Stadiums and Arenas of Canada

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by elly63

^Now that's a deflection

LOL, whoops. Meant to post that in the Calgary retail thread.

[chrisallard5454]

Originally Posted by Berklon

I wouldn't go as far as saying the new stadium is worse than the old one it's replacing. This will be a better stadium than Ivor Wynne - both in looks and function... even if it's smaller in capacity. It's just not up to snuff with what a modern stadium should be - even if it's built with less money.

I guess when I think about it, you wouldn't build a state-of-the-art arena for an AHL team, so why build a great stadium for an AHL-equivalent league like CFL? I mean, it's the CFL afterall. The CFL!

Lets stop with the bashing of the CFL, because the league has clearly proven that it can build proper stadiums.

And in regards to comparing Winnipeg's old Canad Inns to Ivor Wynne 2.0, and which one is better, I would take Canad Inns hands down. I almost shed a tear while passing the Canad Inns and seeing all that is left. I and many others have some amazing memories of that place. I can still remember my first field rush at the end of a game. Too bad they banned those.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by Berklon

I guess when I think about it, you wouldn't build a state-of-the-art arena for an AHL team, so why build a great stadium for an AHL-equivalent league like CFL? I mean, it's the CFL afterall. The CFL!

Guess what, Winnipeg did in fact build a state of the art arena for their AHL team and because of that were the first choice by the NHL to land a floundering NHL franchise. Suppose Hamilton is still hurting after building a now antiquated, once NHL calibre arena and never even getting a sniff from the NHL. So sad.

Pretty sorry that the Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg (currently being levelled for a new Target store) was still superior to CFL stadiums in Montreal and the two being constructed in Ottawa and Hamilton.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Berklon

I guess when I think about it, you wouldn't build a state-of-the-art arena for an AHL team, so why build a great stadium for an AHL-equivalent league like CFL? I mean, it's the CFL afterall. The CFL!

Nice try, but the comparison is ridiculous. The CFL is many rungs above the AHL. It's more comparable to the AFL in Australia or La Liga in Spain. The CFL is the 2nd highest calibre north American football league and many notches higher than NCAA football I might add.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by elly63

I don't consider asking people to explain what the numerous issues (they claim there are) with the new stadium, insulting. If you think it is you had better start developing a thicker skin.

If you want to act like a kid, act like a kid. Just don't be surprised when you're called out.

I could care less if you wanna attack me, I made my points and those who were bitching just for the sake of bitching were exposed. Those who at least tried to explain their position were validated. Nuf ced.

I've made no attack on you whatsoever. I've simply pointed out that hurling insults at people isn't acceptable. And we shouldn't have to justify our position to you to avoid insults. Acting like a kid? Isn't it children in the playground that resort to name calling when they don't like what they hear?

I'm a kid now for calling you out on unacceptable behaviour? That's rich.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by chrisallard5454

And in regards to comparing Winnipeg's old Canad Inns to Ivor Wynne 2.0, and which one is better, I would take Canad Inns hands down. I almost shed a tear while passing the Canad Inns and seeing all that is left.

I don't get it, I really don't. This must be the Bizarro world of stadium forums. Is anybody else out there confused as I am.

One guy says all he wants is a bench and a beer then five minutes later complains that Hamiltonians are simple creatures who were given "sumpin" simple. Shouldn't he be happy?

If people were previously posting that IW2 resembles Canad Inns and the post above is waxing poetic about it, why the hate for IW2?

I can't keep up with the contradictions here. So judging from the post above this is better than IW2? Apparently this is what you want?

This from a Winnipeg writer

Granted, this comes from a guy who spent 20-plus years at Canad Inns Stadium daily stepping around pigeon guano, trudging up crumbling stairs and cramming his six-foot frame into a seat to watch practice; a guy who cringed every time he stepped into the dungeon-like visitors' dressing room, gagged at the stench that forever hung in the director's lounge or watched water cascade down through stained ceiling tiles into the office complex whenever there was a downpour.

