Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by elly63

Doesn't look like any real upgrades to BMO aside from what may or may not be temporary seating.

“We’re not going to build a new stadium, we’re going to put additional seating in BMO Field,” Tory said.

Temporary seating is fine. BMO has been large enough in the past and can easily be large enough in the future for WC. I've no idea why people think it's unsuitable. Anyone expecting BMO to be permanently expanded to something like 50K for 2026 are kidding themselves.

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Toronto's a strange case. They're the closest thing to a guarantee for a host city in Canada, but they arguably have the worst-fit stadium out of all the candidates left, and definitely the smallest. I assume BMO would be the smallest World cup stadium in the bid if it made it?

Yes, which again is fine and isn't the end of the world. BMO shouldnt be comparing itself to mega large NFL/NCAA stadiums. The current state of soccer specific stadiums in the US has a long way to go but it would have been nice to see Orlando's stadium considered as a similar example to BMO. Most US soccer stadiums aren't designed to be temporarily expanded like BMO.

The most important thing is that Rogers Centre won't be used.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Yes, which again is fine and isn't the end of the world. BMO shouldnt be comparing itself to mega large NFL/NCAA stadiums. The current state of soccer specific stadiums in the US has a long way to go but it would have been nice to see Orlando's stadium considered as a similar example to BMO. Most US soccer stadiums aren't designed to be temporarily expanded like BMO.

The most important thing is that Rogers Centre won't be used.

Wasn't even thinking about NFL/NCAA stadiums with regards to my comment (BMO is smaller than NCAA stadiums, but I'd say it's nicer because it has more amenities). I was thinking specifically in regards to the other three Canadian stadiums. BC and Commonwealth are superior stadiums, and if Olympic gets renovated like some claim it will, I would argue it'd be nicer as well.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Wasn't even thinking about NFL/NCAA stadiums with regards to my comment (BMO is smaller than NCAA stadiums, but I'd say it's nicer because it has more amenities). I was thinking specifically in regards to the other three Canadian stadiums. BC and Commonwealth are superior stadiums, and if Olympic gets renovated like some claim it will, I would argue it'd be nicer as well.

More seats =/= better.

I agree with BC Place. It's a great venue. Commonwealth is as well but its design is a bit less ideal (along with being in a smaller metro). Olympic has been discussed to death.

People are too fixated on setting capacity as the end-all be-all of requirements. BMO shouldn't be ruled out on that alone.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by JHikka

More seats =/= better.

I agree with BC Place. It's a great venue. Commonwealth is as well but its design is a bit less ideal (along with being in a smaller metro). Olympic has been discussed to death.

People are too fixated on setting capacity as the end-all be-all of requirements. BMO shouldn't be ruled out on that alone.

I agree more seats does not equal better. BC and Commonwealth are better stadiums which just so happen to be far bigger than BMO.

Nevertheless, for a major event like the World Cup I don't think you can discount seating capacity, just like you can't discount the other elements that are behind the ultimate decision of where the games are played (such as the requirements for the social area next to the stadium, as well as the amenities available in the larger community). In the end BMO is going to host games based upon its location, not because of the stadium itself. I think that's also the reason Edmonton will be the odd city out; the city just isn't at the same level as the Big Three and the bid committee will take notice of that assuming Olympic doesn't cave in between now and 2026.