Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 12

Migs · #**221** Posted **Apr 6, 2015, 10:31 PM**

Regina stadium April 6th, 2015
From @YQRstadium

blueandgoldguy · #**222** Posted **Apr 6, 2015, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

not necessarily. If they would have built the arena 15 feet lower you wouldn't lose any seating footprint and the concourse would be equally as wide as it is today (actually a little wider with it being open). The only change would be the 300 level fans would sit a little higher which is the norm in NHL arenas.

I said on the jets thread a couple weeks ago that IF I ever get the chance to pick chipmans brain, I would ask him If 2015 mark Could go back to 2002 Mark knowing what he knows now. What would he do differently when designing the MTS Centre? I bet he would have built a 17,000 seat building with 80 suites.

I believe the water table prevented them from digging any deeper into the ground so that was not an option.

eemy · #**223** Posted **Apr 6, 2015, 11:34 PM**

Count me as one more person who is growing to like the new Quebec arena more and more as well. Looking at the air photo, I like that they have covered up the utilities and what not that are often exposed on the roof (unless they appear later). It makes it look all the better from above.

thurmas · #**224** Posted **Apr 6, 2015, 11:52 PM**

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/m...acelift-government-report-says-1.3016520

This is so stupid for a building that will NEVER HAVE A PERMANENT PROFESSIONAL SPORTING TENNANT AGAIN! Even if the Expos will come back it will only be temp until they build their new ballpark, the Als will never go back when Molson stadium saved their life and the Impact have no need for the Big O as it is far too big for their needs.

thurmas · #**225** Posted **Apr 6, 2015, 11:56 PM**

The best solution long term for the Big Owe is keep the tower, gut the stadium and just keep half of the stadium shell and make it a unique park as a tribute to Montreal hosting the Olympics.

king10 · #**226** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/m...acelift-government-report-says-1.3016520

This is so stupid for a building that will NEVER HAVE A PERMANENT PROFESSIONAL SPORTING TENNANT AGAIN! Even if the Expos will come back it will only be temp until they build their new ballpark, the Als will never go back when Molson stadium saved their life and the Impact have no need for the Big O as it is far too big for their needs.

Labrecque said the stadium hosted events on 180 days last year and another 250,000 people visited the Olympic tower.

Also the impact still use the stadium for major games as well as early season games. And the Al's actually practice at Olympic and still have team facilities there because they literally move in and out of Molson when they play there.

king10 · #**227** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

The best solution long term for the Big Owe is keep the tower, gut the stadium and just keep half of the stadium shell and make it a unique park as a tribute to Montreal hosting the Olympics.

I don't get this? This would cost much more than the $220 million stadium reno proposed. And mtl ends up without a major stadium.... If you want to save money, building a park out of a stadiums shell isn't the way to go. Would you charge money to enter this park to recoup costs?

Nothing is going to happen until the World Cup host is decided on. If canada wins things will move swiftly on the olympic stadium front.

Acajack · #**228** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

Centre Sunlife, like Centre Bell.

It could be Colisée SunLife as well.

esquire · #**229** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 2:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/m...acelift-government-report-says-1.3016520

This is so stupid for a building that will NEVER HAVE A PERMANENT PROFESSIONAL SPORTING TENNANT AGAIN! Even if the Expos will come back it will only be temp until they build their new ballpark, the Als will never go back when Molson stadium saved their life and the Impact have no need for the Big O as it is far too big for their needs.

I liked this part:

Quote:

Labrecque said the stadium hosted events on 180 days last year and another 250,000 people visited the Olympic tower.

He acknowledges some people would like to see the stadium torn down, but said that's out of the question.

“It's part of our history, and I cannot accept that 40 years after the Olympics, the only things we are looking for is to dismantle it,” he said.

Hilarious. His majesty has spoken, summon the treasurer to tender another $220 million at once. There is no other option.

Sounds like a pretty out of control bureaucracy to me. The sooner this money pit gets blown up and the land repurposed into a proper urban neighbourhood, the better, regardless of what the functionaries that get paid to run it happens to think.

MolsonExport · #**230** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 3:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/m...acelift-government-report-says-1.3016520

This is so stupid for a building that will NEVER HAVE A PERMANENT PROFESSIONAL SPORTING TENNANT AGAIN! Even if the Expos will come back it will only be temp until they build their new ballpark, the Als will never go back when Molson stadium saved their life and the Impact have no need for the Big O as it is far too big for their needs.

pull the plug

thurmas · #**231** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 3:12 AM**

So say the Expos come back hypothetically and build a perfect brand new 38,000 seat stadium downtown similar to gorgeous Target Field in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. You now have Stade Molson for the Als, Stade Saputo for the Impact and hypothetical Stade Bell pour mes amours Les Expos 2.0 why do you need the Big Owe long term even if it hosts the World Cup Finals? The Als fan base is downtown and on the West Island and the Impact only use the Big Owe for the occasional friendly match or for games when the weather is too poor. Olympic Stadium is literally crumbling before our eyes and needs a PRACTICAL vision for it's long term future before it is condemned because of poor upkeep and maintenance.

kev_427 · #**232** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 4:03 AM**

IMO, this is what Montreal should do.

