Winnipeg | RBC Convention Centre | Expansion | Completed - Page 16

dennis · #**301** Posted **Jul 7, 2014, 11:44 PM**

we had two minor league professional teams that I know of. The Cyclone and the Thunder which also had a cool logo during the teal revolution.

cllew · #**302** Posted **Jul 8, 2014, 12:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

we had a basket ball team?

Winnipeg Thunder was partly owned by the same person that owns the Goldeyes.

thebasketballgeek · #**303** Posted **Jul 8, 2014, 3:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cllew

Winnipeg Thunder was partly owned by the same person that owns the Goldeyes.

so the mayor?

The Unknown Poster · #**304** Posted **Jul 8, 2014, 5:18 PM**

I used to go to Thunder games at the old arena. They were pretty popular at my highschool where pretty much everyone was into Basketball.

esquire · #**305** Posted **Jul 8, 2014, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

I used to go to Thunder games at the old arena. They were pretty popular at my highschool where pretty much everyone was into Basketball.

I think that the Cyclone tried to ride the wave of popularity that the Thunder had going before the league collapsed around it, but they never managed to do it. I remember going to Thunder games with fairly large (for minor league basketball) and enthusiastic crowds, but Cyclone games only had a smattering of people milling around. I guess the Cyclone was also much more small-time... the analogy to baseball would be that the Thunder were AAA, while the Cyclone was in a single-A bus league.

It's amazing in retrospect that the Cyclone lasted as long as it did... the Convention Centre was not a great venue for pro basketball.

bomberjet · #**306** Posted **Jul 8, 2014, 5:54 PM**

Thunder games were quite fun. I really liked the entrance and music. THUNDER, na na naaaa na na na na na, THUNDER! Although I was only about 4 or 5 at the time.

cllew · #**307** Posted **Jul 8, 2014, 9:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

so the mayor?

Sam Katz was Co-owner and his partner was John Loewen from TelPay.

thebasketballgeek · #**308** Posted **Jul 9, 2014, 3:34 PM**

What I think would possibly gain popularity for basketball here woudl be a nba d-league team. We definitely have the market size, and are probably close enough to atleast have Minnesota. But i'm wondering if anyone knows if their will be basketball in the new expansion, and what was the seat capacity for the convention centre when the cyclone played.

esquire · #**309** Posted **Jul 9, 2014, 3:43 PM**

^ I doubt anyone will want to pay the bills to resurrect the Cyclone. I think capacity at the Convention Centre was maybe around 2,500 or so... I'm sure they could have configured it to seat at least a thousand more if the demand was there. At the time it was an acceptable alternative to Winnipeg Arena, but it wasn't a good long-term location... the atmosphere was very dull.

I bet there would be a small but steady market for minor-league basketball in Winnipeg, but the problem is finding a venue. TNSE is best suited to operating a D-League team but they likely don't want 20 potentially lucrative concert dates flushed away for basketball games that might draw at most a few thousand people. Anyone else is basically stuck with the Convention Centre, which is not ideal. I don't think either of the big university gyms would be workable for a pro team either.

wags_in_the_peg · #**310** Posted **Jul 9, 2014, 4:22 PM**

noticed that the WCC logo on north side of building now is a shiny blue RBC Convention Centre.

cllew · #**311** Posted **Jul 9, 2014, 8:32 PM**

Just thinking I have not seen any of the car dealers doing any convention sales on the 3rd floor in years. IIRC Terry Balkan use to be one of the main players in this format of car sales.

Riverman · #**312** Posted **Jul 9, 2014, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cllew

Just thinking I have not seen any of the car dealers doing any convention sales on the 3rd floor in years. IIRC Terry Balkan use to be one of the main players in this format of car sales.

At one time many car dealers were set up in urban areas without much room so they couldn't carry much inventory on their lots.

Now dealers are mostly on the outskirts with huge lots.

Authentic_City · #**313** Posted **Jul 9, 2014, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cllew

IIRC Terry Balkan use to be one of the main players in this format of car sales.

Yooou betcha!!!!

Authentic_City · #**314** Posted **Jul 10, 2014, 6:33 PM**

From the Winnipeg Free Press (sorry for the large image size):

esquire · #**315** Posted **Jul 10, 2014, 6:43 PM**

^ Looks good. The signage is very prominent compared to the previous white-on-white.

Does this mean that RBC will put back the uber-convenient ATM that used to be by the skywalk entrance on the northeast corner?

Flatland Metropolis · #**316** Posted **Jul 10, 2014, 7:18 PM**

Aside from the funky overpass walkyway thinger this project isn't overwhelming for me. I guess it fills in a lot but I know. Just lacks sex appeal for me

wags_in_the_peg · #**317** Posted **Jul 10, 2014, 7:47 PM**

i think the floor to ceiling windows during a special event will be pretty nice!

Cyro · #**318** Posted **Jul 15, 2014, 6:42 PM**

July.15.14

Source

scryer · #**319** Posted **Jul 15, 2014, 9:22 PM**

This thing is going up fast! Either that or time has just FLOWN by on me.

roccerfeller · #**320** Posted **Jul 15, 2014, 10:33 PM**

I was able to check it out briefly while in the peg this past weekend and it is huge!!