BC Place: Stadium Refurbishment | Completed

[wrenegade]

$563M is not a modest expense. How long will it take to recoup those costs, does the business plan even allow for that or do the Lions/Whitecaps plus other events just cover op costs. I really don't see too many large convention events that need to be held here. The new VCEC seems to have worked pretty well in the interim. I maintain that this entire project is a huge waste of money. It's not terribly pretty to boot. I eagerly await the construction of buildings around it so it blocks the view of this monstrosity.

Yes I know I am in the minority on this one. I really hope I don't have to say "I told you so" if the province were ever to try and sell this thing, I'm sure it would end up something like the Skydome (Built for $570M (1986 dollars at that) and sold for $25M).

[Zassk]

It's easy to compare to other stadiums and say "too expensive!", but it's obvious that PavCo is assuming an apples-to-apples comparison:

1) retractable roof
2) west coast seismic codes
3) poor ground conditions
4) expensive real estate location

Any stadium that meets all 4 of these probably costs $1 billion or more.

Of course we could have probably built a replacement for much less, if it had one or more of the following conditions:

A) open air
B) built in the suburbs
C) built on escarpment
D) clean soil
E) built below code

But any such stadium would have sat empty for 300+ days per year, rather than being booked for events 200+ days per year.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Thanks for the photos. It will be very interesting and exciting to see the final product.

A couple of things:

1) Regarding that acoustical material around the upper perimeter of the bowl: I hope it will look better when the stadium is finished. Because, right now, from the photos, it sort of looks like tacky aluminum siding with some weird coloured gaps (possibly unfinished spots). As of now, the look of this material seems incongruent with the aesthetics of the rest of the stadium. (Just imagine if it was one giant LED video wall instead.)

2) Regarding the hanging curtains that are supposed to obscure the empty upper tier during Whitecaps games: I think the Whitecaps are going in the wrong direction on this point. They should do exactly what the Seattle Sounders do at Qwest Field. They should have special coverings professionally tailored and designed to fit snugly and precisely over each upper tier section of seats. On the coverings there would be team and premier sponsor logos. Like Qwest Field, the coverings should be designed so that a very large image bleeds across sections (like putting together a series of individual photographs to create one large panorama).

Qwest Field:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Qwest_seattle_sounders_pregame.html

The superiority of the above approach is obvious. You preserve the open majesty of the new space while camouflaging the empty seats in a stylistcally pleasing and financially beneficial way. The curtains the Whitecaps are planning to use, by contrast, will choke off the grandness and beauty of the new space and block light from and views to the amazing new high-tech, LED-reflecting celestory windows, not to mention they just look silly and unprofessional.

For a realistic view of how the proposed curtains will look, see here: http://whitecaps.io-media.com/

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Whitecaps are paying for the seat-hiding curtains? Thought it was part of the renovation project...

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Regarding the hanging curtains that are supposed to obscure the empty upper tier during Whitecaps games: I think the Whitecaps are going in the wrong direction on this point. They should do exactly what the Seattle Sounders do at Qwest Field.

I actually agree with you on this. The white sheets give the stadium the same sterile feel that we had before with the white inflatable roof. Maybe if they used coloured fabric with a graphic design of some sort?

[peterprinciple]

Something that does worry me is the alternating colour on the roof panels. I fear it my look more like a circus tent than a stadium roof.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by VancouverPM

8. The crane they used at the initial stages of the project is one of only three in the world large enough for the project. It arrived to the site in 72 shipping containers. I believe it was transported by train from Alberta.

...

the crane that was used in the initial stages of the project...is one of only three TYPES of cranes in the world, it is not one of only three cranes in the world, if that is what they are saying, they need to as usual check some facts first, I know of at least a dozen locations world wide that cranes that size are being used as I'm writing this...when little facts like this are embellished by our good friends at PAVCO, it makes me scratch my head that much more on figures such as 1.2 and 1.4 billion.

no, natelox is correct.

On the floor of the stadium sits the world's second largest moving crane, a huge machine that lifts on to the rim of the bowl each of the cabling masts. On Friday, the Texas-owned crane put into place with surgical precision the 19th mast since the project started in April with the deflation and removal of the old Teflon roof.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010w...ive+look+inside+Place/3714219/story.html

[invisibleairwaves]

I'm definitely happy to see some acoustical treatment going into the stadium. 6 second reverberations? That's hilariously awful. Stadiums are never going to be great-sounding venues but it's nice to see they're putting some real thought into the sound of the place.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

Something that does worry me is the alternating colour on the roof panels. I fear it my look more like a circus tent than a stadium roof.

