Halifax Stadium Discussion

[someone123]

Gary Lunn does not have the final word on federal government funding.

[Welkin]

I looks like Regina's $431 million football stadium/multi-use entertainment complex has bit the dust. Evidently, without over $100 million in Federal funding, the project just wasn't going to work. Not enough local money and support I guess. At least Halifax's project is in a much more reasonable and sensible financial realm. Hopefully our project will not meet the same fate.

[fenwick16]

I think that a BMO Field type stadium would work well in the Halifax area. Except I would like it better if there was a double tier on both sides of the field so it would seat about 25,000 (instead of the current 22,000 at BMO Filed). Possibly the lower bowl could be sunken. There would be lots of room for expansion along the sidelines and endzones. If built with lots of landscaping and dirt berms then it would look somewhat like a scaled down version of the Stanford Stadium (if the upper tier was completed all around then it would be very similar).

I read that the BMO Field has been so successful that there have been discussions about expanding it by 8000 seats. (It would be great if the field could be lengthened so that the Argonauts could use it as well).

(source: http://www.pcl.com/projects/Active/0900345/index.aspx )


(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMO_Field )

[wespidel]

Fenwick I agree 150%, 12,500 per/side with two tiers twined with open endzones to expand to 45-50 thousand to host a Grey Cup game and other major events but with a partial roof on both of the two tier stadium sides. Private skyboxes on both sides and club lounges are becoming popular in new stadiums as well as premium club seats. Fenwick what do you think of the newer look transparent skylight roofs? I think they look modern and can do the job for a reasonable price. I`m referring to the one that Events NS illustrated on their web site in full color. Fenwick would you prefer a complete open endzone or a fixed bowl where possibly you could expand over-top. I also agree with either a sunken bowl to expand permanently in the future or to allow a enough room for a future tier under the partial roof on both sides of the stadium, to expand permanently as well. Fenwick what do you think is better?

Fenwick do you think since BMO field was built for 66 million in 2007 by PCL with only 20,500 permanent seats and only one two tier side with skyboxes and no fully covered partial roof, that Halifax today in 2012 which is when they would start, could build this type of stadium for 85 to 100 million or would it cost more like 115 to 125 million.


SPYDER*

[fenwick16]

I can't say what it would cost but I think that some features could be eliminated to reduce the cost. Personally, I like having some seats in one endzone as the BMO Field is currently built. Then there would be room to build over it.

I think that the events Nova Scotia design is similar but the upper and lower tiers of the NS Events stadium design have fewer rows of seats. Personally, I prefer the roof of the BMO Field since it will provide some shade from the sun on hot days.

I think that a sunken version of the BMO Field (or a larger NS Events design) would be suitable at the Wanderers Grounds. If sunken then it wouldn't rise as high from street level and it would be less obtrusive.

PS: Personally, I think this is a suitable use of the Wanderers Grounds since it will get the maximum amount of use - concerts, and both pro and amateur sports. It would be a municipal stadium (just as the BMO Field is owned by the city of Toronto) so it wouldn't be owned by a pro team. I think a stadium at the Wanderers Grounds would become just as popular as the skating oval and the skating park. And it would look impressive from the Citadel Hill.

PS: It looks like the lower bowl is concrete and I think that the upper tier is steel.

[q12]

Not to push Shannon park but just another look at how Shannon park was planned for commonwealth games.

Originally Posted by q12

Note if you remove the north and south end zone seating you have about a 35,000 seat stadium.

This might be under 30,000

[Empire]

Shannon Park is the only location where one can catch a glimse of the action while driving by......major PR.

[halifaxboyns]

I've seen the drawing and I've tried to find information on what the other letter codes are. I'm assuming they are other facilities like swimming and stuff like that? So if anyone has the key - I'd love to know what '3a', '3b' and '3c' is.

I didn't realize that the 'athletes village' was going to be Wallace Heights though. That plan shows a lot of new buildings and expanded footprints. If someone can give me the link in a private message - I'd love to look it over.

