectations
Starting a team from scratch is hard enough. Doing it without a place to play? Even harder. The Wanderers needed a home field that would feel professional, impress fans, and meet league standards—without the time or funding for a traditional stadium build.
They faced a complex set of obstacles:
- A limited budget, with no upfront capital to fund a permanent build.
- A tight timeline, with opening day fast approaching.
- A sensitive downtown location, with public land considerations.
- A need for flexibility, in case the team’s needs expanded.
They didn’t just need a supplier—they needed a strategic partner who could turn vision into reality. That’s where Sea Can Guys came in.
Building with Containers:
A Different Kind of Blueprint
Sea Can Guys designed a modular stadium plan using repurposed shipping containers—a smart, scalable approach that delivered real value across multiple fronts:
- Speed: The container-based design could be assembled in weeks instead of months.
- Cost-efficiency: Containers cut construction costs dramatically while maintaining durability and weather resistance.
- Portability: Modular design meant structures could be relocated, expanded, or repurposed as needed.
- Professionalism: Modified interiors delivered pro-level amenities with creative spatial design.
- Sustainability: The entire build aligned with environmentally responsible construction practices.
What We Built: A Walkthrough of the Stadium Components
Here’s a closer look at what the Halifax Wanderers Stadium includes, all crafted using Sea Can Guys’ custom container modifications:
Locker Rooms
Two customized containers serve as full-service locker rooms for home and away teams, complete with showers, ventilation, and climate control.
Media & Operations Suite
A media container provides a vantage point for game-day coverage and club operations, customized with electrical, insulation, and multi-level access.
Concessions & Washrooms
A series of food and beverage service containers make up the concessions court, alongside accessible washroom units—fast to deploy and easy to maintain.
Fan Entry & Ticketing
Custom ticket booths and containerized entry gates helped streamline crowd flow while maximizing security and efficiency.
Seating
While the stadium began with bleacher-style seating for 6,500 fans, the modular design allows for swift expansion as demand increases.
Client Testimonial:
“We Made It Happen Together”
Community First: A Stadium That Fits Halifax
Building in downtown Halifax meant more than just getting a structure up fast—it meant respecting public land, preserving green space, and providing long-term community value.
The Sea Can Guys solution allowed the city to maintain the integrity of Wanderers Grounds while introducing a sports venue that has since hosted thousands of fans and generated significant local engagement.
By going modular, the club avoided the pushback that often comes with large-scale construction and earned community goodwill that continues to grow.
Economic & Civic Impact
The success of the modular stadium had a ripple effect:
- Job Creation: Local tradespeople were hired for setup and support.
- Tourism Boost: Home games brought a measurable uptick in hotel bookings and restaurant traffic.
- Business Exposure: The stadium became a new destination for vendors and partners.
Most importantly, the Halifax Wanderers now have one of the league’s most engaged fan bases—all rooted in a stadium that started as a series of humble shipping containers.
Why Modular Stadium Design Works
Whether you’re managing a new sports league, growing a community team, or launching a seasonal tournament series, modular stadium construction offers key advantages:
- Lower Barrier to Entry: Get on the field without waiting for long-term capital investment.
- Custom Fit: Build around your budget, fan size, and operational footprint.
- Environmentally Friendly: Reuse materials, reduce waste, and build responsibly.
- Scalable Design: Expand as needed, without overbuilding upfront.
- Temporary or Permanent: Keep it modular, or use it as a first phase in a larger master plan.
Sea Can Guys brings engineering, design, and fabrication all under one roof—so you get a tailored solution with fewer moving parts.
What’s Next for Halifax Wanderers?
The modular stadium laid the groundwork for bigger plans. The team has proposed a $40 million expansion, including:
- Permanent seating for up to 8,500 fans
- Modernized amenities and stadium infrastructure
- Improved public access and multifunctional event use
That growth wouldn’t be possible without the success of the container-built venue—and Sea Can Guys’ ability to turn temporary into transformational.
Ready to Build Your Stadium?
If you’re looking to launch or expand a sports facility—fast, affordably, and without compromise—Sea Can Guys can help.
We’ll bring the experience, materials, and design expertise to meet your needs now and scale with you into the future.