BC Place: Stadium Refurbishment | Completed

[tovan]

BC Place reno to be completed by Sept. 30
Last Updated: Monday, February 7, 2011 | 9:57 AM PT


Work on BC Place is expected to be completed by Sept. 30. (BC Place)
BC Place officials have announced revitalization work on the stadium is scheduled to be completed by Friday, Sept. 30.

The massive $565-million renovation includes the installation of the largest cable-supported retractable roof of its kind in the world. The stadium's seats are also being replaced with wider versions.

Work to install the 36 masts and compression beams that make up the steel superstructure of the new retractable roof at BC Place is now complete. The cable-net system to support the new fabric roof is now being installed.

“There’s still a lot of work to do of course, but we have an exceptional team of skilled tradespeople, designers, engineers and construction professionals involved in this project,” said David Podmore, chair of the BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), in a news release.

He cautioned the Sept. 30 date could change.

"Our September 30th scheduled completion is also dependent on weather or other factors beyond our control. While we will do our level best to be ready on that date, we will, of course, always put the safety of our talented and dedicated workers ahead of any other consideration. Nonetheless, construction at BC Place is progressing so well, that we are now at a point where we can confidently set the re-opening date,” Podmore added.

He said the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps FC are now able to finalize their plans for 2011. BC Place will host the Grey Cup on Nov. 27.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...#ixzz1DIlXEcVo

Video: http://www.cbc.ca/video/player.html?...pid=1779748429

[raggedy13]

^Just in time for our rainy fall weather. (October usually isn't too bad though)

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by nova9

A response using LARGE generalizations but, no, the community now is mostly mainland chinese and they are only interested in the NBA. Only the taiwanese and japanese and maybe some Koreans would like MLB actually. HKers are mostly interested in the EPL (football), mostly Arsenal or Man U.

I don't know a single Asian person who doesn't watch hockey, and this ranges from 2nd gen Chinese (HK, don't know many mainlanders)-Canadians to immigrant Vietnamese to Japanese ESL students, they're all somehow drawn in to the game of hockey.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by DKaz

I don't know a single Asian person who doesn't watch hockey, and this ranges from 2nd gen Chinese (HK, don't know many mainlanders)-Canadians to immigrant Vietnamese to Japanese ESL students, they're all somehow drawn in to the game of hockey.

It's easy to be drawn in when it's the only game in town. I came from Australia and was a huge fan within a year. I used to be a huge rugby fan and now barely remember half the rules.

The completion date seems a bit ambitious. I'm getting more and more weary about this project - just like Jameson House.

[nova9]

Originally Posted by DKaz

I don't know a single Asian person who doesn't watch hockey, and this ranges from 2nd gen Chinese (HK, don't know many mainlanders)-Canadians to immigrant Vietnamese to Japanese ESL students, they're all somehow drawn in to the game of hockey.

I'm not speaking of the Canadian-born, like myself, which are hockey watchers but mostly from lack of choices. I didn't know many Chinese-Canadians that could afford to play hockey so picked up basketball or soccer. And now as adults, we are joining ice hockey rec leagues in droves.

But if you're talking about what sports they watched back home and are more likely to stay tuned to on TV, it's basketball in China and football in HK - hands down, no contest.

Anyway, what is ambiguous about the Sept. 30th date? I mean, how much more exact can it be - by the 30th?

[golog]

About 14 thick temporary cables left to be replaced, so 22 permanent cables up

[SpongeG]

Casino development promoters stress economic benefits for city

Developer calls plan 'stunning proposal' in advance of next week's public hearing

By Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun February 11, 2011

VANCOUVER - A huge development including two hotels and a large casino with direct access to the new BC Place will attract more visitors to the area and create economic benefits for surrounding businesses, Paragon Gaming Corp. president Scott Menke said Thursday.

"We needed to make that side of town a destination," Menke said at a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon.

