Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3 - Page 413

trueviking · #**8241** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 5:29 PM**

There were actually two locations. It started at the Red River Ex site then moved to the Canada Packers site in St Boniface. Which I thought was a good location.

esquire · #**8242** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 6:32 PM**

I liked the hotel idea. That would have been a nice touch. The ship has sailed on a hotel integrated into the stadium butit would still be nice to see a hotel go up on the U lot south of IG Field and create at least some semblance of a stadium village with a restaurant and lounge.

JakeLRS · #**8243** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:38 PM**

THF is nice, but the location is absolutely bonkers.

If it were built at West Harbour, it would draw more people because of increased parking capacity and having a GO train station nearby.

If it were built by McMaster, there would be parking capacity, easy on/off highway access, and would attract more younger fans.

Like yah, keep the culture on Hamilton’s east end, but the investment could’ve been better utilized to allow for a better payoff.

Acajack · #**8244** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

As you say, it's unworthy of the biggest city in the country that is Toronto's size, but it's also reminiscent of a lot of soccer stadiums you see in Europe. Not in a bad way really. Though in Europe they're generally a lot better integrated into the urban fabric.

thurmas · #**8245** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:52 PM**

I think bmo would look much better if they replace the older smaller covered grandstand with a more modern one like the one with suites on the other side so it looks more professional and not so rinky dink with the aluminum stands.

elly63 · #**8246** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I liked the hotel idea. That would have been a nice touch. The ship has sailed on a hotel integrated into the stadium but it would still be nice to see a hotel go up on the U lot south of IG Field and create at least some semblance of a stadium village with a restaurant and lounge.

Had the stadium been built, according to the newspaper cartoon, I think, I would have won the toilet debate

J.OT13 · #**8247** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I liked the hotel idea. That would have been a nice touch. The ship has sailed on a hotel integrated into the stadium butit would still be nice to see a hotel go up on the U lot south of IG Field and create at least some semblance of a stadium village with a restaurant and lounge.

I'm surprised we don't see more hotels integrated with stadiums, or at least part of a larger nearby development. You have a built-in clientele with the visiting teams and acts that may use the stadium.

At Lansdowne in particular, with the Civic Centre as well, we probably see 150 events a year that could fill a hotel.

thurmas · #**8248** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

Had the stadium been built, according to the newspaper cartoon, I think, I would have won the toilet debate

Mb hydro low flow field at power smart stadium has a certain ring to it

elly63 · #**8249** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 7:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Call me crazy, but the roof is nicer than Regina's or Winnipeg's.

Crazy.

elly63 · #**8250** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

Mb hydro low flow field at power smart stadium has a certain ring to it

Remember “The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium”. Doesn't sound very safe, a brick field, but then again Empire Stadium was worn TartanTurf over concrete.

While I'm here, a little Empire Stadium history (from Wikipedia)

Just before the 1966 Grey Cup game, the stadium had the new "gooseneck" or "slingshot" goal posts erected invented by Jim Trimble and Joel Rottman, marking the first time these goalposts were used at any level of football in a championship game. They were first used a week earlier at Montreal's Autostade for the 1966 Eastern Conference final; this model goalpost would soon become the standard design in the NFL and CFL.

In 1970, it became the first facility in Canada to have artificial playing surface installed made by 3M, under the brand name "Tartan Turf".

J.OT13 · #**8251** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 1:17 PM**

What the hell were the goal posts before?

Acajack · #**8252** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 1:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

What the hell were the goal posts before?

Two straight posts rising up from the ground with a crossbar joining both of them across the middle, I would assume.

Similar to what you have on an lot of school sportsfields which are used for both soccer and football.

These types of posts can used as a soccer net (bottom half) and football uprights for field goals and converts (top half).

EDIT: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/old-school-american-football-goal-posts-69621253

jonny24 · #**8253** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 2:07 PM**

Aka rugby posts.

A hilarious situation arose when the Toronto Arrows played part of their first season at Alumni Field at York U. It had the "tuning fork" football posts, but since every other team had actual rugby posts with the posts on the goal line, the Arrows had to add fake posts to make it the same as everyone else's.

(At the time, tries could be scored against the base of the post, so it was actually relevant. That rule has been changed since).

Visible at 2:29 in this highlights video: https://youtu.be/JLYShczttpc?si=MMfWW1o9dpcYccBf&t=149

trueviking · #**8254** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 4:43 PM**

autostade was so cool

esquire · #**8255** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 4:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

autostade was so cool

This was likely mentioned before but some of the prefab Autostade stands were moved to Thetford Mines where to this day they form the stands at the ballpark there.

thurmas · #**8256** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 4:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

autostade was so cool

they had to fill in the gaps as stands got so cold with wind off the st lawerence

elly63 · #**8257** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 11:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

This was likely mentioned before but some of the prefab Autostade stands were moved to Thetford Mines where to this day they form the stands at the ballpark there.

Cool bit of history I hadn't heard before.

thurmas · #**8258** Posted **Sep 1, 2023, 11:38 PM**

Apparently autostade was originally supposed to be expos first home in 1969 but owners balked at renovations costs of 7 million to make it dual purpose for cfl and mlb. Also when there were serious concerns in 1975 that olympic stadium might not be completed in time for the 1976 Olympics that autostade would be the stadium for the Olympics instead.

craner · #**8259** Posted **Sep 2, 2023, 6:13 PM**

Alberta government greenlights $39M for new Calgary arena, lifting key first hurdle for project

http://https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/smith-government-flames-arena-39-million-1.6954672

MonctonianSentinel01 · #**8260** Posted **Sep 2, 2023, 11:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craner

Alberta government greenlights $39M for new Calgary arena, lifting key first hurdle for project

http://https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/smith-government-flames-arena-39-million-1.6954672

Wow very nice indeed! I am very happy for Calgarians, here's to building an excellent venue for our Calgary friends.