Halifax Stadium Discussion

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by ATL Stadium

My congratulations to HRM Council for the positive move in continuing on in the FIFA Host city bid process. The min requirement of 20,000 seat stadium should put us in a 25-30,000 seat ask position. Which would certainly bring the doors wide open for a CFL interest. Of course for the CFL puzzle pieces to come in place we will have to be watchful of the other cities in the same line up.

I hope we build 10K stadium that can grow to 20K, not what you are suggesting.

[ATL Stadium]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

At least they have a team. So what is there to say? 4 wins is better than not even having a chance to win one.

PS: Are you saying that their performance was sputtering?

It was also stated in the article that one option might be to upgrade Huskies Stadium. The story stated that staff will examine that and other options and report back in the new year.

Fenwick
I agree at least the Bombers are on the field playing and giving their fans some things to cheer about even if their pay does not end in victory.

SMU Coach has said previously that they would consider playing off campus. I have no idea if that was an official response or an off the cuff answer to a reporters question. My view is another potential tenant for the long awaited Atlantic Stadium.

[ATL Stadium]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

I hope we build 10K stadium that can grow to 20K, not what you are suggesting.

Waye
Why would you want a 10,000 seat stadium.?

[-Harlington-]

The minimum requirement is 20, and besides we need to look into the future for this as well

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

I hope we build 10K stadium that can grow to 20K, not what you are suggesting.

According to ANS the minimum requirement is a 20k seat stadium as a bare minimum, although that can be met through the partial use of temporary seating.

Having said that, I don't think that fiscally it is smart to build a 10k and then pay to expand it, since the cost of the original 20k would be much less than the cost of 10k, plus temporary seating, plus a later upgrade. The city either needs to do this right and decide it is actively going to pursue this, or it needs to not do it at all if it decides there is not the case for it. Doing it half arsed will not work though.

[ATL Stadium]

The released info said that the FIFA 20,000 does not have to be permanent seating it could be a mix of say 10,000 and 10,000 temp additions like Moncton is set up for.....therefore we need bigger.

[fenwick16]

I think it would be best to go for at least 20,000 permanent seats. I don't think that using 10,000 temporary seats will be cost effective, as beyeas pointed out. Also, if a 10,000 permanent seat stadium is built then there might not be federal money available for expansion when it is required.

A very decent 20,000 seat stadium could be built for $40 - $50 million. Hopefully the federal government will make a very substantial contribution. Once the building fund is set up then private contributions can be encouraged.

[isaidso]

Why wouldn't you just build a stadium that is both FIFA and CFL ready? 20,000 may be FIFA's minimum, but the CFL's is 25,000. Get it done in one shot with 25,000+ permanent seats. They're already talking about scheduling 2 Touchdown Atlantic games in Moncton the same season to make it more cost effective. Adding extra temporary seats costs money.

You also don't want to send the message that your city's candidacy is questionable by just managing the bare minimum. Make it look like Halifax belongs on that short list. If Haligonians don't think they can fill a 25,000 seater, they shouldn't be bidding for events like this. Halifax really isn't all that small any more. 400,000? Edmonton only had 478,000 when it hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1978. Commonwealth Stadium was built to hold 42,000 back then.

Commonwealth Stadium was expanded by 18,000 seats for the 1983 Universiade to bring it's capacity just past 60,000. Another minor expansion has brought capacity to 62,531 for Grey Cups.

[q12]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Why wouldn't you just build a stadium that is both FIFA and CFL ready? 20,000 may be FIFA's minimum, but the CFL's is 25,000. Get it done in one shot with 25,000+ permanent seats. They're already talking about scheduling 2 Touchdown Atlantic games in Moncton the same season to make it more cost effective. Adding extra temporary seats costs money.

You also don't want to send the message that your city's candidacy is questionable by just managing the bare minimum. Make it look like Halifax belongs on that short list. If Haligonians don't think they can fill a 25,000 seater, they shouldn't be bidding for events like this. Halifax really isn't all that small any more. 400,000? Edmonton only had 478,000 when it hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1978. Commonwealth Stadium was built to hold 42,000 back then.

Commonwealth Stadium was expanded by 18,000 seats for the 1983 Universiade to bring it's capacity just past 60,000. Another minor expansion has brought capacity to 62,531 for Grey Cups.

I Agree, that's a good point.

[MaritimeCFLFan]

As I have said before let's do this right the first time. Think for tomorrow and not just for today. I'd suggest a 20,000 to 25,000 permanent seating facility with potential for expansion for larger events. This would instantly put us ahead of Moncton in terms of a CFL franchise.

This facility could be used for football, soccer, concerts and more.

I'd like to see a meeting set up with HRM Council involving SMU and Dalhousie. It would be interesting to see if the universities would be willing to chip in $ towards a stadium that could be used by them. SMU already has a CIS team and I think in time Dalhousie could as well, especially if they could play in a new facility.

Another person to approach could be Senator David Braley. He is a huge supporter of CFL Football and currently owns both the Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions. He definately could be someone that HRM Council could contact in order to be advised on how to get things in order to help make the deadline. Also I'm sure he would help push for a generous amount of Federal $ to assist in building the stadium.

I'm positive that if Halifax had a stadium that was equal to or better than the one Moncton currently has then the CFL would turn their focus to Halifax for their 10'th franchise and truly make the CFL a coast to coast league, something that has been desired for a long time. Folks a new stadium like I described is the key.