"Our customers would be interconnected with all the other neighbourhoods, [like] Robson Street and Chinatown."

Although there were no new announcements at the luncheon, Menke and B.C. Pavilion Corp. (PavCo) chair David Podmore gave an update on the project, saying it will create a unique entertainment destination in downtown Vancouver.

Menke said that casino visitors will spend a lot of money locally.

"The type of visitors we attract will be bleeding out into the community. Small businesses will benefit."

In giving his reasons for selecting the project, Podmore called the plan extremely well thought out and researched.

"We think they have an absolutely stunning proposal that we hope will be supported by the city and community. And we think that it will be the catalyst to the continuing evolution of False Creek."

Last month, Vancouver city council gave preliminary approval to what would be the largest casino in Western Canada as part of the development around BC Place.

But in a signal of concern that the expansion of gambling in the city may not be in the best interests of its citizens, councillors posed a raft of questions for staff and B.C. Lottery Corp. to answer before the plan goes to a public hearing next Thursday.

...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Cas...#ixzz1DjHPA7CI

[Prometheus]

Last night, Global did a story on the renovation. It contains a glimpse of a new render which shows how the new seating and video screen will look: http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/inde...Gf9xKwNPS97ao_

Also, here is a story from yesterday's Province. It contains some interesting new tidbits about the finished interior (namely, lighting special effects using LED technology): http://www.theprovince.com/Tour+Plac...251/story.html

[Fairbanks]

I have read in this thread that the concrete rails around the walkways are being replaced with "glass" or plexi. Might be cool to make the out of stainless steel, similar to the new rim around the roof. Would tie things together nicely.

Thoughts?

[Overground]

If you mean these things then I think they should definitely be transparent.


http://www.bcplacestadium.com/images/big_Ramps3.jpg

Millennium Bridge as an example

http://www.edwud.com/photos/millenni...e_st_pauls.jpg

[Fairbanks]

Does anyone have a count of roof cables in place yet?

[tovan]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Last night, Global did a story on the renovation. It contains a glimpse of a new render which shows how the new seating and video screen will look: http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/inde...Gf9xKwNPS97ao_

Also, here is a story from yesterday's Province. It contains some interesting new tidbits about the finished interior (namely, lighting special effects using LED technology): http://www.theprovince.com/Tour+Plac...251/story.html

[nova9]

After the superbowl and those massive screens at Cowboy Stadium (the size of 2 basketball courts, and there are 2 of them), any screen in any other stadium looks small and quaint, ours especially so.

haha.

[Zassk]

^ And yet it is not a small screen. I forget the figures from earlier in this thread, but the new BC Place screen is nearly 3x the size of the Rogers Arena screen (which itself is the largest in the NHL/NBA).

[Yume-sama]

The Canucks' screen is noticeably (almost disproportionately ) huge, too. Should be interesting to see what this looks like in person~

The screen in Dallas cost almost 10% of our total budget lol

[SpongeG]

why watch the real action when you can watch TV eh

[officedweller]

Has this power point presentation bee posted before?

Paragon is called the project "Victory Place":

http://www.paragongaming.com/downloa...TORY-PLACE.pdf

5 star internationally branded luxury hotel
4 star boutique hotel
Authentic Chinese restaurant
Rooftop steakhouse

Renders look very funky traditional (think Opus Hotel) - as opposed to clean sleek modern.

[agrant]

Looks new to me. Thanks for posting that.

Just curious, but has anyone been to Vegas? Does this project resemble any of the Casino/Hotels down there as far as size and contents within??

The outward appearance of the structure... seems a little bit higgledy piggledy, but wouldn't be terribly disappointed if they went with this look.

[LeftCoaster]

It has about the same size gaming floor as the Bellagio in Vegas, but I would be surprised if the quality was anywhere near most Vegas casinos, let alone the Bellagio.

[Yume-sama]

Wow, it actually looks really nice.

Looks a bit too fancy to have my penny slots, though. Sigh.