Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[optimusREIM]

It's changes, some good, some bad. What I do find rich though is that in order to justify the rabid pearl clutching, a small contingent of people are now pretending that there is not a single positive to changing some of the rules. "oh no, we're getting so American, ahhhhh!" except that literally nearly every piece of media or culture that canadians consume otherwise (or should I say, choose to consume?) is from the good ole USA. Who are we kidding. Board of governors approved it, they must think it is going to increase revenue, which means the league is healthier financially, which means that the league continues to survive and perhaps thrive in an increasingly competitive market. I presume those opposed would rather see the league folded.

[logan5]

The CFL had to of known the rule changes would piss off their core fans, which are their bread and butter, yet they did it anyways. It's a desperate move to attract younger fans, and maybe draw in some NFL fans. The league has said that the current model is unsustainable, which is a kinder way of saying the league is dying.

I get a lot of negative reaction for saying this, but there is a path for the NFL in the 3 major markets. The stadiums in place now would be adequate. Maybe not what the NFL would like ideally, but you would be coming into a 40 million population market. Vancouver/Victoria is the 21st largest TV market in the US/Canada, in the same tier as Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, so we are a decent sized local market. Being in Canada, you would also have an extended market, similar to the Blue Jays and Raptors.

The price would be high, so the solution to that is to put together an ownership group.

Not saying that I hope the CFL folds, but if it does, imo there is a more realistic path to the NFL than what most people think.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by logan5

The CFL had to of known the rule changes would piss off their core fans, which are their bread and butter, yet they did it anyways.

This is why I don't feel bad about cancelling my season tickets. They already decided they were okay with that.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by logan5

The CFL had to of known the rule changes would piss off their core fans, which are their bread and butter, yet they did it anyways. It's a desperate move to attract younger fans, and maybe draw in some NFL fans. The league has said that the current model is unsustainable, which is a kinder way of saying the league is dying.

I get a lot of negative reaction for saying this, but there is a path for the NFL in the 3 major markets. The stadiums in place now would be adequate. Maybe not what the NFL would like ideally, but you would be coming into a 40 million population market. Vancouver/Victoria is the 21st largest TV market in the US/Canada, in the same tier as Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, so we are a decent sized local market. Being in Canada, you would also have an extended market, similar to the Blue Jays and Raptors.

The price would be high, so the solution to that is to put together an ownership group.

Not saying that I hope the CFL folds, but if it does, imo there is a more realistic path to the NFL than what most people think.

2 things - I am a core fan and it didn't piss me off, but I am 55 and the CFL core is an aging fan base it needs to get younger, and to do that you need o take some risks. I understand some people view this negatively, my belief is the core of the CFL is 3 downs, 12 men, waggle, wide field, yard off the ball, 5 yard halo on punts, Canadian players and those are not changing. There is still a rouge, just a modified version. Going into a year where your most important TV contract in history is going to be negotiated, the status quo was not going to do it, and if Winnipeg and Saskatchewan approved this too, there must be a long term play for this

As for the NFL in Canada, I don't see it. They already has a TV deal with CTV and are getting a ton of dollars out of Canada, I don't think putting franchises up here gains them much more. Mexico City and London are way higher on the list IMHO.

Look at the new Stadiums built in the US, 2 Billion +, BC Place, Olympic Stadium and anything Toronto has is not going to cut it PLUS a 7 Billions + expansion fee, plus start up costs. Who pays that?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Look at the new Stadiums built in the US, 2 Billion +, BC Place, Olympic Stadium and anything Toronto has is not going to cut it PLUS a 7 Billions + expansion fee, plus start up costs. Who pays that?

In Canada? Nobody.

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by jonny24

This is why I don't feel bad about cancelling my season tickets. They already decided they were okay with that.

Ive been a lifelong CfL fan… I had season tickets in the past but gave them up, but I actually just purchased new season tickets , in part because of the changes.


Credit to cjones2451 on the CFL thread for highlighting the key differences between Canada’s game vs the American

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Its not, leagues evolve. The football went from 25 yard to 20 yard endzones, the J5V era to the ball size now, hashmarks moved in to open up the field. These were needed changes but also are closer to "NFL rules" When there are only 2 pro league rules out there, any change is inevitably going to be compared to the other.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Hackslack

Ive been a lifelong CfL fan… I had season tickets in the past but gave them up, but I actually just purchased new season tickets , in part because of the changes.

Why?

[Denscity]

There is an announcement tomorrow morning regarding a possible new soccer stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver.