I've sliced my hand open trying to open the rickety windows in the old press box, needed a front-end realignment on my car trying to navigate the craters in the parking lot and once -- as the last man in the building after deadline -- had to roll under a metal security fence in a giant dip in the concrete just to be able to head home. So excuse me for not being all that nostalgic about seeing the old place meet the wrecking ball.



Somebody please help me make sense of it all

[elly63]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Nice try, but the comparison is ridiculous. The CFL is many rungs above the AHL. It's more comparable to the AFL in Australia or La Liga in Spain.

Let's not get carried away.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, Barcelona had a payroll of $217 million, with an average player salary of $8.7 million, almost $1 million more than the survey's second-place finisher Real Madrid, whose players earn an average of $7.8 million per season.

The lowest teams in La Liga average around 500k (lowest was 380k) per player which is about what the best quarterback in the CFL makes (450-500k).

Salaries in the CFL average from about 96k to 115k. Surprisingly (to me) The AFL teams mostly average twice the salary of CFL teams and about twice the payroll as well.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Pretty sorry that the Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg was still superior to CFL stadiums in Montreal and the two being constructed in Ottawa and Hamilton.

I just don't get this forum, I really don't. Is there some strange affectionate connection to toilet troughs in Winnipeg?

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by elly63

I just don't get this forum, I really don't. Is there some strange affectionate connection to toilet troughs in Winnipeg?

There definitely is. At the last game in canadinns guys were taking photos of each other peeing in it. There are calls for them to be installed in the
Mts centre.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by elly63

Let's not get carried away.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, Barcelona had a payroll of $217 million, with an average player salary of $8.7 million, almost $1 million more than the survey's second-place finisher Real Madrid, whose players earn an average of $7.8 million per season.

The lowest teams in La Liga average around 500k (lowest was 380k) per player which is about what the best quarterback in the CFL makes (450-500k).

Salaries in the CFL average from about 96k to 115k. Surprisingly (to me) The AFL teams mostly average twice the salary of CFL teams and about twice the payroll as well.

Since when is players salaries indicative of the quality of the professional league? Ratings and average attendance are much more qualified factors.

That said, sorry Elly but no matter how much you try and splash cologne on the turd, the new stadium in Hamilton is a huge disappointment escpecially considering they were lucky enough to receive federal funding while all other projects did not.

[trueviking]

Your last point is bang on.

[chrisallard5454]

Originally Posted by elly63

I don't get it, I really don't. This must be the Bizarro world of stadium forums. Is anybody else out there confused as I am.

One guy says all he wants is a bench and a beer then five minutes later complains that Hamiltonians are simple creatures who were given "sumpin" simple. Shouldn't he be happy?

If people were previously posting that IW2 resembles Canad Inns and the post above is waxing poetic about it, why the hate for IW2?

I can't keep up with the contradictions here. So judging from the post above this is better than IW2? Apparently this is what you want?

This from a Winnipeg writer

Granted, this comes from a guy who spent 20-plus years at Canad Inns Stadium daily stepping around pigeon guano, trudging up crumbling stairs and cramming his six-foot frame into a seat to watch practice; a guy who cringed every time he stepped into the dungeon-like visitors' dressing room, gagged at the stench that forever hung in the director's lounge or watched water cascade down through stained ceiling tiles into the office complex whenever there was a downpour.

I've sliced my hand open trying to open the rickety windows in the old press box, needed a front-end realignment on my car trying to navigate the craters in the parking lot and once -- as the last man in the building after deadline -- had to roll under a metal security fence in a giant dip in the concrete just to be able to head home. So excuse me for not being all that nostalgic about seeing the old place meet the wrecking ball.



Somebody please help me make sense of it all

People have been comparing IW2 to a 3/4 torn down Canad Inns. There is no doubt in my mind that Canad Inns would be favoured over IW2 if fully complete.

I will say however that you posting a quote of one individuals take on Canad Inns stadium does not in any way provide an accurate representation on it. I have never once had to dodge bird squatter, walk up crumbling stairs. Most of the other stuff I know nothing about because I am a fan, not a reporter.

