GM Place | $8-million expansion - new upscale club seats

mr.x · #1 Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 3:30 AM**

Quote:

GM Place to undergo $8-million expansion

By Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
June 4, 2009 6:01 PM

VANCOUVER — GM Place will expand by 188 seats this fall when the Vancouver Canucks introduce a new upscale club seat section on the arena's top level.

The Top Shelf Club is being built over two tiers and about 8,000 square feet of space formerly occupied by an analog broadcast facility. A new high-definition broadcast studio will be located in what used to be a storage area on the arena level.

The new facilities — along with upgrades to player dressing rooms — are expected to cost more than $8 million.

Canucks Sports & Entertainment president Chris Zimmerman wouldn't confirm the price tag but said it represents the organization's biggest annual capital investment in GM Place.

“Since the Aquilini family took over the club (in 2005), we are reinvesting in building projects at three or four times the rate that was done previously,” he said.

The 188 new seats will cost $210 a game and be sold in season ticket packages of full-season, half-season or quarter-season amounts. The total price for a full 45-game season package will be $9,450 so the seats should generate an extra $1.8 million in revenue for the team next season.

Zimmerman said the price includes a buffet dinner and non-alcoholic beverages for each game. The club will have extensive video screens, lounge facilities, cash bars and decor with a distinct West Coast feel, with Canucks colours being prominent.

The Canucks have offered the new club seats to season ticket holders and those on the season ticket waiting list and expect to begin selling them to the public next week.

“We're certainly sensitive to the economy but the early indications are quite encouraging that we have the demand for this product,” Zimmerman said.

The team plans to sell corporate naming rights to the new club section and expects that will be in place by the time it's completed in September.

Zimmerman said the new high-definition broadcast studio will greatly enhance the quality of game broadcasts, along with the picture quality of the arena's giant video screens.

“As great as our video board is today, the picture will be amazing when it goes to HD,” he said.

The club built a new players lounge last year and will complete more upgrades this year to player locker room facilities, while building a new team meeting and video room.

“In today's NHL, when you have to compete for free agents, you want to create the best possible environment for your players,” Zimmerman said.

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© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/Business...859/story.html

Yume-sama · #2 Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 3:42 AM**

I was offered these seats, but WOW they are EXPENSIVE for being essentially on the roof.

2 seats would have cost over $25,000 with the concert package (tickets to an estimated 50 concerts in the coming year). AND it doesn't include playoffs!

hollywoodnorth · #3 Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 4:27 AM**

wow good news! compare this with the NHL teams PHOENIX or FLORIDA

zivan56 · #4 Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 5:04 AM**

How long will it remain "GM Place"? It is sponsored by GM...I assume thing is an ongoing requirement for keeping the name?

CC420 · #5 Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 6:22 PM**

I believe when GM Place was constructed, General Motors gave money up front in exchange for 25 year naming rights. Despite GMs chapter 11 situation I don't expect the company in name to fold completely. Anyways, it will always be known as "the garage" to me.

hollywoodnorth · #6 Posted **Oct 14, 2009, 11:00 PM**

looks like this is finished >> http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40080

cool video and PDF.now called the BEST BUY TOP SHELF CLUB

http://canucks.nhl.com/ext/BEST_BUY_TOP_SHELF.pdf

Vancity · #7 Posted **Oct 14, 2009, 11:29 PM**

I wonder if they have any plans to expand to more seating. I think currently, GM Place holds 18,818? Do they have plans to expand to 19,000+ seating capacity?

I'm just curious.

Personally, I'm not sure how they would, considering they are running out of space.

Yume-sama · #8 Posted **Oct 14, 2009, 11:38 PM**

I don't think they'll necessarily be "expanding" seating, but they may expand club seating. There were a lot of cancellations this past year, it seems mainly the corporate seats are selling well. Example, I moved up over 2000 names in the waiting list, and should have access to better seating next year. In years prior, I would only move up a couple of hundred.

I think the scalpers are finally bailing out, which is a significant number of Canucks STH accounts, to be honest.

mr.x · #9 Posted **Oct 14, 2009, 11:42 PM**

^ yea, there's this one scalper that i see everywhere...Lions, 'nucks, Whitecaps...probably 2010 as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a living through scalping.

Yume-sama · #10 Posted **Oct 14, 2009, 11:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ yea, there's this one scalper that i see everywhere...Lions, 'nucks, Whitecaps...probably 2010 as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a living through scalping.

People used to. You'd see $120 Canucks tickets selling for double that, for every game. Heck, I've seen $300 nosebleeds to "premium" games.

But people stopped ponying up the cash some time in the last year.