Halifax Stadium Discussion

[JustinMacD]

Kelly very intrigued by BC Lions stadium.

Wanted to see if they could ship that stadium from BC to Halifax once Lions are done with it.

Would be more cost effective to build one instead of shipping this.

Discussion for 20-25,000 seats.

1200-2800 per seat depending on what the stadium includes.

HRM wants to get part of 1.4B federal fund which is being dedicated to building sports stadiums across the country.

Mentioned universities as potential investor, along with private investors.

Shannon Park site is being looked at.

Burnside is being looked at (oh come on...).

[MonctonRad]

Sounds like Kelly wants to build a stadium on the cheap. You guys should give him a verbal tongue lashing!

BTW, Moncton is going to be working on it's second stadium. The U2 concert on the hill will be their 360 show, meaning that they are building massive bleachers on three sides of the stage.

I predict 100,000 spectators!

[brettinhalifax]

account deleted

[fenwick16]

Rick Howe seems to favour a stadium based on his daily commentary - http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/Blog-Article/b/12296/Ricks-Rants-Monday-January-31st2011

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

Burnside is being looked at (oh come on...).

By Burnside, I wonder if they mean Commodore Drive and John Savage Avenue - http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=&q=commodo...63.565264&spn=0.021627,0.066047&t=h&z=15 . This is next to Dartmouth Crossings. If a Dartmouth location is chosen then I think that this would be a good location in Dartmouth.

PS: Some good news for the CFL - Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton will be renovated for the 2015 Pan-Am Games, so the Hamilton Tiger-Cats won't be moving. It will be mostly demolished and rebuilt so that it will be almost like a new stadium - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=5146909#post5146909 . The capacity will be reduced to 25,000 seats but it will have room for expansion to allow for the hosting of Grey Cups.

[Keith P.]

Mayor Doofus was asked about location and seemed to try and preempt much discussion by saying there were only 2 possibilities: Shannon Park and the existing site on Commodore in Burnside where the sports field is. Both horrid locations.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Mayor Doofus was asked about location and seemed to try and preempt much discussion by saying there were only 2 possibilities: Shannon Park and the existing site on Commodore in Burnside where the sports field is. Both horrid locations.

Well from an ease perspective of a giant parcel being able to be developed, leveled and a structure (with parking build) I'd say Dartmouth Crossing is probably the easiest (with city services). Someone said there were contaminants on Shannon Park; plus there is apparently a land claim on it too.

It may not be a perfect spot; but from the sake of ease it probably works well. I watched the CBC news that's on their website - didn't see the interview with Peter Kelly so it must have been on the earlier part of the news (which they don't post).

[Welkin]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Mayor Doofus was asked about location and seemed to try and preempt much discussion by saying there were only 2 possibilities: Shannon Park and the existing site on Commodore in Burnside where the sports field is. Both horrid locations.

I see nothing wrong with the Dartmouth Crossing location. It is far from horrid. The site has good access and exit from John Savage to Wright Avenue or down Commodore to Burnside to 118. It has good on-site parking potential as well as tons of current off-site parking available off Burnside and at the Dartmouth Crossing Shopping Center (you could run shuttles from here). Plus the 118 gives good access to fans coming from north of town. Also, it is not that far from the peninsula. I know it is not a downtown location, but it makes a pretty decent site now as well as 10-20 years down the road.

[brettinhalifax]

account deleted

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by brettinhalifax

IMO the Mayor trying to structure the discussion is a good idea. There are one or two dozen regular posters in this thread and we can't agree on a site.

fenwick wants the peninsula. You want EP. Others want SP. Then there's Halifax only, peninsula only, close to a highway, on the water, close to the water, away from the water, Dartmouth side works, Dartmouth would be a disaster. Thank goodness the thread has gotten off of that merry-go-round.

And we all want a stadium. Add in the cacophony of NIMBY's, BANANA's and the pothole-first brigade and an unstructured site discussion could scuttle the entire project. Just look at what happened in Hamilton.

IMO they're both decent sites. Every potential site has serious shortcomings. Pick a site, set a budget and build a stadium.

