Halifax Stadium Discussion

[Northend Guy]

Found this one related to federal funding...not great news from a federal funding point of view, but still does not exclude the possiblity of Halifax getting some federal dough from one of the secret stashes.

Regina domed stadium appears dead for now


CBC News
With no federal money in hand for a $430-million domed stadium for Regina, the proposal is stalled for now, the Saskatchewan government says.


"This project can go no further at this time," said Ken Cheveldayoff, the minister responsible for the project, said Tuesday.

The province had been seeking a $100 million contribution from Ottawa and had applied for the money last June.

"We said right from the beginning that in order for a project like this to come to fruition, all levels of government along with the private sector would have to come together and make it happen," said Cheveldayoff.

But eight months later, there's been no response from the federal government. Partners in the project will have to look at their options, Cheveldayoff said.



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The stadium, which could come with several options, including a retractable roof, was touted as a new home for the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team as well as being a multi-use facility that could attract major music concerts to the city.

The existing home of the Riders, Mosaic Stadium west of the downtown, is an open-air stadium that club officials say is outmoded and in need of an upgrade.

The province, the city of Regina, and private supporters were supposed to provide the lion's share of the financing, but a big federal contribution was considered key to getting the project off the ground.

The lack of a federal commitment was a bitter blow to Mayor Pat Fiacco, who said the stadium project would mean the redevelopment of 46 acres of inner city land that could be used for housing.

Meetings involving the city, the province, and the Roughriders are being held soon to decide what to do next.

"I think the Riders would be certainly concerned if all of a sudden we said, 'No, it's done. We're just going to go with status quo.' We've always said from the get-go that status quo is not an option," Fiacco said during a conference call.

Among the options that have been discussed is a less-ambitious renovation project for Mosaic Stadium.

With files from The Canadian Press

[CorbeauNoir]

Originally Posted by beyeas

Gotta say that the whining over the Women's World Cup coming from the Centre of the Universe is really making me laugh.

There is a Toronto Star article today saying that if it is not held in Toronto then "If it doesn’t include us, it’s not national. It’s regional."

Wow. Gotta love statements like "You can’t host a national event in this country that doesn’t include Toronto." I understand that Toronto is our largest city and has the highest number of immigrants who therefore are likely the biggest fans of a tournament like this, but still... statements like the ones above are precisely what builds resentment towards Toronto's attitude.

So why didn't they just put in a bid to be a host city...?

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Of course Toronto is a world class city and the center of the universe -

I actually agree that Toronto is, on its own merits, a world class city. I love the multi-cultural feel of it.

But given that it is one, it just comes across as small-minded to say that no event can be national if it doesn't include Toronto. Toronto doesn't need things like this to be a great city, but it does run the risk of both alienating itself and coming across as juvenile when it insinuates that no one else can represent Canada other than Toronto.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by beyeas

I actually agree that Toronto is, on its own merits, a world class city. I love the multi-cultural feel of it.

But given that it is one, it just comes across as small-minded to say that no event can be national if it doesn't include Toronto. Toronto doesn't need things like this to be a great city, but it does run the risk of both alienating itself and coming across as juvenile when it insinuates that no one else can represent Canada other than Toronto.

I agree. I live up here and even I was somewhat offended as an ex-Nova Scotian.

The one a few days ago about stadium funding in Halifax as another handout was even more offensive - http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/22/kelly-mcparland-halifax-wants-a-stadium-too/ .

[Empire]

Seems as though crybaby McParland can't even put a sentence together. Perhaps his own local dialect won't allow him to spell properly. The general premise is that any money Ottawa sends our way is less for them. I like Toronto but the national media (Toronto) can't stand to see any other part of the country make gains. When the Atlantic Schooners franchise was tentatively awarded the national CBC did a blurb on it and Halifax in general. They chased down a fisherman on his boat and asked him some questions about football and his response was "FOOTBALL.... ain't no footballs out there" pointing out to sea. A gleeful reporter then as much as said, they know nothing about football. The first 2011 Canada Winter Games story that the CBC aired was about the bedbugs and that was it, nothing about the games.

It is never a surprise how low the national media or center of the universe attitude can go. The key is to ignore it and rise above the self centered petty arrogance.


