Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3 - Page 161

gee · #**3201** Posted **Jul 10, 2019, 5:55 PM**

just for discussion, would it be possible to take a small stadium like Lamport Field (currently 10K capacity) in Toronto and add a commercial development with additional seating capacity similar to what they have done with the Wrigleyville Rooftops in Chicago? I understand the capacity for the Wrigleyville Rooftops is around 3k.

esquire · #**3202** Posted **Jul 10, 2019, 6:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gee

just for discussion, would it be possible to take a small stadium like Lamport Field (currently 10K capacity) in Toronto and add a commercial development with additional seating capacity similar to what they have done with the Wrigleyville Rooftops in Chicago? I understand the capacity for the Wrigleyville Rooftops is around 3k.

Possible, yes. Feasible, probably not. There is a fair bit of park land next to each grandstand... unless the City of Toronto wanted to sell it off for development, I don't see how something like that could happen. I guess there is the parking lot in one end zone that could be partly developed, but then you'd have to ask who is going to develop Wrigleyville-type rooftops for a handful of Toronto Wolfpack games?

gee · #**3203** Posted **Jul 10, 2019, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Possible, yes. Feasible, probably not. There is a fair bit of park land next to each grandstand... unless the City of Toronto wanted to sell it off for development, I don't see how something like that could happen. I guess there is the parking lot in one end zone that could be partly developed, but then you'd have to ask who is going to develop Wrigleyville-type rooftops for a handful of Toronto Wolfpack games?

yes, sorry. I was more thinking Argos football, should MLSE and the city have the appetite to partner to develop the site. there seems to be a lot of redevelopment in the Liberty village area - new bars, restaurants, etc. that this type of redevelopment, including a retail/commercial component, would complement.

esquire · #**3204** Posted **Jul 10, 2019, 9:41 PM**

^ The field at Lamport is not big enough for Canadian football... it would require so much work for the CFL that at that point you'd basically be building an entirely new stadium on the site.

Djeffery · #**3205** Posted **Jul 10, 2019, 10:57 PM**

What would be the upside to the Argos going there? BMO has already had well over a hundred million spent on it. MLSE or the city isn't going to start that process again. If they were, it wouldn't be Lamport, which would need to be flattened and rebuilt and I don't think there is enough room between King and Liberty to fit it in there. As mentioned, the field is only 110 yards long, the CFL field with end zones is 150. You would need to extend the field at least half way across that south parking lot and that doesn't allow any room for seating. Also, Lamport doesn't have chairs, it has benches so to convert to chairs would cut that 10k number way down, and although I've never been there, I'm sure it doesn't have adequate washrooms or concessions for even that full house.

I don't think BMO was really the best option for the Argos, but given they aren't exactly a powerhouse draw, they didn't really have the clout to get themselves a nice Regina or Winnipeg type stadium.

JHikka · #**3206** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 12:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ The field at Lamport is not big enough for Canadian football... it would require so much work for the CFL that at that point you'd basically be building an entirely new stadium on the site.

Indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

What would be the upside to the Argos going there? BMO has already had well over a hundred million spent on it. MLSE or the city isn't going to start that process again.

I don't really see any upside of the Argos relocating anywhere away from BMO. Their current situation couldn't be much better, IMO. It's a full stadium requiring no upgrades in a central part of the city. They won't be getting a stadium of their own any time soon so a stadium-share is required and they won't find a better one than they have currently.

Wolfpack do well at Lamport but they still don't play at complete capacity. They've had some bigger draws this year but still only fill roughly 80% of it. And now the Arrows play at Lamport, too. I don't see any real need to upgrade it right now aside from some basic amenities the teams may need.

FrankieFlowerpot · #**3207** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 1:03 AM**

It would be a tight squeeze - but you could fit something on the site that would require the current stadium to be leveled.

Quote:

Light green = CFL Field Dimensions
Dark green = 6m border around field
Yellow = site property

esquire · #**3208** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 12:44 PM**

^ Squeezing the field in there is just the beginning, though. From what I've seen of Lamport Stadium, it looks like a community facility better suited to university level sports than anything professional.

