Regina | New Mosaic Stadium

[Beadyeyez]

Originally Posted by trueviking

not according to the report....almost half park on the surface lots directly beside the stadium....the estimate is that the parking in downtown and warehouse district will triple from its current amounts.

forcing people to not drive to games seems a bit unrealistic to me....its more likely that the surrounding neighbourhoods will adapt to accommodate the parking shortfall instead.
thats great to hear that regina has banned the creation of surface parking....that can often be a challenge politically....this does however discourage development of existing lots by providing significant revenue opportunity to the land owners.

Go to a Canucks game or concert at Rogers arena. Unless you want to pay$25 - $30 to park within 10 blocks of the arena...you find another way to get there. The bars surrounding are all packed with patrons hours before and after the events and the hotels are filled to capacity.

Although...any business owner/ homeowner who would want to make a few extra bucks could really benefit. Much like they do now on the north side of Mosaic. Myself and friends have paid hundreds of dollars to the fine folks on the corner of 9th and Retallack to park on their front lawn.

Same scenario in Edmonton. We usually pay $30 to park a half-ton across form Commonwealth. Approx 50 vehicles fit in that lot...quick $1500(in one afternoon) just for being close the the stadium. Not bad revenue for an empty lot.

Parking downtown would also be a benefit IMO. Why wouldn't you want people walking past your establishment before or after a big show or football game. Maybe stop at the casino to kill an hour till traffic gets thinner. Go for a meal before or a few drinks after...all money being spent that is directly related to the location of the facility.

[Beadyeyez]

Originally Posted by trueviking

hmmm...ok...i have a hard time believing that people will be taking the bus to this facility all the time in any great numbers....it is my experience that people don't stop driving, the neighbourhood adjusts to accommodates the needs.

i agree that ample surface lots are not that much better....the reason i believe that these facilities are bad for urban environments....their economic spin-off is generally quite minimal but their environmental impact can be devastating.

in my opinion a stadium should be located in a central area but not an urban one....even the mosaic site is somewhat better....there is far more evidence to support the argument that stadiums end up hurting the sensitive fabric of urban neighbourhoods than there is improving it.

i very much agree with your tax theory....in this case though, its difficult to say to the community that you have to provide 13000 parking stalls for this development but we are also going to tax you for doing it....we would all love to not have parking but it is a reality....the operators of the facility will certainly find it a detriment if it is not easily available.

if regina was a much bigger city and that amount of parking was only a small segment, i could understand, but it is essentially all the available parking in the area.....MTS as an example has no parking, but winnipeg's downtown supports 75000 downtown employees every day so the 15000 people at the arena has little effect.....that is not the case in regina.

anyways, its simply my opinion...no need to fight endlessly about it.

You should get more experiences.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Beadyeyez

Same scenario in Edmonton. We usually pay $30 to park a half-ton across form Commonwealth. Approx 50 vehicles fit in that lot...quick $1500(in one afternoon) just for being close the the stadium. Not bad revenue for an empty lot.

exactly...why would he ever develop that lot?....increased property taxes, building maintenance....every existing parking lot in downtown regina will now be a cash cow....a big disincentive to development.

so...if you pay so much for parking why not take the bus like some here think will happen?

[Beadyeyez]

Originally Posted by trueviking

exactly...why would he ever develop that lot?....increased property taxes, building maintenance....every existing parking lot in downtown regina will now be a cash cow....a big disincentive to development.

so...if you pay so much for parking why not take the bus like some here think will happen?

"Hundreds of dollars" are for the six of us that have had season tickets for 11 years together. For the $5/vehicle to park across the street from Mosaic(and my gate)...why would I pay the $4 to ride the bus and walk around the whole stadium.

Have you even been to a game here? If I couldn't park so close or was forced to pay to park any further away...I WOULD be finding alternate means to get to the games. Park and ride, charters from bars/hotels...carpooling.

If the parking around the stadium is limited...do you think people will just not go to a Rider game or concert? Just more ways for money to flow. What restaurant/bar owner wouldn't want people parked in their parking lot...bussed to and from the event...right back to the doorstep of their establishment? Hungry and thirsty.

Or...given the potential location...funnelled right out the front door of the facility onto Dewdney Ave..

Just so you know...that part of Dewdney has lots of bars/lounges to choose from. I thought I would let you know because I am pretty sure you have never been in Regina, by some of your posts.

[Beadyeyez]

Originally Posted by trueviking

exactly...why would he ever develop that lot?....increased property taxes, building maintenance....every existing parking lot in downtown regina will now be a cash cow....a big disincentive to development.

so...if you pay so much for parking why not take the bus like some here think will happen?

I re-read your post...I see you meant why I pay the $30 to park in Edmonton....When there are 5 of us that usually make the road trip for one game ..we pay the 6 bucks each... rather than getting lost on the LRT or whatever they call it in Edmonton. If I lived there...I would be on a bus or the LRT for sure.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

exactly...why would he ever develop that lot?....increased property taxes, building maintenance....every existing parking lot in downtown regina will now be a cash cow....a big disincentive to development.

so...if you pay so much for parking why not take the bus like some here think will happen?