Kelly McParland
"But nevermind. Halifax is planning to spend $100,000 on a “feasibility study,” which, I’m willing to bet, will conclude that a stadium is fully feasible is someone comes along to pick up the costs. Someone, like … a government outside of Nova Scotia."

[MonctonRad]

I would say that the complaints you guys in Halifax have with Toronto sound very much like the complaints that we have regarding Halifax!

Plus le change, plus le meme chose........

[someone123]

Really? I don't think I've ever seen somebody complain about NB funding or state that all events must happen in Halifax. On top of this, the failure to build a stadium has been mostly cast as a local problem that has basically nothing to do with Moncton (which is correct). This is very different from the attitude in the Toronto articles posted.

[q12]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I would say that the complaints you guys in Halifax have with Toronto sound very much like the complaints that we have regarding Halifax!

Plus le change, plus le meme chose........

I don't see that many complaints either than from you directly. You seem to be the one man show in regards to the constant complaints about how we Haligonians view Moncton.

This issue being discussed was more of a how Central Canada (specifically Toronto) views Atlantic Canada.

[q12]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

You beat me to this. It is funny how a year ago there wouldn't be anything mentioned in the local media regarding a stadium for weeks at a time and now there are almost daily news stories. IT IS GREAT!

People can post comments at the Chronicle Herald website.

The comments on the 2 stories in the herald have been interesting to say the least.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1230937.html

It's good to see a lot of positive comments.

There seem to be a few Bruce Devennes that have come out of the wood work. A lot of them probably all the same person. Now that the stadium is on everyone's radar it was expected these people would show up again.

Here is an example of what we're up against:

Submitted by rob123 on Wed, 2011-03-02 12:11.
dont read much do you?
the feds have already said no

if it were such a good deal the private sector would have already built it,

universities are crying for money and dont have it to spare.

fifa, who cares what they want

private citizens?, are you for real??????

where do you think the government gets its money from, the tooth fairy??????

you go right ahead and contribute your own money.

the trouble with you "plan" is that there are a lot more people who dont want this.

it aint just bruce this time.

read the comments.

Submitted by rob123 on Wed, 2011-03-02 11:57.
talk about boring!!!!!!!
and your opinions are what?

it seems that there are more people who dont want this.

we killed the commonwealth games and we will get this killed.

so please save us the "halifax is this and halifax is that"

halifax is broke, no stadium anywhere has ever made money for the city that was SUCKERED int building. they only cost money, they dont make it.

but............bray on. and thanks for removing the doubt.

The similar spelling errors all seem to be showing up in the negative comments which is why I suspect it's the same wing nut.

[MaritimeCFLFan]

Originally Posted by Rinny

Stadium plan collapses as Ottawa nixes funding

REGINA (CP) — Plans for a domed stadium in Saskatchewan have been punted because the federal government hasn’t kicked in cash.

The Saskatchewan govern­ment, the city of Regina and the Saskatchewan Roughriders foot­ball club said Tuesday that a lack of federal funding means the proposed multi-purpose enter­tainment facility won’t go ahead. The proposed facility would have replaced the aging Mosaic Stadium, where the Roughriders now play.

Saskatchewan had been look­ing for the federal government to kick in 20 to 25 per cent of the estimated $430-million price-tag for the new facility.

Perhaps the $430 million domed stadium looks like a no go right now but even without the 20 - 25 % contribution asked of the feds that should still leave some $300 million to use on an alternative stadium plan. I'd suggest that $300 million could build one hell of a nice stadium.

[someone123]

Speaking of FIFA, it's iteresting that they might have money for this. Anybody know more about their potential involvement in new infrastructure? It could be worthwhile for them to kick a few million dollars into a new stadium in a region and country where there's room for lots of growth in the sport.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by someone123

Speaking of FIFA, it's iteresting that they might have money for this. Anybody know more about their potential involvement in new infrastructure? It could be worthwhile for them to kick a few million dollars into a new stadium in a region and country where there's room for lots of growth in the sport.

I found the following year-old story (May 12, 2010) through a quick Google search. This relates to the 2010 FIFA Men's Cup which would generate much more in ticket revenue than the Women's Cup. It appears as though FIFA gets part of the ticket revenue which it can use towards infrastructure.

