Quote:
Originally Posted by wespidel
I think there lies the problem if a library is a bigger project than a stadium regardless of how it`s being funded. I think in my opinion the stadium project is not being treated with any value or respect. I believe if Calgary had the same population has Halifax does today they would not build a 10 seat thousand like Halifax is going to build. Fenwick I respect your opinion and your expertise and I understand your theory, that a small stadium is better than none. I also believe back then, to build stadiums in stages worked but today it`s different in what a stadium needs. I believe a stadium today in a population like Halifax needs to have a certain capacity and with all the latest features in order to attract a professional sports owner or other major events unless like you said Fenwick you settle for a lot less which in this case becomes a university facility and I agree that is what Halifax will probably build. I personally feel it`s very disappointing and if money is definitely the problem area, that`s where I don`t buy the city`s agrument because then they would have built a 10 dollar 4-pad and not a 45 million dollar pad which the Feds didn`t support, and wouldn`t have commited 114 million towards a new convention centre. Fenwick I do respect your opinion as well and do believe you are right as well that Halifax will end up building a much smaller low end facility basicly geared for university sports only, which I believe will turn a lot of people off big time but like you said it`s better than what we have now which is a pigs hole with a field!
Just to tell you I ran into Fred Macgillivray today, I hope that`s the way you spell it and I told him what I posted on the site today and he agrees with me 100 %, all of it. He also said that Halifax already know what type of stadium they need to build and that the model is out there and that the survey was already done several years ago. He said there is know need for an advisory committee and that it`s a waste of time and money because they will only deliver a small 8 to 10 thousand permanent seat universiity type stadium if they do that. He said that Halifax needs to spend a minium of a 100 million and really needs a 30 to 35 thousand permanent seat stadium for the size of the area. He said that the committee they chose are not capable of building a major stadium and it`s more political than anything and it will be non- productive. He said the people that should have been put on the advisory committee that have real vision and who really wants to build the proper facility for Halifax were politically not chosen.
He also said if Halifax does not build a major stadium they will not be chosen has a host city for the FIFA Womens World Cup. He said the same as me that if Halifax builds a small stadium like Moncton, Moncton will win the bid to host the FIFA World Cup of Soccer.
|
Wespidel, I agree that Halifax should build a 25,000 seat stadium (
and that SMU should renovate their stadium). If you go back and read what I posted, you will see that I mentioned the McMahon Stadium that started with 22,000 seats for $1,050,000 million (it should be noted that Calgary, which is a much larger city than Halifax, isn't considering a more expensive stadium than what they have - they started with a very basic stadium and then upgraded it over the years, but I think it is still a basic stadium). I just think that the cost is being over-estimated by basing the stadium cost on the cost of the Hamilton Stadium and Winnipeg Stadium without having detailed information on those stadiums. Why not base it on a scaled up Moncton Stadium? If that costs too much, then Halifax can go with the original 22,000 seat McMahon Stadium design.
If it is decided that Halifax can only afford a stadium for $50 million, then I think that Halifax should build the best stadium possible for that amount. Based on Moncton paying $20 million dollars for a 10,000 permanent seat stadium, Halifax should get at least 20,000 permanent seats for $50 million (probably even 25,000 seats).
I don't agree with you on the idea that it should be either a $100 million dollar stadium or nothing. Halifax should start with what it can afford. It can always be upgraded in the future. Haligonians shouldn't feel embarrassed by building what they can afford - that is a sensible approach to take. PS: If there is money and a business case for a more expensive stadium then that would be great, but if not them a less ambitious stadium would be a good start. When many of us were expecting funding from the federal government, a more expensive stadium looked like a possibility but the federal government has shown that it won't support the new arena in Quebec City or the stadium in Regina.
Prev
Linear Mode