Oh my God, I just checked the webcam and you are not joking. I really, really, really hope that I am not seeing what it looks like I am seeing. Because such a decision would be absolutely inexplicable and insane.

A white and salmon roof?!?!? Somebody please tell us that this is not really happening.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Oh my God, I just checked the webcam and you are not joking. I really, really, really hope that I am not seeing what it looks like I am seeing. Because such a decision would be absolutely inexplicable and insane.

A white and salmon roof?!?!? Somebody please tell us that this is not really happening.

Im just making a guess but maybe its like the new canada place roof and some of the roof needs time to whiten with time in the sun???

[peterprinciple]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Oh my God, I just checked the webcam and you are not joking. I really, really, really hope that I am not seeing what it looks like I am seeing. Because such a decision would be absolutely inexplicable and insane.

A white and salmon roof?!?!? Somebody please tell us that this is not really happening.

Just fired off a quick note to Pavco to see what they say about this. Holding my breath. Will post as soon as I know.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Oh my God, I just checked the webcam and you are not joking. I really, really, really hope that I am not seeing what it looks like I am seeing. Because such a decision would be absolutely inexplicable and insane.

A white and salmon roof?!?!? Somebody please tell us that this is not really happening.

The roof material is similar to the new sails that went up on Canada Place. Those sails were a little salmon coloured as well, but were sun bleached white within just a few months. No biggie.

[VancouverPM]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

no, natelox is correct.




http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010w...ive+look+inside+Place/3714219/story.html

I always believe the Vancouver Sun, they are excellently accurate in the information they always utilize...especially when they get it from PAVCO...

First and foremost...Mammoet, the OWNER of the crane is a Netherlands based company, the crane is more than likely BASED from Texas, but not owned by a Texas based company...secondly...Mammoet as of 2006 had a minimum of 4 of these cranes BUILT, I understand there have been a couple more built since that time, including a good friend operating one, with another one within his eye shot. There are other crane companies who manufacturer and/or have cranes as large as the one that was utilized at BC Place. I'm not speaking out of my arse, my history, is Heavy Lift Cranes, Tower Cranes, Highrises and Major Infrastructure Projects in BC and Alberta...I'll take the word of Mammoet that built and OWNS the crane over the often misconstrued or poor reporting I consistently find regarding Construction, Construction Equipment and developments in the Vancouver Sun.

Ohhhh and according to press releases from even PAVCO's website...the crane arrived in 85 shipping containers, which as I understand it from one of the operators of said units, its the accurate number...not 72...

For more information on the crane, please feel free to visit Mammoet's website...

[peterprinciple]

Originally Posted by mr.x

The roof material is similar to the new sails that went up on Canada Place. Those sails were a little salmon coloured as well, but were sun bleached white within just a few months. No biggie.

Hi Doug,

Rest assured, this is not the case…

The PTFE material used for the fixed roof is manufactured and supplied as a light brown/salmon pink coloured material that you are seeing in the webcams. It is designed to bleach white within a couple of days of exposure to sunlight.

Thus, the initial panel that was installed is white, whilst the newest panels being installed adjacent to this are a different colour until they have been exposed to sufficient sunlight.

Ultimately, the entire fixed roof will be a consistent shade of white (and not salmon pink).

Best regards,
Duncan
BC PLACE

[agrant]

Seems like a few of you guys just need to wait until the darn thing is done!

[Prometheus]

Good to hear.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by VancouverPM

Ohhhh and according to press releases from even PAVCO's website...the crane arrived in 85 shipping containers, which as I understand it from one of the operators of said units, its the accurate number...not 72...

Thanks for clarifying that.

[Spork]

Originally Posted by VancouverPM

[...] ESPECIALLY as I've already pointed out the current labour rates - it just goes to show how inept leadership has been in some areas...sad really, less lining their buddies pockets and more cost controls and measures in place, we would have far more world class facilities in place...my thoughts and opinions[...]

Unfortunately opinions don't count here. Only facts do. Construction labour rates have risen 11% since 2007.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Vancity

the 'caps aren't in USL anymore. they are in MLS. top flight soccer in north america.

Not true at all. Top soccer league in North America is Mexico's Primera División by far. It's top-12 in the world, MLS isn't even close to that.

[mr.x]

Whitecaps game at Empire canceled because of rain today....nuff said:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Whitecaps+ga...alt+Lake+pooring+rain/5113948/story.html

[Locked In]

^ Bad timing - I expect part of the reason is that they're trying to preserve the turf for Monday's game against Man City (they'd have to refund those tickets...). That said, I had tickets for today, and I'm not exactly gutted about it being postponed...