But I would indeed take Canad Inns over Ivor Wynne any day. How I contradicted myself is beyond me. I would take it because 1) It had a wrapped enzone. 2) It had multiple roofs covering fans from the elements 3) It was a hell of a lot bigger and 4) It had history.

Now I understand Winnipeg needed a new stadium, which is why I am beyond excited for the new one, however I don't think just building a piece of junk is ok to replace something because it has expired. As I said before, there would be riots in the street if they tried to build Hamilton's new stadium in Winnipeg. So to reiterate one more time, I would pick Canad Inns over IW2 any day.

[Boreal]

Canad Inns was run down, and with a (very) sizable investment, could have been made respectable - at least as much as the new Ti-Cats stadium. Now, do not get me wrong, I am a huge proponent of Investors Group Field, and it will be radically superior to even a renovated Canad Inns. My only point is that Canad Inns was not a terrible place to watch a football game, just dumpy for all the reasons and more that Ed Tait pointed out in his article.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Your last point is bang on.

So who are you liking to win the Regina stadium bid? Word around town is that the HKS Architects/PCL group are the early favourites.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by elly63

Let's not get carried away.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, Barcelona had a payroll of $217 million, with an average player salary of $8.7 million, almost $1 million more than the survey's second-place finisher Real Madrid, whose players earn an average of $7.8 million per season.

The lowest teams in La Liga average around 500k (lowest was 380k) per player which is about what the best quarterback in the CFL makes (450-500k).

Salaries in the CFL average from about 96k to 115k. Surprisingly (to me) The AFL teams mostly average twice the salary of CFL teams and about twice the payroll as well.

I agree, the sooner Toronto gets an NFL team the better. It sometimes feels like we're stuck propping up a 2nd rate football league for the sake of subsidizing small towns that can't support major league football (many of the people in these same towns also love to put down Toronto and compete/complain/whine if we get anything of value).

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

I agree, the sooner Toronto gets an NFL team the better. It sometimes feels like we're stuck supporting a 2nd rate football league for the sake of subsidizing small towns that can't support major league football (many of the people in these same towns also love to put down Toronto and compete/complain/whine if we get anything of value).

Right, because then Toronto will have all the amenities to truly be a world-class (i.e. American) city.

Also, it's actually all the other teams that are subsidizing the Southern Ontario teams for the last while.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

I agree, the sooner Toronto gets an NFL team the better. It sometimes feels like we're stuck supporting a 2nd rate football league for the sake of subsidizing small towns that can't support major league football (many of the people in these same towns also love to put down Toronto and compete/complain/whine if we get anything of value).

Yeah, then they can join the Leafs, Raptors, & Bluejays at sucking on an annual basis, lol. NFL in Toronto is never gonna happen, sorry. And it's funny that you say you subsidize us when the opposite is the truth.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Right, because then Toronto will have all the amenities to truly be a world-class (i.e. American) city. .

Amen! Right up there with Green Bay and Oklahoma City

I don't know where buddy got an NFL reference from quoting my post. I just didn't think it was a good comparison comparing the CFL and La Liga. And innocently enough, I thought the CFL and AFL would be a better comparison but was surprised to find out the economics of the AFL (salaries and payroll higher than I expected)

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Right, because then Toronto will have all the amenities to truly be a world-class (i.e. American) city.

Also, it's actually all the other teams that are subsidizing the Southern Ontario teams for the last while.

So why do all the CFL fan boys in these forums state that should Toronto exit the CFL, or should it bring in a parallel NFL franchise, the league will die? I don't hear them say this about any other city.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

So why do all the CFL fan boys in these forums state that should Toronto exit the CFL, or should it bring in a parallel NFL franchise, the league will die? I don't hear them say this about any other city.

Okay smart guy, who in Canada has the coin (and willing to part with it) to buy a NFL franchise, (you are aware that NFL rules prohibit corporations owning teams) and build the 70,000 (min) seat stadium? I mention the second part because I doubt the good citizens city of Toronto or the Province of Ontario will allow their tax dollars to go towards a new Stadium when they already built the Skydome and basically gave it to Rogers for free.