Stadiums and Arenas of Canada

[esquire]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I completely agree. I think that having such deep end zones makes the end zone seats an almost unbearable place to watch a game in the CFL. The difference between the 360 foot total field length in the NFL and 450 foot total field length in the CFL makes a huge difference as far as ambiance goes.

In my view, end zone seats work if the seats are sufficiently elevated. The very low ground-level end zone seats like the ones they have in Montreal are worthless. On the other hand, I've sat in the upper deck behind the end zone at BC Place and the view is not that bad... or at least not much worse than the upper deck along the sidelines.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by esquire

In my view, end zone seats work if the seats are sufficiently elevated. The very low ground-level end zone seats like the ones they have in Montreal are worthless. On the other hand, I've sat in the upper deck behind the end zone at BC Place and the view is not that bad... or at least not much worse than the upper deck along the sidelines.

I have noticed this also. The lower level end zone seats at the Rogers Centre provide a very poor viewing perspective. I think if the seats were elevated 20 - 30 feet it would make a big difference. I would prefer to be further from the field in the far corner seats than the lowest level end zone seats. On the other hand, I saw an NFL game in Buffalo from the second level end zone seats and felt that I had a good view of the field.

[ScreamingViking]

Deleted - moved to CFL 2013 Season thread

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by esquire

In my view, end zone seats work if the seats are sufficiently elevated. The very low ground-level end zone seats like the ones they have in Montreal are worthless.

I agree with you about the elevation.

But the endzone stands in Montreal were not as bad as I thought they'd be - I sat in the southwest corner once, maybe the 4th row, and while it was a pain to try to see what was happening at the opposite end of the field it was pretty exciting when teams were in scoring position at our end. You definitely get what you pay for, but it was kind of fun.

It'll be interesting to see how well the patio concepts work at THF. They're not very cheap, but the amenities and the video screens make them different than traditional endzone bleachers.

[Steveston]

My seats are in the end zone at BC Place. They're in the first row, which is actually Row J. They're elevated a fair bit over the field (I would guess 16 - 20'). The seats are virtually directly over the thick white line which marks the back of the end zone.

Yes, the view to the opposite end zone is an awfully long way, but the new center-hanging HD screen certainly helps, because they show the live shot of the game on the board.

The huge benefit of these seats is that, at least a couple of times a game, I get to see an end zone TD pass fall virtually into my lap. Bonus -- seeing the players celebrate a TD literally 5 yards away from my seat.

[kevinbottawa]

The naming rights for Ottawa's stadium were put up for sale today. They expect to earn $1 million a year.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/frank-clair-stadium-naming-rights-up-for-sale-1.2433423

http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/11/19/frank-clair-stadium-will-be-renamed

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Been doing some research on NCAA stadiums and came across the new University of Houston Cougars Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 - with a construction cost of $120million. It broke ground in February this year after demolition of the old stadium and will be ready in time for the 2014 season




Here's how it sits today



I'd love to see the Argos go for something like this

[harls]

Is "stadiums" a word?

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by harls

Is "stadiums" a word?

Stadiums and Stadia are both accepted words in the English language

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stadium

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 - with a construction cost of $120million.

How is that possible? Cheap labour? Benches?

[Barnard's Star]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

How is that possible? Cheap labour? Benches?

Whenever I see quotes on American stadiums they're half as much as something similar would be in Canada.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Been doing some research on NCAA stadiums and came across the new University of Houston Cougars Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 - with a construction cost of $120million. It broke ground in February this year after demolition of the old stadium and will be ready in time for the 2014 season

Interesting find. Reminds me very much of IGF, but sans roof and with extra seating tiers.

That would make for a spectactular new home for the Argos.

[elly63]

Tim Hortons Field Hamilton November 20/2013

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

How is that possible? Cheap labour? Benches?

Plenty of Mexican Labor in H-town! lol

I'd triple that price tag for a similar one here in Canada... especially in Ontario, BC or Alberta.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Yeah - those prices aren't realistic up here.

The stadium has mainly bench seating as well

[Dalreg]

Foundations/footings would probably be less than here. Does it freeze in Houston?

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

Foundations/footings would probably be less than here. Does it freeze in Houston?

also....productivity tends to slow down when you have guys clearing snow and working in cold, not to mention the cost of heating and hoarding concrete and the use of winter concrete.

[cjones2451]

Qustions Ti-Cat Fans, would you prefer this over THF? Seating capacity aside

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Been doing some research on NCAA stadiums and came across the new University of Houston Cougars Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 - with a construction cost of $120million. It broke ground in February this year after demolition of the old stadium and will be ready in time for the 2014 season




Here's how it sits today



I'd love to see the Argos go for something like this

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Qustions Ti-Cat Fans, would you prefer this over THF? Seating capacity aside

That design with only 24 or 25k? No. For the current capacity and what is being spent, I agree with keeping most of the seating between the goal lines (and kept as individual seats)

But if there's ever a business case to expand THF, we could end up with something that might resemble that layout. Basically by adding wings to each end of each grandstand, and a lower tier of endzone seating.

That said, it would have to be the team investing in the reno, and I wouldn't see it happening for a long time - not until they're sure there's enough new demand to justify the additional supply. They'll probably consider using temporary stands as a short term option if demand is there and it would add to profit.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

As it happens - one of the losing designs for the Ticats stadium had lower bowl endzone seating at one end of the stadium.

The lower bowl would have been horseshoe shaped with the upper tiered seating that they have now