[fenwick16]

A few people have mentioned building a temporary stadium such as the BC Lion's temporary facility. It would be possible to test a temporary, inexpensive design at Shannon Park for a few years to be sure that it is a suitable location. Such a structure could probably host some FIFA Women's Cup soccer games.

Even this coming summer concerts could be scheduled for the existing Shannon Park field to see how well concerts are attended and to see how well that location handles the vehicular traffic and public transportation shuttles.

[Keith P.]

The snowplows on the MacKay can dump slush right onto the playing field too. Terrible siting. Not sure if there is any provision for parking either.

[ATL Stadium]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

I've seen the drawing and I've tried to find information on what the other letter codes are. I'm assuming they are other facilities like swimming and stuff like that? So if anyone has the key - I'd love to know what '3a', '3b' and '3c' is.

I didn't realize that the 'athletes village' was going to be Wallace Heights though. That plan shows a lot of new buildings and expanded footprints. If someone can give me the link in a private message - I'd love to look it over.

3A IS THE MULTISPORT FACILITY
3B IS THE OUTDOOR WARM UP AREA
3C IS THE VELODROME

[q12]

Originally Posted by ATL Stadium

3A IS THE MULTISPORT FACILITY
3B IS THE OUTDOOR WARM UP AREA
3C IS THE VELODROME

The 3A is probably similar to the Canada Games centre now in clayton park.

So if we build a stadium we will have 2 of the large pieces from the commonwealth games bid.

Have a look at this:

http://www.halifax.ca/halifax2014archives/Documents/ExecCommVOPSPresAug9_06.pdf

and this:
http://www.halifax.ca/halifax2014archives/Documents/CommonwealthVenuesVolume1.pdf

Everything can be found in the archives:

http://www.halifax.ca/halifax2014archives/




Notice the bus terminal and possible LRT terminal in these maps.
Sections 2,3 and 8 could also be used for parking.

[ATL Stadium]

Q12
I like the look but of course that was all part of the CWG bid drawings and blew the roof off the budget.....gotta be frugal.

I like Shannon for the PR factor and the potential tourism draw to the view planes etc etc....but I go back to the event being a draw and not the Stadium itself....but if the site (Stadium) attracts better and bigger events for Atlantic Canada that's such a big bonus to Shannon as a site.

The Feds would have to re-mediate the site and offer it up for free of course to compete with other potential locations.

Shannon would have traffic issues for the general public not attending an event, potential bridge tie ups and the roadways around Shannon.....Arggh! but I do like the water site....

My feeling is Shannon will be on the higher end of the costing model....unless it gets tied in with a developer willing to build condos along side or something that will also get the roadwork done....gotta be able to move in and out around the stadium....media, gear, temp seating staging, theres a lot of nig trucks and trailers and bus loads at events..

[wespidel]

Zimbabwe backs out of the FIFA Women`s World Cup bid, leaves Canada as the lone country to host. Canada just has to be approved on Thursday and it`s a done deal. It will be interesting now where Lunn confirmed several times while in Halifax during the Canada games that there would not be any money for Halifax if they were to chosen as one of the host cities to build a new stadium. Mayor Kelly said yesterday that there may be other events where the Feds would support or they will go it alone with the province.

Personally I believe the Feds owe Halifax and NS for some infrastructure money, for a stadium in a big way. I hope Peter MacKay`s and Mr. Flaherty`s outlook being somewhat different in relation to supporting a stadium project or not overides Mr. Lunn bias views and he does not become the deciding factor!

