Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

It's neat watching Scotia Place come together. Need a better name for it though, should go with the Fireplace or something lol.

I hate corporate names and imagine that a lot of people are turned off by companies that blow billions on naming rights while gauging their customers.

I prefer original names, and reasonably fine if a local company buys the naming rights, like Slush Puppie in Gatineau (though they have one in Kingston). Palladium was an awesome name, Corel was cool because it was one of the prides of Ottawa. I hated Scotiabank Place. Canadian Tire at least only has one naming rights deal (afaik).

[northernlights99]

Correction, Commonwealth Stadium seating capacity is now 56,000.

Eskimos / Elks fans have wider butts now than they did in the 1980s so the wider seats cut down the seating capacity.

The trend for stadiums is Wider seats for wider Butts.

Research continues to be done on the optimal width of a seat for a football fan's 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

Olympic Stadium has permanent seating capacity of 56,000 also though Montreal can expand to 65,000.

I'd imagine Commonwealth can expand also. For a big Soccer tournament, several thousand bleachers can be set up in front of the current end zone to improve sightlines though I doubt it will affect seating capacity.

The seats being set back so far from the sidelines are a major barrier to Commonwealth hosting big tournaments. The stadium was designed for track and field.

Only way to correct this is to tear down one side and the end zone and rebuild and make a tighter footprint.

Elly is Suspended ? yeah I think he never did like me.

Originally Posted by northernlights99

well is it too late to have Edmonton Host some World Cup games ? As I recall they dropped out however they have a great Stadium ready to go.

The footprint for Commonwealth Stadium works pretty good for a soccer field.

62,000 seats.

do we know the exact dates for games in Toronto and Vancouver ?

I don't get the impression of too much Excitement for this tournament. Not sure why I feel this way.

People don't seem to be embracing this in Vancouver like they did for 2010 Winter Olympics.

and I am concerned about a terrorist attack.

[craner]

Originally Posted by northernlights99

The seats being set back so far from the sidelines are a major barrier to Commonwealth hosting big tournaments. The stadium was designed for track and field.

Only way to correct this is to tear down one side and the end zone and rebuild and make a tighter footprint.

Or dig down to lower the playing field and bring the first row of seats closer like they did at the Memorial Coliseum in LA.

[Djeffery]

From the Parc Olympique Facebook page (translation).

The technical ring is complete! 🙌
On March 2, the last section of the Olympic Stadium technical ring was installed. With its 38 sections now in place, the circular structure is now complete. This important milestone highlights the halfway point of the project to replace the roof of the Olympic Stadium!
The assembly of this ring was a challenge due to the particular configuration of the Stadium and the amount of adjustments needed. Thanks to careful planning and great operational rigor, each section was successfully positioned.
The precision of execution was also made possible by close coordination between the engineering, manufacturing, project management teams and all on-site workers.
To date, although the technical ring is now complete, some operations are ongoing, including finalizing the assemblies and reclining the sections. Crews are also preparing for the temporary deployment of 24 cables that will come to support the future internal roofing.
The project finally begins its third phase: manufacturing, assembly and installation of the new roof of the Stadium!
We are pleased to highlight the exemplary progress of this large-scale construction site, and above all, the remarkable work of all the mobilized teams. Congratulations to all! 👏
👉Check the roof microsite for more photos:
https://toiture.parcolympique.qc.ca/le-c...IB6ooZzR0gH03_aem_2FesxJTPmf1tJzfStoNyfg

[craner]

What is the purpose of this Big O renovation - concerts & trade shows ?
Are they hoping to attract some kind of sporting tenant ?

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by craner

What is the purpose of this Big O renovation - concerts & trade shows ?
Are they hoping to attract some kind of sporting tenant ?

I think they would bid on Grey Cup when it is done as well as some of the bigger Alouettes games and I believe with the new MLS schedule going to a winter schedule they may have some games there, but as far as a permanent tenant, I don't think so

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by craner

What is the purpose of this Big O renovation - concerts & trade shows ?
Are they hoping to attract some kind of sporting tenant ?