[northernlights99]

[QUOTE=jonny24;10523604]

If you'd asked someone to make that list 6 months ago, 110 yard field, 20 yard end zones, and the goal post location that allows for incredible field goal returns, would have been on that list.

OK. You obviously don't watch NFL. Kick returns still happen in the NFL if the kick falls short.

With a 20 or 25 yard end zone and a 110 yard long field YES ! THEN you need posts on the goal line as that is too far for FGs.

BUT NOT with a 100 yard long field and a 10 or 15 yard deep end zone.

AND Yes it is silly for Rugby to use an H design for their goal post (two posts in the ground) when they can adopt the Slingshot design (one Gooseneck post in the ground supporting the crossbar and uprights) the NFL and CFL have been using for decades.

One post is lower risk to players than 2 posts. Rugby is run by people with dumbbells for brains.





pretty expensive goalposts, up to $ 7100

https://gilmangear.com/product/pro-g...eel-goal-post/

Are the CFL and NFL balls the same dimensions ? I know the Spalding J5V was fatter than the Wilson Duke though it didn't seem to bother Doug Flutie. Maybe the CFL will make a longer thinner ball that will slice thru the air better.

Also when they say the standard spacing of the posts is 18 feet 6 inches apart, is that measured between centers of posts or between inside of posts (OD Outer Diameter), cause the posts are 2 inches thick ?

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by elly63

Why?

Why what?

[craner]

Originally Posted by elly63

Off topic

Interesting story shaping up about the Olympic hockey venue in Milan being 3-4 feet short of not only an Olympic sized rink but the smaller NHL regulation rink.

Another problem? Construction is still ongoing, a little more than two months from the opening ceremony. One source well-versed on the building’s status told The Athletic that organizers needed a “big bomb,” not just a fire, lit under them with the clock ticking loudly.

The NHL has been raising alarms about the arena for years, with commissioner Gary Bettman expressing concern as far back as the Board of Governors meeting in December of 2023 about the fact that construction hadn’t started at that point. When a group of league personnel toured the site southeast of Milan in August, it found an arena still under construction, with no infrastructure complete, including no roads built to the building. They’d also yet to break ground on the practice facility.

Life imitating art

• Video Link

Love this 😂

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Denscity

There is an announcement tomorrow morning regarding a possible new soccer stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver.

I'll miss seeing 55k at BC Place for the Caps. But this is necessary I suppose. Also, the downtown vibe of BC Place is tough to replace, oh well. Best fan base in the MLS, returning home to Boundary Road (ish).

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

Love this 😂

I was a great show, I highly recommend it. The one where they went for training was a good one as well.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Andlauer once again confirming he's not asking for public funds for the new Sens arena.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/t...n-flats-arena/

Some would argue tax abatement, free land, development parcels, and tax incremental financing isn't 'public funds' as it isn't raising taxes or the public taking on debt that requires taxes to be explicitly raised.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Some would argue tax abatement, free land, development parcels, and tax incremental financing isn't 'public funds' as it isn't raising taxes or the public taking on debt that requires taxes to be explicitly raised.

The land wasn't free. They paid close to $40 million for heavily contaminated land the NCC is actively parceling off for redevelopment. If they are able to get some funds from existing governmental programs for housing, infrastructure, land decontamination or whatever it might be, then it's done within the existing framework that any private company has access to. This isn't like the Flames or Oilers (or OSEG in Ottawa at Lansdowne) getting exclusive deals.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The land wasn't free. They paid close to $40 million for heavily contaminated land the NCC is actively parceling off for redevelopment. If they are able to get some funds from existing governmental programs for housing, infrastructure, land decontamination or whatever it might be, then it's done within the existing framework that any private company has access to. This isn't like the Flames or Oilers (or OSEG in Ottawa at Lansdowne) getting exclusive deals.

There is no way this is possible.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

There is no way this is possible.

Which part? Not asking for a lump sum from the public to pay 50% + of the stadium?

We'll see.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by elly63

In Canada? Nobody.

And keep in mind corporations cannot own NFL franchises so Rogers is not an option

[J.OT13]

Happy to keep the NFL out of Canada.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

And keep in mind corporations cannot own NFL franchises so Rogers is not an option

Real business people know it would take at least 20 years to see a ROI and I heard that on an interview with an MLSE exec and that was 10 years ago. The exchange rate, inflation, construction costs make the circumstances even worse than then. Cable and traditional TV networks are slowly diminishing, so a real bean counter who isn't a wannabe might not think it's a good idea, as some felt at MLSE when the idea of NFL in Canada might be imminent