(source: http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/fifa_increases_world_cup_budget_by_25_per_cent/)

Fifa increases World Cup budget by 25 per cent

12 May 2010 | Posted in Infrastructure, Soccer, Africa | By James Emmett

Fifa has injected an extra US$100 million into the World Cup budget to ensure training grounds in South Africa are ready for the 32 teams.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke told BBC Sport that the game's governing body signed off the 25 per cent budgetary increase at an executive committee meeting in March. He added that the extra funds would be more than covered by the US$3.2 billion expected to be generated by next month’s tournament.

South Africa’s organisational budget has now increased from around US$420 million to some US$520 million.

Danny Jordaan, head of South Africa's World Cup organising committee, said Fifa had agreed to fund the increase out of its own revenue from ticket sales.

"We have not gone on our knees pleading for money, said Jordaan. “We've got enough money.

"What we've agreed with Fifa, if there are additional items ... we will sit down and between us agree Fifa funds it or we will fund it. In this case Fifa has agreed to fund it."

"We know we had to add some money for the team base camps where some teams were unhappy about the level of the services or the level of the pitches," Valcke said.

"That's a cost Fifa took over to ensure things were delivered on time."

Here is some information on the 2011 FIFA World Women's Cup budget, which is quite a significant amount of money - http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/organisation/ticketing/media/newsid=1123376/index.html . I am not sure how much is being invested into the tournament or infrastructure. The Women's games in Germany are expected to draw well - an estimated 25,000 spectators per game.

[brettinhalifax]

account deleted

[q12]

No federal cash for Halifax stadium

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9020062.html

New policy means Ottawa won't fund project, source says
By STEPHEN MAHER Ottawa Bureau
Wed, Mar 2 - 8:15 PM

OTTAWA — The federal government said Wednesday it will not put any money into a new stadium for Halifax, a decision that may make it more difficult for the city to host any games in the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
The Conservative government announced Wednesday that it “has decided against creating” a “program to fund professional sports facilities.”
A new Halifax stadium was intended to allow the city to host amateur soccer games, but a source in the government said later that the new ruling would apply to the project just the same.

Halifax Regional Municipality recently appointed a committee to explore the idea of building a 20,000-seat stadium at an estimated cost of up to $60 million.

Council voted to spend $100,000 examining the possibility.

Mayor Peter Kelly said Wednesday that the federal announcement doesn’t mean a stadium won’t get built since business and other levels of government might be able to pay for it, and perhaps Ottawa can supply some land.

“I know that there may be some other elements that may be able to be supported, such as dealing with parkland,” he said. “That might be an issue of discussion and an opportunity. I don’t see that as an obstacle that is overly concerned and overly misdirected.”

Defence Minister Peter MacKay has repeatedly boosted the idea of federal funding for the city, suggesting it could be built on federal land in Shannon Park.

“It all has to be done in balance, but is it something that I personally am committed to?” he said Monday. “Yes it is.”

A spokesman for MacKay said Wednesday that Ottawa would provide up to $15 million for the 2015 women’s soccer tournament but held out no hope for federal money for a Halifax stadium.

“The city of Halifax has yet to complete a feasibility study on a stadium for the city,” said Jay Paxton. “The fact that the federal government does not have a dedicated program to fund sporting facilities is consistent with information the city is assessing in its study.”

Liberal MP Michael Savage said MacKay looks awkward on this issue.

“Minister MacKay’s been sort of way out in front on the issue of a stadium in Halifax,” he said. “He’s ahead of the process on that one, so I don’t know if that’s inconsistent with what the government is saying otherwise or not.”

Savage said he supports federal funding for a stadium as long as it encourages community recreation.

NDP MP Megan Leslie said the NDP doesn’t want professional sports facilities funded.

“That jibes with what our position is on stadium financing,” she said. “If local communities want to make local arenas an infrastructure priority, that’s great, but not if what it really is is a front for a business person who wants an arena in their benefit.”

Centre ice for the showdown over federal money for arena funding has been Quebec City, where the mayor has been pushing Ottawa to pony up to help the city realize its dream of luring back an NHL team. The Conservatives have a foothold in the area and have been under pressure to fund a new stadium there, an idea opposed by supporters in English Canada.
________________________________________________________________________

Isn't Winnipeg receiving federal funding for its new stadium?