First of all there is already a proven busing program that works very well with the current location that takes people to all corners of the city to and from the stadium, no reason why a similar yet larger program couldn't be moved 9 blocks east where the new stadium is to be located.

That said, right now there is more development taking place in downtown Regina than there has been in decades. Add to that hoteliers, retail, and residential developers are lining up to be apart of this project, (the first new hotel, Four Points Sheraton breaks ground this spring) makes you wonder why they are doing the opposite of your argument.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

almost half of the current mosaic parking is on adjacent surface lots.....you seem pretty confident that will not be the case with this new stadium so why do you claim that the parking situation will be the same as it is now?...seems to be a conflict in your assertion.

No conflict at all, the majority of public parking for the current stadium is the land at Evraz Place and all the residential streets, all of which can still be used for the new facility. Most of the surface parking that is immediately adjacent to Mosaic Stadium is used by VIP's, players/coaches, buses, disabled, vendors, etc. There will be an underground parking portion to the new facility to house some of these patrons as well as a small portion of land east of Broad St & north of the tracks for bus parking.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by trueviking

hmmm...ok...i have a hard time believing that people will be taking the bus to this facility all the time in any great numbers....it is my experience that people don't stop driving, the neighbourhood adjusts to accommodates the needs.

i agree that ample surface lots are not that much better....the reason i believe that these facilities are bad for urban environments....their economic spin-off is generally quite minimal but their environmental impact can be devastating.

in my opinion a stadium should be located in a central area but not an urban one....even the mosaic site is somewhat better....there is far more evidence to support the argument that stadiums end up hurting the sensitive fabric of urban neighbourhoods than there is improving it.

i very much agree with your tax theory....in this case though, its difficult to say to the community that you have to provide 13000 parking stalls for this development but we are also going to tax you for doing it....we would all love to not have parking but it is a reality....the operators of the facility will certainly find it a detriment if it is not easily available.

if regina was a much bigger city and that amount of parking was only a small segment, i could understand, but it is essentially all the available parking in the area.....MTS as an example has no parking, but winnipeg's downtown supports 75000 downtown employees every day so the 15000 people at the arena has little effect.....that is not the case in regina.

anyways, its simply my opinion...no need to fight endlessly about it.

Regina too has a large amount of downtown employees. (my guess would be 25-30 000) And most if not all home games occur in the evening or on weekends when downtown offices aren't open. I also find it hard to believe that there are only 5000 parking stalls in the downtown. Already, many Rider fans use lots that will be used for the new stadium. (I do, and I walk with literally thousands others to the game who walk from the downtown.)

If I were you, I'd be more concerned about your own backyard and the lack of available parking and high-volume roads at the new Winnipeg Stadium being built in the middle of nowhere.

[1ajs]

No Mass Por Favor!!

[esquire]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

No Mass Por Favor!!

Sorry 1ajs, but I couldn't resist jumping in with my own two cents on this.

In theory, Mosaic Stadium shouldn't work, but it does. A 30,000 seat stadium in a residential area with hardly any parking, yet people manage to make it in without any problems. I don't see why moving the stadium 3/4 of a kilometre east would all of a sudden cause insurmountable problems.

Personally, on the rare occasions when I've attended football games in Regina, I have left the car behind downtown and walked the short distance to Mosaic. With a stadium that's even closer to downtown, I would think that all of downtown Regina and the warehouse area north of the tracks would be used for parking. And given that most games are played evenings and weekends - a time when downtown Regina is not normally bursting at the seams - I don't see capacity being an issue.

The arguments being marshalled against the Regina complex echo the ones used against the MTS Centre, and we all know how valid those turned out to be. I think the Regina stadium is a great idea, provided of course that the province can afford such an ambitious structure. I think Winnipeg could take a lesson from its western neighbours in thinking big. By contrast, our sports facilities are certainly passable places to watch a game, but were never (and won't be, in the case of the football stadium) particularly impressive places even on day one. Good on Regina, I say. I don't think it would hurt if Winnipeg were embarrassed a bit by Saskatchewan's can-do approach to this. Maybe we might step up our game a little in response.

[thefourthtower]

Originally Posted by esquire

Sorry 1ajs, but I couldn't resist jumping in with my own two cents on this.

In theory, Mosaic Stadium shouldn't work, but it does. A 30,000 seat stadium in a residential area with hardly any parking, yet people manage to make it in without any problems. I don't see why moving the stadium 3/4 of a kilometre east would all of a sudden cause insurmountable problems.

Personally, on the rare occasions when I've attended football games in Regina, I have left the car behind downtown and walked the short distance to Mosaic. With a stadium that's even closer to downtown, I would think that all of downtown Regina and the warehouse area north of the tracks would be used for parking. And given that most games are played evenings and weekends - a time when downtown Regina is not normally bursting at the seams - I don't see capacity being an issue.