How on earth would Lamport Stadium in any way be an improvement over the Argos' current situation? Even the location is broadly similar, it's not as though BMO is out in the sticks somewhere.

gee · #**3209** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 1:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Indeed.

I don't really see any upside of the Argos relocating anywhere away from BMO. Their current situation couldn't be much better, IMO. It's a full stadium requiring no upgrades in a central part of the city. They won't be getting a stadium of their own any time soon so a stadium-share is required and they won't find a better one than they have currently.

Wolfpack do well at Lamport but they still don't play at complete capacity. They've had some bigger draws this year but still only fill roughly 80% of it. And now the Arrows play at Lamport, too. I don't see any real need to upgrade it right now aside from some basic amenities the teams may need.

that's very true. as a second tenant under the same ownership I would imagine MLSE has little cost to operate the Argos compared to previous ownership structures.

JHikka · #**3210** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Westhills progress:

Westhills progress:

July 2019:

screencap courtesy of OneSoccer.

JHikka · #**3211** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 4:15 PM**

ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows

July 2019:

screencaps courtesy OneSoccer via Youtube

Pitch is in awful shape because of a week-long equestrian event directly before this match.

esquire · #**3212** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 4:32 PM**

Cavalry must have the most British looking stadium in all of Canada...

MonctonRad · #**3213** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 4:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows

July 2019:

Pitch is in awful shape because of a week-long equestrian event directly before this match.

Hope they picked up all the manure..........

JHikka · #**3214** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 4:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Cavalry must have the most British looking stadium in all of Canada...

It looks like it's straight out of the fourth division in England.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Hope they picked up all the manure..........

They did....and then Whitecaps showed up...

Calgarian · #**3215** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

It looks like it's straight out of the fourth division in England.

That's probably a compliment for the CPL lol.

JHikka · #**3216** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 6:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

That's probably a compliment for the CPL lol.

CPL is effectively fourth tier in England quality so....yes.

ZeDgE · #**3217** Posted **Jul 11, 2019, 11:16 PM**

Was at the Cavs game last night. Yea the pitch was in bad shape but damn what an amazing atmosphere. Love Atco field, never thought I would see 5K plus people watching soccer and going nuts in this city. Last home game was close to 5k too. Entertaining game for the most part. 0-0 draw vs the Whitecaps who were playing a pretty good lineup is not bad at all. The Cavs went toe to toe with an MLS team, as did the other teams who played last night. CPL teams seem to be able to hold their own. The Cavs play again in Vancouver on the 24th and away goals are worth more so who knows.

I dont know why anyone would feel the need to belittle this league or the teams. Its fantastic to see some more soccer in this country and at this level. I love the Flames (have the licence plate) but fuck hockey all the damn time.

Some highlights from the game if anyone is interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MvkugQ8Y4w&t=4s

Apparently the long term plan for Spruce Meadows is to move the Cavs to the main arena which will seat about 12k. It kind of sucks that its shared with equestrian still, hopefully they get an exclusive field.

savevp · #**3218** Posted **Jul 14, 2019, 11:17 PM**

Here's something different. I know some of us follow Stadium Journey, usually for traditional sporting venues but they've just put out a review of Woodbine. Some cool pictures of the Queen's Plate processions. I had no idea the renovations had already started, you can see a number of cranes up in the photos.

https://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/...-queens-plate/

JHikka · #**3219** Posted **Jul 19, 2019, 4:04 PM**

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...-for-new-arena

Tentative deal reached between city and Flames for new arena

"The city’s negotiating team includes acting city manager Glenda Cole, Barry Munro with Ernst & Young and Michael Brown with the Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC). The group has met regularly with Calgary Sport and Entertainment Corp. for the past three months.

Cole told council members previously that any deal reached with the Flames will be made public.

A new arena is projected to cost between $550 million and $600 million, according to estimates provided by CMLC. The projections are based on an 18,000-seat arena with retail space, a community rink and 40,000 square feet of underground parking."

Chadillaccc · #**3220** Posted **Jul 19, 2019, 4:53 PM**

That's great news, thanks.