From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Winnipeg_Blue_Bombers_Stadium

The total will now come to $195 million with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers paying back $85 million and the 3 levels of government splitting the rest of the costs as proposed earlier.

[brettinhalifax]

account deleted

[Keith P.]

Nice to see our worthless NDP MP in there working on behalf of her city... not.

[halifaxboyns]

I'm not surprised about MP Leslie's remarks. Short-sited. If I return to Halifax and she's my MP, she won't be getting my vote for sure. Like I posted on the CH about Taylor's article - this is a piece towards making Halifax and greater city. The fact is, somethings that make cities great will never recover the cost of their operation. We have to come to accept that. But the other effects a stadium would have to the restaurant, hotel and tourism industry can't be easily quantified - but they are there. Plus, the fact it makes the city a better place, it itself is a positive thing.

[wespidel]

Mr. Fisher said the opposite and said that maybe not in that particular fund there is money available for a stadium but he did say that there is definitely another fund from the Feds to support funding for a stadium for Halifax or they wouldn`t being doing this. He also indicated on Rick Howe`s show yesterday afternoon, that 30 to 60 million may not be the figure, he said the the stadium probably will be somewhere in the middle between Moncton`s stadium and a major stadium in Brazil. He said Halifax has to build a city that suits the size of the Halifax and he did say as well that their is corporate support and private sector support right now! He sounded very positive and confident and knows a lot more than we do.
I believe there is a CFL potiental franchise owner involved as we speak.

Toronto are crying and don`t want anyone else but themselves to succeed. The same person that wrote the article was on 95.7 yesterday in the morning and he didn`t even know all the cities that are bidding to host the FIFA Women`s World Cup. He didn`t even know that Winnipeg has made a bid too! I wasn`t in impressed but he did say something I agree with that he thought that only one city in the Maritimes would be chosen not two because the cities are too close to each other!

[ATL Stadium]

The Committee has been selected....or appointed.
What are they thinking.....from the one side I understand the council is strongly represented...but holy cow Batman! From the supposedly public representative they are all bureaucrats! What happened to the "private sector" bent this was supposedly going to have. Even the one on there that is "entrepreneurial" is a from NSCC not a business owner....or anyone that has risked their own cash. They are all people that work with other peoples money.....why not select people that actually are risk takers.....they are the ones that can truly make a business case.....or not.

I have to say and yes its partly sour grapes...admitting my point of view....the committee is not on my high praise list.

[q12]

Possible lack of federal cash doesn't diminish Halifax's stadium goal

http://www.news957.com/

Desiree Finhert Mar 03, 2011 05:33:26 AM

Ottawa's announcement that there will be no federal investments in any professional sporting facility projects, anywhere in Canada, won't slow down plans to build a multi-purpose stadium in Halifax, according to the mayor.

"This decision doesn't rest or rely on one," Peter Kelly told the Rick Howe Show Wednesday. "This is a multi-stakeholder approach, as we said from the onset. It will involve the private sector, it will involve sport organizations, it will involve universities, it will involve the cultural and arts community."

The city has just launched a feasibility study to investigate the possibility of building a 20,000-seat, multi-use, sports stadium at Shannon Park.

One reason is to increase Halifax's chances as a host city for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Despite the Harper government's announcement, Halifax Coun. Darren Fisher (East Dartmouth-The Lakes) says there is federal support.

"What I'm saying is there's no federal money from that office for the FIFA event, for a facility. That's what they're saying. There may be other money from other departments that could go toward a stadium," said Fisher, also a member of the stadium steering committee member.

Fisher says he doesn't think there's any way the city could move forward on a professional stadium project without some financial help from the federal government, as well as from the corporate world.

Officials with the world soccer championship are expected to announce the host city for the 2015 event, today. It may be a formality as Canada is the lone bidder after Zimbabwe dropped out of the running.

Halifax is one of seven host-city hopefuls, along with Moncton.



Funny that the media have already declared Shannon Park as the site.

The key word here is AMATEUR Sports Stadium. If its not promoted as a Stadium for a pro team the chances of getting Federal money are much higher.