The arguments being marshalled against the Regina complex echo the ones used against the MTS Centre, and we all know how valid those turned out to be. I think the Regina stadium is a great idea, provided of course that the province can afford such an ambitious structure. I think Winnipeg could take a lesson from its western neighbours in thinking big. By contrast, our sports facilities are certainly passable places to watch a game, but were never (and won't be, in the case of the football stadium) particularly impressive places even on day one. Good on Regina, I say. I don't think it would hurt if Winnipeg were embarrassed a bit by Saskatchewan's can-do approach to this. Maybe we might step up our game a little in response.

Now this is one of the best posts yet , besides all of migs ,good on you, good on sask for getting her done thankyou

[CCF]

Well not a thing is done yet.......lets wait before breaking out the champagne!

[khabibulin]

Sounds like a "win-win" solution to me. Quebec and Saskatchewan can allocate thier portion of their existing federal gas tax revenue to arenas/stadiums, and there is no requirement for any new federal money to be allocated. I look forward to watching a labour day classic in the new stadium by 2014 during one of my frequent trips to Regina!


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/02/09/weston-quebec-arena-feds.html

[1ajs]

pleas don't post full articles see rules http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/announcement.php?f=129&a=313

[Migs]

Originally Posted by esquire

Sorry 1ajs, but I couldn't resist jumping in with my own two cents on this.

In theory, Mosaic Stadium shouldn't work, but it does. A 30,000 seat stadium in a residential area with hardly any parking, yet people manage to make it in without any problems. I don't see why moving the stadium 3/4 of a kilometre east would all of a sudden cause insurmountable problems.

Personally, on the rare occasions when I've attended football games in Regina, I have left the car behind downtown and walked the short distance to Mosaic. With a stadium that's even closer to downtown, I would think that all of downtown Regina and the warehouse area north of the tracks would be used for parking. And given that most games are played evenings and weekends - a time when downtown Regina is not normally bursting at the seams - I don't see capacity being an issue.

The arguments being marshalled against the Regina complex echo the ones used against the MTS Centre, and we all know how valid those turned out to be. I think the Regina stadium is a great idea, provided of course that the province can afford such an ambitious structure. I think Winnipeg could take a lesson from its western neighbours in thinking big. By contrast, our sports facilities are certainly passable places to watch a game, but were never (and won't be, in the case of the football stadium) particularly impressive places even on day one. Good on Regina, I say. I don't think it would hurt if Winnipeg were embarrassed a bit by Saskatchewan's can-do approach to this. Maybe we might step up our game a little in response.

Excellent post!

[Migs]

Originally Posted by khabibulin

Sounds like a "win-win" solution to me. Quebec and Saskatchewan can allocate thier portion of their existing federal gas tax revenue to arenas/stadiums, and there is no requirement for any new federal money to be allocated. I look forward to watching a labour day classic in the new stadium by 2014 during one of my frequent trips to Regina!


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/02/09/weston-quebec-arena-feds.html

Also,

http://www.thespec.com/news/article/483281--ottawa-to-fund-quebec-arena-report


Another interesting twist, its pretty sad when Saskatchewan has a very detailed plan that was applied for last summer, with commited partners (city, private sector, Province), and a community owned tenant that is willing to fund millions into the project. Add to that we already have a site and design on the table. Quebec on the other hand has no tenant, no real plan, and a private commitment from a company that just got out of bankrupcy protection, and they are the project that will likely get approved first.

That said, even with the brutal optics coming out of Ottawa, this is still good news for our project here in Sk, now there is no way they can deny funding to our project. Also I have to laugh, after my conversation with Tom Lukiwsky last week, he stated that if Quebec got fed money for a new arena and Saskatchewan didn't, he would resign as MP for Regina-Lumsden. If that happens, you know Migs will hold him to his word.

[1ajs]

he would seariously do that? would he run under a different party then?

[skthunder77]

This is not a good solution for us. There is an article in the L-P on this that states Regina's share of the gas tax is approx. $11million/yr. That is all well and good except that is being used for things like overpasses and other infrastrcuture. I bet Mayor Pat flipped his lid when he saw this news break. This offers us nothing. It forces Regina...and Regina alone (rightly or wrongly) to choose between important infrastructure projects with regards to allocating gas tax money.

Moreover, the article states that no one from the province was aware the feds were going this way. Bad sign. And, as usual, the SK MP's were useless to the people of SK.

[jigglysquishy]

On the issue of parking being bad. I go see 2-3 Rider games a year and I always park in front of the library. Much easier to get in/out and its only a ten minute walk.

[khabibulin]

[QUOTE=Migs;5157952]Also,

Another interesting twist, its pretty sad when Saskatchewan has a very detailed plan that was applied for last summer, with commited partners (city, private sector, Province), and a community owned tenant that is willing to fund millions into the project. Add to that we already have a site and design on the table. Quebec on the other hand has no tenant, no real plan, and a private commitment from a company that just got out of bankrupcy protection, and they are the project that will likely get approved first.

Welcome to the wonderful world of regional politics. Remember how Winnipeg got shafted on the CF-18 maintenance contract in 1987? Political decisions often defy any practicality.

But in the words of Tom Flanagan, in politics it doesn't have to be true, it only has to be plausible.

Anyway, the ball will soon be squarely in the Saskatchewan/Regina court to fish or cut bait !