New Arena for Downtown Edmonton

[CMD UW]

The arena could not be developed on 107 Street without closing 108 Street. 108 Street could be reduced to a bus / service vehicle / pedestrian street.

Although I do like the Post Office location, 107 Street is very favorable.

[murman]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

The arena could not be developed on 107 Street without closing 108 Street. 108 Street could be reduced to a bus / service vehicle / pedestrian street.

Interesting thought!

Hopefully, someone at the city will take notice of your suggestion.

[big W]

Originally Posted by murman

I find that hard to believe.

You are right the lot is not free. It would have to be bought unless the owner of the lot becomes a partner in the development which once again is not free as you are going the guy shares.

[on the grid]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

The arena could not be developed on 107 Street without closing 108 Street. 108 Street could be reduced to a bus / service vehicle / pedestrian street.

Although I do like the Post Office location, 107 Street is very favorable.

I'm confused. Do you mean closing 107st? How would closing 108st help? One possibility would be to span over 107st without closing it, with commercial and parking in the 2 flanking pedestals. It could be an interesting solution.

Like I said, I still think that the land would prove to be very expensive in comparison to the post office. @murman - when I say the post office site site could be free, I mean the feds could give the land over as their portion of funding, or they could trade that site with another belonging to the provincial/municipal gov't. I don't think its very unlikely.

[big W]

Originally Posted by murman

Isn't Wpg's slightly smaller arena within a single block? What about other downtown arenas in the US?

The issue is that the extra 4,000 seats and 60 suites and space for these people in the concourse level would take up room and something the existing site in Winnipeg does not have is room to expand. Thus it would not work. Granted if we were to close off a street and make it pedestrian as CMD mentioned then we would be onto to something. It would be similar to the street in Denver in that regard. Now if 107 street were to be closed and we could expand it all the way to Grant Mac with Norquest like that it would be really cool.

[on the grid]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

The arena could not be developed on 107 Street without closing 108 Street. 108 Street could be reduced to a bus / service vehicle / pedestrian street.

Although I do like the Post Office location, 107 Street is very favorable.

Or did you mean 106st?

[RicoLance21]

Originally Posted by big W

The issue is that the extra 4,000 seats and 60 suites and space for these people in the concourse level would take up room and something the existing site in Winnipeg does not have is room to expand. Thus it would not work. Granted if we were to close off a street and make it pedestrian as CMD mentioned then we would be onto to something. It would be similar to the street in Denver in that regard. Now if 107 street were to be closed and we could expand it all the way to Grant Mac with Norquest like that it would be really cool.

That empty block on 107 street is longer than the one in Winnipeg. Therefore, the concourse level can be built bigger. What I like to see is the lower level of the concourse to the extended across the two streets from both sides of the arena. Close off two streets, use cut and cover, then reopen the streets. During hockey game nights, both streets will be closed off with barricades (better yet with permanently built metal gates) to handle the crowd. During concert nights or any other major events, one street can be closed off. Just an idea.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by on the grid

I'm confused. Do you mean closing 107st? How would closing 108st help? One possibility would be to span over 107st without closing it, with commercial and parking in the 2 flanking pedestals. It could be an interesting solution.

Like I said, I still think that the land would prove to be very expensive in comparison to the post office. @murman - when I say the post office site site could be free, I mean the feds could give the land over as their portion of funding, or they could trade that site with another belonging to the provincial/municipal gov't. I don't think its very unlikely.

No, I meant to say 106 Street, NOT 108. Sorry.

[feepa]

Laforge is on the Team 1260 right now... expects firmed stadium plans within the next couple of months. mayor's office doesn't seem near ready yet to put anything serious down

[viperred88]

here is a very wild idea for a design for your new arena downtown how about about you guys built a multi-story arena in a shape of a stanley cup with reflective glass from top to botom (actually I would have regular glass on the main concourse-lobby. In the upper floors you can lease out offices, condos and hotel rooms. If you guys build that arena in that shape it would be surely become one the best looking hockey shrines.

[Coldrsx]

^isnt disneyland enough?

[viperred88]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^isnt disneyland enough?

well atleast my idea stands out and its not another cookie cutter arena.

[big W]

It would be cool, we would have the puck that is Rexall and then the Cup.

All kidding aside, I would love the arena to be a landmark and something with great architechture. Have it downtown and something that everyone wants to see. Just something that stands out heads and sholders above the other arenas that are boxes. A building that says we have arrived if you know what I mean. The billion dollar project with office, hotel and confrence centre would be perfect. I am hoping but not holding my breath.

[feepa]

EDMONTON/630CHED - The goal is to build a four hundred million dollar arena, and not tap into civic tax dollars. And the most encouraging thing that has happened according to sources is two committees have been struck, one to look at the administration of this project, and the planning... and a second committee to look at financing. For his part, Mayor Mandel is saying nothing. Sources tell 630 ched news, no tax money should mean casino financing. And a downtown project would include a hotel component. HOK the arena architect firm that drew up renovation plans for Rexall Place is on board. There is speculation this week's provincial budget will address money for the planning aspect of this downtown arena proposal.

[Kevin_foster]

I'm sure HOK would rather do new than reno - so this all is now pretty much a dead issue - the new arena will be downtown?

[Coldrsx]

^yes!

[sdimedru]

will this spell the end or the "beginning" for stationlands? I mean if they don't proceed with the project when the arena happens, i think its safe to say they never will

[Coldrsx]

^beginning...

HOTEL - yup a rink and possible casino makes that work.

Condos - id love to live 20 floors above a rink, look at air canada centre's condo themed project.

office - all of a sudden you could have a great push for wanting to be in that area.

podium - casino...hall of fame...sports museum...bars...restaurants...


yup...id say it might work better with a rink there.

[feepa]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^beginning...

HOTEL - yup a rink and possible casino makes that work.

Condos - id love to live 20 floors above a rink, look at air canada centre's condo themed project.

office - all of a sudden you could have a great push for wanting to be in that area.

podium - casino...hall of fame...sports museum...bars...restaurants...


yup...id say it might work better with a rink there.

Phase 1 Arena + Hotel + Partial Podium + Casino
Phase 2 Condo and rest of Podium
Phase 3 Office tower
Phase 4
Phase 5 profit.. (LOL)

[Coldrsx]

^bingo

not to mention it would help kickoff more chinatown redevelopment.