Build a new CFL stadium with 25000-30000 seats
Downgrade Molson Stadium to 10000 seats for the Redmen
Build a new 30000 seat baseball stadium if the MLB returns
Pretend Olympic Stadium doesn't exist

osmo · #**233** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 4:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by king10

Labrecque said the stadium hosted events on 180 days last year and another 250,000 people visited the Olympic tower.

Also the impact still use the stadium for major games as well as early season games. And the Al's actually practice at Olympic and still have team facilities there because they literally move in and out of Molson when they play there.

Minus the Blue Jays the Big O gets more event days than Skydome which only gets 125 I believe.

king10 · #**234** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 5:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev_427

IMO, this is what Montreal should do.

Build a new CFL stadium with 25000-30000 seats
Downgrade Molson Stadium to 10000 seats for the Redmen
Build a new 30000 seat baseball stadium if the MLB returns
Pretend Olympic Stadium doesn't exist

Until it collapses on the subway underneath it....

Also baseball stadium would need to be at least 35 000 seats.

MolsonExport · #**235** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 12:45 PM**

Keep the big owe for monster truck pulls. And Pink Floyd concerts.

Actually perhaps they should just fill it with water like the toilet bowl that it is.

Despite appearances, I would normally support keeping it maintained, but that thing is going to be a worsening money pit for eternity.

Acajack · #**236** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:03 PM**

Regarding the possible return of the Expos...

I watched a lot of the Quebec media on the weekend.

The Jays-Reds got top-level coverage, all of it positive. Everyone seemed to think it was great that baseball was back in town. It seemed to be borderline euphoric for some people.

When the talk turned to the viability of Expos 2.0, then it was a bit different. Most people are saying "great idea... but"...

It was often mentioned that Montrealers and Quebecers were "event" people, so they'll come out in droves for stuff that's special and unique.

But most people were unsure if Montreal could get 25,000 people out 81 nights a year for baseball, which is basically what you need for an MLB team to be successful.

MolsonExport · #**237** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:11 PM**

If they had built Labatt Park (mid 1990s proposal), it would have happened. But the hated Jeff Loria and his bastard son-in-law came to town like the carpetbaggers they were and robbed us of our 'Spos.

Acajack · #**238** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

If they had built Labatt Park (mid 1990s proposal), it would have happened. But the hated Jeff Loria and his bastard son-in-law came to town like the carpetbaggers they were and robbed us of our 'Spos.

Yeah, you're right.

100,000 people in two days when people are pining for spring looks really good but we can't forget it's just a "special event" for a lot of people.

The era you are referring to did cause a lot of damage to baseball in Montreal and Quebec and it's very true to talk about a couple of "lost generations" for that sport here.

A new team would benefit from initial euphoria but its "sports culture" base would be the weakest of any team in MLB by far.

esquire · #**239** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

It was often mentioned that Montrealers and Quebecers were "event" people, so they'll come out in droves for stuff that's special and unique.

This is well established, bordering on incontrovertible fact IMO. No one would question that Montreal could fill a stadium with at least 30,000 paying spectators for 72 baseball games a year (or whatever the season is these days). The question is would it? I'm not so sure.

Their last 10 years in Montreal were a total disaster from an attendance standpoint. For the last 6 or 7 years they would have drawn more fans playing in Winnipeg's minor league ballpark. As you noted in your last post above, there is really not a strong baseball culture underpinning the game in Quebec the same way you see in other MLB cities. That's an important factor in all of this.

I'm sure the first season or two of the Expos would be a smashing success, but after that, it's a lot tougher to say. That would be a hell of a risk for any potential team owner to take on, especially when you need a new stadium on top of it.

Acajack · #**240** Posted **Apr 7, 2015, 1:51 PM**

I know precisely *one* kid in my entourage here who will be playing baseball this year. The little brother of one of my kids' best friends. Dad and son went to see the Jays at the Big O both last year and this weekend.

Kids who play soccer in my entourage are too numerous for me to count. My kids don't play soccer but in one of them's inner circle of friends five out of six BFFs play soccer.

Baseball still exists here of course but it seems like it and soccer have switched places compared to where they were in the 1980s.