I'd have to agree. Let's face it; Halifax isn't going to get a major transit system like an LRT for a little while (either because of population, $ or both). So making sure the stadium has good access by road (for bus and car) is essential. Personally, SP has okay access, but I can see where some access points would have to be improved (especially over the rail line). DC has the benefit of multiple access points off of the Circ and 118. Then add to that links through Burnside to Highway 7 and the bridges (via the Circ) from an access perspective it's pretty good. SP would be okay, but Windmill Road in that area might get pretty congested and need expanding.

But both sites have a large amount of area that could accommodate parking for vehicles plus I'm sure an area could be dedicated for a bus only drop off/pick up. Some of the parking could be taken away in the future if HRM establishes an LRT to provide for a terminal or an access to an underground terminal if they go that route.

[MaritimeCFLFan]

These developements are making me feel pretty positive about the prospects of a stadium coming to HRM. I just hope it's not done on the cheap and with no foresight for the future. I'm not overly thrilled about the prospect of a temporary type stadium like the one in BC. As far as the location goes I have no problem with either of the 2 sites mentioned but would prefer Dartmouth Crossing over Shannon Park.

[q12]

I'm liking Dartmouth Crossing more and more if it is the path of least resistance and is close to amenities like restaurants, hotels etc.

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by Welkin

I see nothing wrong with the Dartmouth Crossing location. It is far from horrid.

Don't worry. The only reason Keith thinks it's horrid is because it's in Dartmouth.

[hfx_chris]

The other good thing a Dartmouth Crossing site has going for it is... there's already a football field there! All they have to do is erect the stadium seating around it.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by MaritimeCFLFan

These developements are making me feel pretty positive about the prospects of a stadium coming to HRM. I just hope it's not done on the cheap and with no foresight for the future. I'm not overly thrilled about the prospect of a temporary type stadium like the one in BC. As far as the location goes I have no problem with either of the 2 sites mentioned but would prefer Dartmouth Crossing over Shannon Park.

The fourplex in Bedford has many shortcomings. The ref change rooms are very small and in a poor location. All of the seating "as limited as it is" is poorly designed. The rinks and 4 in a row so common areas and services are limited or non-existant.

The Canada Games Field House falls short with the pool for both polo and aquatics. The pool needed to be 30m for polo and 25m for swimming. The pool is 25m eliminating polo. The problem with 25m is that 25m is required between bumpers. This pool is exactacly 25m so when bumpers are added the pool does not qualify for short course meets. The pool needed to be 27m but no one picked up on it. Let's hope that the stadium has a better QA process.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by hfx_chris

The other good thing a Dartmouth Crossing site has going for it is... there's already a football field there! All they have to do is erect the stadium seating around it.

If you put seating around one of the fields then you would have to eliminate the second field because they are too close together. (poor planning & design)

[-Harlington-]

Dartmouth crossing sucks asshole for transit, i think two buses go there and you cant even use them from the bridge terminal let alone anywhere in urban HRM
its basically built in the middle of nowhere out of the rock

but if they improved transit and incorporated it more with surrounding areas which i think there gonna end up doing i guess wouldn't mind a stadium going there

[Welkin]

This quote was taken from the Man/Sask thread.

"He said he wants the new stadium built as much as anyone, just that the feds are facing a very tough decision in that projects around the country are going to want fair and equal share. I then asked him if that is the same guidelines for every funding program in that if Saskatoon gets a new bridge then so does Winnipeg, he didn't have an answer. lol. Also he said to me that the province has 'about' $350-370mil already commited to the project (he said he thinks the numbers are $200mil province, $70-80mil city, $75mil private, and a significant number from the Riders) so even if the feds can't come through they can either look for more funding elsewhere or settle for something a little less 'cadillac' than whats being proposed."

I have to admit that I am jealous of Regina. I find it amazing that they can pull together $370 million towards a football stadium (or the Multi-purpose Entertainment and Sports Complex as they like to call it) and Halifax is having trouble even getting started. True they want the feds to kick in another $100 million so that they can have their "Cadillac" Stadium, but that is besides the point. $200 million from the Province of Saskatchewan, $80 million from the City of Regina and $75 million from local businesses is impressive.

[thurmas]

You have to remember that the riders are the most popular sports team in Canada even more than the leafs or habs I would say at this moment in time. Also sask. is booming with all the oil and potash money right now. I still think Halifax being the major centre of atlantic Canada should be able to build a stadium between 100-125 million dollars.

[halifaxboyns]

Looks like there is serious interest in a stadium.
Look what's on the agenda for Tuesday!