Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Rogers is also much more than a cable company. That said, I don't see why they would buy the naming rights for a CFL stadium, especially one that is home to the main competitor of the team they partially own (for now anyway).

Good way to make that competitor say your name on TV a bunch actually...

I had a similar thought at the Als hope opener that was presented by Videotron, with lots of VT branding everywhere.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by jonny24

Good way to make that competitor say your name on TV a bunch actually...

I had a similar thought at the Als hope opener that was presented by Videotron, with lots of VT branding everywhere.

I was more referring to part-owners of the Argos putting their name on the Ticats field. But no different I guess than the part owners of the Leafs having their names on 4 of the other 6 NHL arenas in Canada either lol. I had in my mind the Rogers/ Bell TSN thing, but didn't really think it was a big deal to get their name in front of TSN viewers 9 or 10 times a year. I just don't think the CFL really reaches Rogers' radar.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by jonny24

My bet is Stelco Stadium now that they're part of the ownership group.

Could be! Depending on the future of the company and team ownership's desire for naming rights revenue from an external entity (the ownership receives that money and pays the city $750K per year from it as part of the lease)

The name of the expanded north-endzone patio is now the "Stelco North End" and apparently it's a sponsorship deal not an owner perk.


Source

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Could be! Depending on the future of the company and team ownership's desire for naming rights revenue from an external entity (the ownership receives that money and pays the city $750K per year from it as part of the lease)

The name of the expanded north-endzone patio is now the "Stelco North End" and apparently it's a sponsorship deal not an owner perk.


Source

I have always found thf much nicer looking than bmo.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by thurmas

I have always found thf much nicer looking than bmo.

I agree. I'd qualify BMO as the ugliest stadium in Canada. It's placement and location also seems odd, like they just through it there where there was space, in a very isolated area. The roof structure is good on paper, but I wonder how well it protects people considering the height. Very disappointing for Canada's largest city and financial capital. At Toronto has the SkyDome.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I agree. I'd qualify BMO as the ugliest stadium in Canada. It's placement and location also seems odd, like they just through it there where there was space, in a very isolated area. The roof structure is good on paper, but I wonder how well it protects people considering the height. Very disappointing for Canada's largest city and financial capital. At Toronto has the SkyDome.

Bmo looks very cheap with so much of the stands not even concrete but just steel posts.

[Coldrsx]

The issue I have with the BMO is the piecemeal nature of it's development that inherently has led to awkwardness or poor design elements.

[esquire]

Each stadium has its advantages, I'd say.

THF:
-Built mostly in one piece. Even though the two stands aren't symmetrical it's still a bit more coherent and it doesn't haven't that frankenstadium look that BMO has.
-Definitely a more solid, permanent concrete build look to it (I'm not sure what the reality is)
-Actually fits regulation endzones into the place

BMO:
-Has a lot of canopy coverage for fans which is a major plus
-Field is mostly surrounded which is nice in terms of building up fan atmosphere, by contrast THF is a throwback to the old days when most Canadian stadiums at at least one wide open end if not both

All things considered I'd probably give BMO the advantage if for no other reason than the canopy. I hate being totally exposed to rain.

[jonny24]

I don't mind the piecemeal nature of BMO, or even the steel/aluminum stands. They're great for stomping on to make noise.

To me the cons of BMO are the chairs - small, lacking cupholders in places - and the concourses. THF concourses are superior in that basically everywhere, you have a view of either the field or the city. Vs nearly all of the BMO concourses have the "you are in a block wall hallway" that isn't that different from say a junior hockey rink. I think THF only has one "hallway" concourse (lower east side IIRC).

[esquire]

Originally Posted by jonny24

I don't mind the piecemeal nature of BMO, or even the steel/aluminum stands. They're great for stomping on to make noise.

To me the cons of BMO are the chairs - small, lacking cupholders in places - and the concourses. THF concourses are superior in that basically everywhere, you have a view of either the field or the city. Vs nearly all of the BMO concourses have the "you are in a block wall hallway" that isn't that different from say a junior hockey rink. I think THF only has one "hallway" concourse (lower east side IIRC).

You see, I actually prefer the old-school no-view concourses.