The project renderings show CFL football and soccer as intended future uses along with large concerts. They will be locking the seating configuration into a rectangular field only (no more baseball) with a rebuilt lower bowl. MLS winter schedule as mentioned above is going to potentially put CF Montreal in as a part-time (or full-time) tenant. I can see both the Alouettes and CF Montreal playing here if the renovations go deep enough (i.e., changing it to something state-of-the-art) but it remains to be seen how far they are going to go just yet.

There was an article in French from a while ago that talked about the greater vision for Stade Olympique, including suspending a modern ring-shaped jumbotron from the new technical ring, and finishing the seating bowl on the former outfield side. I’d imagine that all this stuff is pretty far down the road though.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by craner

What is the purpose of this Big O renovation - concerts & trade shows ?
Are they hoping to attract some kind of sporting tenant ?

Gotta make sure Taylor Swift stops by during her next world tour!

[Djeffery]

I don't know that I have seen anything other than speculation and rumours that they are turning the seating bowl into a soccer/football setup.

As for uses, I would have to think they can replicate the Rogers Centre/Rogers Stadium combo of Toronto concerts in Montreal. Toronto has 23 large concerts this year so far listed for those 2 venues. Half that number at the Big O probably out draws the CFL and MLS seasons, and I don't really see a reason why it would only have to be half the number.

[cjones2451]

Pics from BMO Field on TFC gameday on Saturday. I think once everything is in and the stands are full it will look fine. The Top row of the South End will have a full view of the pitch, but any type of ball in the air or if you stand is going to be obstructed a bit. Photos from X @AronPapernick







North end will have seats there as well once the suites under the tarps are finished

[northernlights99]

update from Sailor Twift :

Montreal Olympic Stadium: installation of 65,000 New seats, all will be colour Red .

[cjones2451]

Here is a few more pics from Obsidian on the Urban Toronto site of BMO Field

https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/bmo-field-renovations-fifa26-mlse-gensler.8777/page-118

[GreatTallNorth2]

What an embarrassment of a stadium BMO Field is for a World Cup tournament.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

What an embarrassment of a stadium BMO Field is for a World Cup tournament.

But these were okay?







There is no need for a 45K+ sized stadium in Toronto right now, so what is the alternative?

[northernlights99]

I absolutely agree, BMO Field looks Disgusting for a World Cup tournament.

Toronto should be ashamed of itself.

I'd rather look at the Pinnacle Skytower, now that's impressive at 1154 feet tall !

The 6 games should have gone to Montreal but they were late in getting Olympic Stadium ready. Too late, Montreal will miss the train.

And BC Place really doesn't look all that impressive, it looks kinda bland and 55,000 seats isn't stellar.

and we really don't know how many World Cup Games will actually go ahead with the current events in the world.

what if games get cancelled ?

what if the war in Iran explodes out of control and Oil hits $ 500 a barrel and international borders get closed ?

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

What an embarrassment of a stadium BMO Field is for a World Cup tournament.

[jonny24]

Look, I love stadiums, and BMO is no NFL palace, but "disgusting" and "embarrassment" are such hyperbole, that I can't really take anything else you say seriously.



To me it has a very "English rugby/soccer stadium" charm - I like that you can see that it's been expanded over the years. It's visual history.

[Berklon]

Is that overhang in the one endzone going to be raised higher (or removed)?
It looks like it could be obstructing the view for about a third of the seats in the upper deck.

And do people expect Toronto to build a whole new stadium just for a few World Cup games?

[Djeffery]

It doesn't obstruct the field view at all, but it will probably be annoying to the people sitting up there. There were pictures I saw from people at the game the other day that took pictures from the north end of the field and you can see the top of those bleachers below the roof line (barely). I'm surprised there aren't any pictures floating around from any of the workers who would have been up there.

[J.OT13]

I think Cartel wars in Mexico and the US' mentally incompetent child trafficking con man President are more embarrassing.

I'll take our ugly BMO Fields any day.

I am shocked that wannabe Mayor Doug Ford hasn't announced a new $2 Billion stadium yet.

[Calgarian]

BMO ain't pretty but it's not bad at all. Considering what it looked like when it first opened, it's impressive how it's expanded. The temporary seats aren't great, but I'm sure the experience for fans will be great regardless.