Quote:
Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere
While disappointing to see the exterior renovations scaled back, I'm not surprised. It's a lot of money to spend with no real return in investment.
The core aspects of the renovation, which seem to include extensive renovations and expansions of the interior spaces, still seems to be there.
Some of those facade changes may have triggered site plan approval as well, which delays the project. A strict renovation with no changes to the building floor area allow them to skip that approval process.
It's important to remember that the renovations have always been much more focused on the fan experience on the interior of the facility - exterior renovations are really just niceties. Disappointing for sure, but not a total let down. The functionality of the facility will still be greatly upgraded and I expect a much larger number of large-scale events to be scheduled here following the renovations still, and that's really what matters.
|
My biggest criticism stems from the public realm aspect. The interior aspect was something I've been moderately interested in, and excited for. But York and Bay is a dead zone most days and nights and this new design that has been proposed continued to be, apologies for my French, but shite, for the public realm as it doesn't look to enhance that at all. The big selling feature to me was the reduced expense by the city and the restaurants and vendors facing the street when the arena isn't being used for an event adding vibrancy and life to an otherwise dead area of the downtown.