IG Field has 100% open concourses in the lower bowl, and what this encourages is people standing around, crowding the concourses and making it nearly impossible to move around quickly at crush times (before/after kickoff and at halftime). A lot of people will buy cheap upper deck tickets and just stand around the Rum Hut patio. Which is fine, it's fun, but then you get a lot of empty seats even during a supposedly sell out game. If they had to do it over again, I'd prefer that IG Field had a second concourse level with a separate ticketed patio for those who want to experience the game that way.

I was at Emirates Stadium earlier this month for an Arsenal FC game and that stadium had enclosed concourses... so everyone finishes their drink right before kickoff (no beer in the stands) then goes to their seats. No concourse crowding, improved atmosphere. I loved it.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by esquire

THF:
-Definitely a more solid, permanent concrete build look to it (I'm not sure what the reality is)

The stands are concrete slabs on steel framing, much like IGF was built from construction photos I've seen.

But they weren't laid properly for water-runoff, so puddles collect in the rows under the seats, and water tends to drip down in places below the upper stands on the concourses.

Long term, more money will need to be put into the stadium to correct/mitigate these issues. I think the city already spent a few million to deal with the major initial ones. But hey, we have a new-ish stadium!!!

[Brisket17]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I agree. I'd qualify BMO as the ugliest stadium in Canada. It's placement and location also seems odd, like they just through it there where there was space, in a very isolated area. The roof structure is good on paper, but I wonder how well it protects people considering the height. Very disappointing for Canada's largest city and financial capital. At Toronto has the SkyDome.

Oh please, the hyperbole is rather thick on this take.

Certainly not the best stadium in the country but far from the worst (do I really have to list 3 others that could take the title?) The location is literally steps from the Exhibition Go Station.

The roof coverage works just fine - stayed completely dry during the 2016 conference finals match (Nov 30th) while it was pouring rain; the coverage is extensive.

One can argue that THF is just a more modern version of the 2007 version of BMO Field.

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by Brisket17

Oh please, the hyperbole is rather thick on this take.

Certainly not the best stadium in the country but far from the worst (do I really have to list 3 others that could take the title?) The location is literally steps from the Exhibition Go Station.

The roof coverage works just fine - stayed completely dry during the 2016 conference finals match (Nov 30th) while it was pouring rain; the coverage is extensive.

One can argue that THF is just a more modern version of the 2007 version of BMO Field.

I agree BMO ain’t that bad, in general. Though for the 4th/5th largest metro in NA, it is a bit underwhelming. When the city of Regina, with a pop of 250k has a better stadium it is no surprise why the stadium showcases as underwhelming.

Also, one could make the argument that THF is just a more modern version of the 2007 BMO field, but that would be one of the worst arguments presented. Easiky shot down. Everything about THF is significantly, if not infinitely better, compared to 2007 BMO.

[EpicPonyTime]

Call me crazy, but I like BMO's appearance for the most part. The stands are bare bones but the roof is nicer than Regina's or Winnipeg's. It's an unapologetic soccer stadium and I just really like the look of them. I do agree that it's a bit underwhelming as Toronto's main outdoor stadium, particularly when placed up against the other WC26 stadiums.

[thurmas]

Bmo does remind me of cfl stadiums of the 50s to 2000s being 26 k, the Frankenstadium design and being on the site of old exhibition stadium. Maybe one day it will be filled again like in the days of Condredge Holloway and Terry Greer ha ha.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by elly63

That could have been Winnipeg. Does anybody remember the stadium proposal from Canad Inns CEO Leo Ledohowski



A couple of things, thanks to media moving and deleting webpages and the death of an image host I used to use, I can no longer find any pictures of this design. I may have some on an old hard drive somewhere.

Now the history is lost, that's why important articles should be posted in a way to preserve the history because the online newspapers won't.

The images I had weren't blurry like this and IIRC there wasn't a Winnipeg logo. Also, I don't think it was a dome it was more like Mosaic and looking even more so like a toilet bowl. If I find the images someday, I'll post them.

Ha!!!

I designed that....many years ago.

[TimB09]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Ha1

I designed that....many years ago.

Was that supposed to be a hotel on the one side of the stadium?

[trueviking]

^ it was.

[J.OT13]

Would have been at the Forks?

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Would have been at the Forks?

No assiniboia downs race track northwest part of the city by perimeter highway