McMahon Stadium Replacement

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by Wooster

McMahon doesn't need expansion, only renovation. I would gut the concourse, and add a new facade that extends over the stands as a roof a bit like BMO or Ottawa's stadium. I think that could be done for ~$100m

That still leaves us with a stadium that is worse than those in the majority of Canadian cities save for Ottawa and Montreal. The stadium needs (at minimum), the following:

- Seats throughout ($10 million or so based on Commonwealth seat replacement)

- Some type of roof covering a portion of the stands. ($55 million to put in place at BMO).

- A climate controlled concourse that is double the square footage of the current one (the current concourse is built for a stadium of 22,000). If you do this, you still have to contend with the tight column spacing for the upper stand supports. (There is no precedent for this exact project, but interior renovations to BC Place, which were cosmetic in nature, were completed in 2009 at a cost of $65 million. Obviously, McMahon concourse renovations would cost more.)

- Expanded corporate box seating. It would be best to have a ring of suites midway up the stands and a second deck cantilevered over these, but this would require demolition of the existing upper stands. A very costly endeavour.

- Plus the cost to host games at a temporary stadium during the renovation ($15 million for Empire Field).

- Added costs resultant from any unpleasant surprises uncovered during the renovation.

In any case, it's far better to start from scratch. Which makes the combined stadium/arena idea a smart, low-cost alternative for the city. In speaking with cost consultants regarding this, the consensus is that any major renovation of McMahon Stadium is a fool's errand.

[tomthumb2]

^^^ Well said Art! Everyone who thinks McMahon should be renovated should read your post.

[Vercingetorix]

Totally agree. I don't like the idea of renovating McMahon unless it's a heavy duty reno, in which case it's probably better to start from scratch.

Originally Posted by artvandelay

That still leaves us with a stadium that is worse than those in the majority of Canadian cities save for Ottawa and Montreal. The stadium needs (at minimum), the following:

- Seats throughout ($10 million or so based on Commonwealth seat replacement)

- Some type of roof covering a portion of the stands. ($55 million to put in place at BMO).

- A climate controlled concourse that is double the square footage of the current one (the current concourse is built for a stadium of 22,000). If you do this, you still have to contend with the tight column spacing for the upper stand supports. (There is no precedent for this exact project, but interior renovations to BC Place, which were cosmetic in nature, were completed in 2009 at a cost of $65 million. Obviously, McMahon concourse renovations would cost more.)

- Expanded corporate box seating. It would be best to have a ring of suites midway up the stands and a second deck cantilevered over these, but this would require demolition of the existing upper stands. A very costly endeavour.

- Plus the cost to host games at a temporary stadium during the renovation ($15 million for Empire Field).

- Added costs resultant from any unpleasant surprises uncovered during the renovation.

In any case, it's far better to start from scratch. Which makes the combined stadium/arena idea a smart, low-cost alternative for the city. In speaking with cost consultants regarding this, the consensus is that any major renovation of McMahon Stadium is a fool's errand.

[Riise]

While we may be looking toward the 2026 Winter Games as an opportunity to improve our stadium situation, the 2018 Winter Games might just reveal a new possibility. The Alpensia Ski Jumping Stadium that will be used for ski jumping in 2018 is currently being used by Gangwon F.C. of the Korean K-League. The club are able to play in the stadium as the three stands of the stadium are arranged around a grass field that can accommodate an association football pitch.

If Calgary were to get the 2026 Winter Games, could a stadium similar to the Alpensia Ski Jumping Stadium be built at COP? Would it work?


Source: Unknown


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Source: Wikipedia

[RyLucky]

Calgary's probably one of the only cities you could use both sports in the same month week day. It could be quite a way for the ref to make an entrance.

[You Need A Thneed]

I don't think there's even enough room for modern ski jumps at COP, never mind that.

[MalcolmTucker]

building something temporary at McMahon would probably work. Wonder if it would be feasible to build big air/half pipe over the opposite end zone. That would be a cool venue.

[McMurph]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

building something temporary at McMahon would probably work. Wonder if it would be feasible to build big air/half pipe over the opposite end zone. That would be a cool venue.

The tower and ramp is only part of the vertical. The jump and run-out needs a big hill. Building it on flat land would be epic, idiotic and/or impossible. COP is already marginal in terms of vertical and run-out, and fundamentally flawed due to wind. Although I would love to have the jumps in the city I suspect they would end up building something new out at the Canmore Nordic Centre. The sliding stuff would stay at COP on the existing (and still World Cup worthy) tracks.

Of note, the original 88 proposal had all the nordic stuff (incl. XC and ski-jumping) in Bragg Creek, along with the alpine proposals at Tent Ridge and Mt Sparrowhawk in the Spray Valley.