[Northend Guy]

The recent news of Halifax Council's decision to proceed with the bid process is very exciting indeed! I really think that CFL football especially would be a huge asset to Halifax culture. If the womens' FIFA bid is what will get us the infrastructure to host a permanent CFL franchise, that is great. Personally, I am not a soccer fan, but I digress. Once a stadium is in place, not if, but when Halifax is awarded a CFL team, I firmly believe that it will receive ample support to be profitable. In the limited cross-section of friends and acquaintances I have in Halifax, many have expressed the desire to have a CFL team here. Football does not need to catch on here - many people are already hooked, and their attention merely needs to be diverted to a local team as opposed to their current favorite somewhere between Montreal and Vancouver (even if it is as a second -favorite ).

I think the cultural & economic spin-offs would be huge as well. Out-of-towners coming in for the games, the flood of patrons to restaurants & bars before and after games, the retail opportunities associated with a franchise we can be proud of, etc. are all things that will boost the local economy. Culturally, I am envisioning the water cooler conversation revolving around the game the night before, or the identity that Halifax can assume as a football town once things get rolling. The national and perhaps international exposure that Halifax would receive on telecasts of games would further serve to promote what is already a great city. Its amazing what a name branded franchise can do for product recognition. A team bearing Halifax's name on the national stage will do wonders for promoting our culturally rich city, which in my opinion has only scraped the surface of its potential as a destination.

Frankly, I just want to see a team come here. I can think of a million reasons why it would be a good thing. I just hope that HRM council will smell the roses on this Stadium. It is the jump start that will get a good thing going!

[ATL Stadium]

I fully agree with the above statements regarding size. I think in reading back through the consensus was pretty much that to build less than the minimum size to lure a possible CFL team in the future would not be desirable.

So that leaves us at 25 to 30,000 permanent seating capacity with an expandable option for future needs or for events that could require larger capacity seating like concerts.

Did we have a consensus on location....? I think the last I had heard was a feeling of Shannon, Exhibition Park, or Mainland Commons area.....were preferred is that right?
Did we rule out the quarry locations?

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by ATL Stadium

I fully agree with the above statements regarding size. I think in reading back through the consensus was pretty much that to build less than the minimum size to lure a possible CFL team in the future would not be desirable.

So that leaves us at 25 to 30,000 permanent seating capacity with an expandable option for future needs or for events that could require larger capacity seating like concerts.

Did we have a consensus on location....? I think the last I had heard was a feeling of Shannon, Exhibition Park, or Mainland Commons area.....were preferred is that right?
Did we rule out the quarry locations?

I don't think that there was a consensus on the location. I still like the DND site north of the Halifax Forum and others also previously stated that they liked that location. If a stadium is to be used by SMU and Dalhousie it has to be easily accessible by those schools. I also like the site next to the Via Station because of its proximity to SMU and Dalhousie. It is also within walking distance of thousands of parking spots that are usually not in high use during sports events (nights and weekends). Such a location will get events like the Jazz festival and Busker festivals that won't be too interested in a venue further out of the city.

I think that a list should be made up and a poll can be conducted on this forum that includes as many possible site as there are. Later tonight I can go back through this thread and list various sites. It would be good if a poll could be set up that allows people to chose first, second and third picks.

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

At least they have a team. So what is there to say? 4 wins is better than not even having a chance to win one.

Err, what? Are you suggesting that if I don't have a CFL team playing in my home town I'm not allowed to post playful criticisms of other cities' teams' performance?

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by hfx_chris

Err, what? Are you suggesting that if I don't have a CFL team playing in my home town I'm not allowed to post playful criticisms of other cities' teams' performance?

Nope. Since you are an Alouettes fan, you have no concerns. Once Halifax has a team then I will be a strong CFL supporter. For now, I am a Buffalo Bills fan in the NFL since they are just 1.5 hours away. (They were much more fun to watch when they had Doug Flutie)

I just want to see Halifax get a CFL team because I am a big fan of the city itself.

[Keith P.]

Exhibition Park would be location #1, followed by Gorsebrook and the DND lands north of Windsor and Young, although the latter would not likely be available in time.

[fenwick16]

For the location of a stadium, my choices would be:

1) the DND lands north of Windsor and Young
2) south of the Via Station at the site of the large warehouse and old cargo tracks (are these tracks used for parking trains, since they no longer are needed for the seaport?)
3) Gorsebrook (this would be my number 1 choice but I don't know where people would park)
4) West Mall area
5) Halifax Mainland Commons.

These are all locations that are easily accessible to SMU and Dalhousie (although #5 is not within walking distance). It could also host events such as the Jazz festival and other events that occur in downtown Halifax during the tourist season (these events might not produce much revenue but a stadium is a convenience that could make such events more successful). It might look good for cruise ships coming into the harbour (although initially it will be a fairly basic stadium). I think that the planners of the event have to look at a location that will result in the most use of the stadium.

[Empire]

Stadium Sites:

1. Shannon Park
2. Mainland Common North
3. DND/Windsor Willow
4. Gorsebrook
5. Dartmouth Crossing
6. Exhibition Park

[worldlyhaligonian]

The HRM should try to sell the 40million plus 4 pad arena to private management and build a stadium from the proceeds.

I can't believe the city spent that much on frickin rinks...

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Empire

Stadium Sites:

1. Shannon Park
2. Mainland Common North
3. DND/Windsor Willow
4. Gorsebrook
5. Dartmouth Crossing
6. Exhibition Park

I think 1-4 are great, with 4 obviously presenting more difficulties due to SE NIMBY power.