Halifax Stadium Discussion

[fenwick16]

BrettinHalifax, it is interesting how you took my statement and twisted it around to support your viewpoint. No, I am not contradicting myself - I think that a $60 - $80 million dollar stadium is an attainable goal for Halifax, just as building a $20 million dollar stadium was an attainable goal for Moncton.

I initially thought in terms of a cheap stadium in a cheap location such as Dartmouth Crossings but that concept didn't seem to get much support on this forum (you can go back and see what I posted 1 year ago). It is not a contradiction for me to now state that I think that the Halifax Forum area is the best location because it is in a central location where it can utilize good transit connections, it can also utilize parking that is close by, it has good road access, and many people can just walk to that location. My current viewpoint came from reading what others have posted on this forum. If you go back and read this thread from the beginning, you will see that my viewpoint has been molded by others who have posted on this forum. I now strongly believe that a central location such as the Halifax Forum area is the best choice (it doesn't have to be the DND site).

The Halifax Forum location seems to get the most agreement from others on this forum, as does an economically priced $60 - $80 million dollar stadium. (A cheap stadium on the outskirts does not get much support and the goal is to get a stadium built). BrettinHalifax, I applaud your efforts for trying to get a stadium built in Halifax but if you can't convince enough people that a cheap stadium on the outskirts of the municipality is the best choice then you are fighting for a lost cause. The cause is to get a stadium built. Many people are going to have differing views, if you pick a location that a majority won't support then a stadium won't be built - unless you have $20 - $30 million dollars to spend.

As an example, Shannon Park is a site that has been mentioned for many years as a possible site for a stadium but it doesn't seem to get enough people backing it. I am old enough to remember the Shannon Park area when it was considered for a possible new Metro Centre back in the early 1970's. It was eventually decided to locate the Metro Centre in the downtown core. Can you say that Shannon Park would have been a better location for the Halifax Metro Centre? We need to learn from choices that Halifax has made that have worked (example the Metro Centre). We also need to learn from choices that other municipalities have made (some of these municipalities have had large stadiums for 100 years and continue to predominately select central locations). If Halifax is going to build a stadium then let's do it right the first time. Let's select a site and stadium concept that the majority will accept.

I have stated my viewpoint - that a stadium should be built in the best possible location in order to succeed. I don't see the contradiction.