[q12]

Zimbabwe withdraws bid to host 2015 Women's World Cup, leaves Canada as only candidate
By The Associated Press (CP)
ZURICH — Zimbabwe withdrew its bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2015 leaving Canada as the only candidate, FIFA said on Tuesday.
Canada's bid must be evaluated and approved by the FIFA executive meeting when it meets on Wednesday and Thursday.
Canadian sports minister Gary Lunn met with FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Monday to promote his country's bid.
"We
If successful, Canada also would stage the Women's Under-20 World Cup in 2014 as a test event.
Canada previously hosted the men's U20 World Cup in 2007. Its women's team also has qualified for the 16-team 2011 World Cup kicking off on June 26 in Germany.
Zimbabwe officials acknowledged last month that their infrastructure was "the barest minimum" to stage the tournament, but hoped FIFA would show the same faith it had in South Africa to organize a successful men's World Cup last year.
FIFA's ruling executive panel will decide the hosts of five other age-group tournaments this week.
Ghana and United Arab Emirates are competing to host the men's U17 World Cup in 2013.
The UAE also has bid for the U20 event in 2013, against Turkey and Uzbekistan.
Turkey and Uzbekistan also seek hosting rights for the women's U17s in 2014 with Costa Rica and Ghana.
Wales is bidding for both tournaments in 2015: Against Chile for the U17 finals, and against New Zealand for the U20s.
Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

[-Harlington-]

great news, haha its either canada or nobody so if we dont get it that would be sad, aha
now down to the cities, lets go halifax

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by wespidel

It will be interesting now where Lunn confirmed several times while in Halifax during the Canada games that there would not be any money for Halifax if they were to chosen as one of the host cities to build a new stadium...

Personally I believe the Feds owe Halifax and NS for some infrastructure money, for a stadium in a big way.

For me I think it is a semantics issue.
I believe Lunn when he says that there will be no infrastructure money for a stadium paid for from the federal funds assigned to this by his ministry.

However, that does not at all mean that a stadium would not be eligible for federal funds from a different pot of money, in particular one that is aimed at infrastructure (along the lines of the Building Canada fund).

More than likely all it really means is that the province will have to decide what its infrastructure priorities are in terms of what they want to ask the feds for... there is always a certain percentage of funds more or less deemed for a given province, it is up to the province to propose what they want to use those funds for.

All Lunn is really saying is that his ministry won't be the one providing infrastructure funds, but that does not rule out federal money from another ministry.

[brettinhalifax]

account deleted

[ATL Stadium]

Originally Posted by brettinhalifax

beyeas - I agree but I'd add a couple of wrinkles.

It isn't Harper's job to say no. He gets enough bad press as it is. It is Lunn's job to take the heat on issues like this. So if Lunn keeps saying no, Harper and possibly MacKay have told him to say no.

But I still think it is more likely that he is just speaking to his department's spending priorities and will continue doing so until Harper tells him to find some money for the stadium.

Lunn has an easy out for changing his tune just by pointing to BMO Field in Toronto. He can just say that his department will fund a Halifax stadium in the interests of fairness between regions and genders (IMO it is pretty hard to defend funding Men's soccer but not Women's soccer)



Lunn can keep saying no but he always has the option of changing to yes. But once he says yes, he's stuck there and it is much harder to go back to no.

Its all very good news......now for the next step.....to be selected a host site we need a staduim to the FIFA standards and more....

[q12]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I can't say what it would cost but I think that some features could be eliminated to reduce the cost. Personally, I like having some seats in one endzone as the BMO Field is currently built. Then there would be room to build over it.

I think that the events Nova Scotia design is similar but the upper and lower tiers of the NS Events stadium design have fewer rows of seats. Personally, I prefer the roof of the BMO Field since it will provide some shade from the sun on hot days.

I think that a sunken version of the BMO Field (or a larger NS Events design) would be suitable at the Wanderers Grounds. If sunken then it wouldn't rise as high from street level and it would be less obtrusive.

I agree that BMO field or a very similar stadium may be the way to go. If something of similar scale is proposed it will be hard for the feds to say no.

Just heard on the radio that there may be funding available from FIFA, which could help with the costs.

Again a $60 million stadium split between 3 levels of government, private sector (naming rights), universities, and maybe even some support from FIFA would be very affordable.