Stadiums and Arenas of Canada

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by esquire

We know that hardly anyone outside of Canada knows or cares about the CFL, for example, but we haven't collectively realized that the same is more or less true regarding the NHL, with the exception of a handful of US cities including Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis.

This is kind of a weird statement. You are saying that the NHL is not relevant in the US, but you just said (and I think you can make an argument for it) that it IS relevant for cities that make up: 4.591+4.292+1.134+5.965+18.897+2.36+3.422 = 50.122 million Americans. That does not include the smaller fan bases in the cities where hockey is not all that relevant (South of the Mason-Dixon line). I think we can all agree that hockey is an iconic Canadian institution, but there is a strong professional hockey fan base in many large US markets, some great support for American League teams in smaller cities, and a growing following for college hockey. CFL is a different story. It is a uniquely Canadian game and has great support here (in most cities). I think we can be just as proud of Canadian Football as we are of our 7 NHL franchises.

Personally, I would like to see the NHL dissolve and there to be a 12 team Canadian Hockey League - Van, Edm, Cal, Sask, Win, Lon, Ham, Tor, Ott, Mtl, Que, Halifax. The Americans can have their own league and there should be a proper world championship where the top clubs from Canada, US, Europe, and Russia play for hockey supremacy.

Now, just to stay on topic, does anyone have any insights into how we can have our stadium completed here in Ottawa for the 2014 CFL (and NASL) season? Did they install seats in the Winter in Winterpeg? What about the field surface, does it need a particular season for installation?

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Lower tier structure going in

[craner]

Originally Posted by Barnard's Star

Guys, I just started a new thread: Sports in Canadian culture. You'll find it in the Canada section.

I was thinking it's a little unfair to repeatedly hijack this thread for discussions that don't relate to stadiums and arenas.

Thank-you.
I come here to check out Canadian stadiums and arenas and appreciate all the updates from Hamilton, Ottawa, Edmonton, QC, and soon Regina.
I also like to check on any Calgary stadium/arena rumours/info.

[saffronleaf]

Originally Posted by isaidso

So now you're starting to understand the psyche of Torontonians. Btw, the NHL has little presence in about half the US, but it's the other half Torontonians care about: New York, Chicago, Boston, Philly, Detroit, Washington, Minneapolis. They give the league relevancy in the eyes of people here. Toronto cares about status and brand coolness over anything else.

Now you're suggesting people from Toronto are idiots. As someone who grew up there, I disagree.

Hockey is the furthest thing from 'status' and 'brand coolness' in the US and around the world. It is solely an insular, domestic symbol. In the US, I'd say it has a negative value, even in the Northern US. And people in Toronto are not blind to that fact; indeed, the Toronto / Canadian media is usually angry about how little hockey matters internationally.

[saffronleaf]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I think you are greatly underestimating the popularity of hockey in certain parts of the US.

Hockey is small potatoes in Minnesota? Are you serious?

In greater Detroit, the Red Wings are arguably the most popular pro sports team in the metro area.

And in many other US NHL cities (though far from all of them - we know the story), the local NHL clubs - though not the biggest ticket in town - are certainly every bit as popular as the Blue Jays are in Toronto. Which means they are hardly irrrelevant. I am thinking here of Buffalo, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, etc.

You've really gotta live here first.

The only two markets I'd give you out of the ones you listed are Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The remaining markets are simply big enough population wise such that even a small percentage of the population caring will be sufficient to sustain a professional sports team.

New York? You really have to live there for a little while to realize how little hockey matters. They never talk about the Rangers, Islanders or Devils on the sports radio channels. The old joke in NYC is that there are 18,000 hockey fans in Manhattan -- i.e., the ones that are in MSG.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Could you please take it to the other thread?

[saffronleaf]

Originally Posted by The_Architect

Sorry but that's not true at all...

If you think of the hockey teams in Toronto/GTA other than the Leafs, the Marlies have had some of the highest attendance in the AHL the past few years, regularly filling the Ricoh, it has the largest minor hockey association in the world, and has 2 Junior A teams (formerly 3), including Mississauga and Oshawa. Brampton relocated because putting a hockey team in Brampton, in an arena 7km from another team was utterly stupid. Looking a bit further out you also have another AHL team in Hamilton (which still has nothing to do with Toronto), and a number of Junior B teams.

Compare that to the hockey hotbed of Montreal, which has an NHL team, but no AHL team and a grand total of 1 poorly-operating Junior A team, along with a huge list of failed hockey experiments.

The narrative that Toronto isn't a hockey city is overblown at best, and complete 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 at worst.

Not to mention that the Greater Toronto Hockey League is the world's largest and best development league. Also not to mention that Toronto as a city produces the most hockey players of any city in the world. And Southern Ontario produces the greatest amount of hockey players compared to any other province or state in the world.

Yeah, hockey is no big deal in Toronto. No one plays. It just happens to have the best development league in the world incidentally.

[saffronleaf]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Could you please take it to the other thread?

Will do.

[esquire]

.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

Tdoes anyone have any insights into how we can have our stadium completed here in Ottawa for the 2014 CFL (and NASL) season? Did they install seats in the Winter in Winterpeg?

In the north stands, repairs to the concrete are continuing in preparation for the new seat installation later this month.

[isaidso]

It does look like they'll have to speed things up to be ready for June 2014. Hamilton's looks far from ready as well.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by isaidso

It does look like they'll have to speed things up to be ready for June 2014. Hamilton's looks far from ready as well.

No. 2014 is back in BC, then 2015 and 2016 will probably be Winnipeg and Ottawa. Gives them time to work out stadium kinks before the big show.

Edit: I have no idea what happened there... I thought you asked about the GC in Ottawa in 2014, but it's not there now... Did you edit? Or am I going crazy?

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Nathan

No. 2014 is back in BC, then 2015 and 2016 will probably be Winnipeg and Ottawa. Gives them time to work our stadium kinks before the big show.

Ok, thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing IGF at 40,000.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by isaidso

It does look like they'll have to speed things up to be ready for June 2014. Hamilton's looks far from ready as well.

There certainly is a lot to do in Hamilton. But the upper structures on each side were begun about 2 months ago, and the lower ones will have considerably less steel in them so they will come together faster. Enclosing each grandstand will be the next big job. With about 2 months to go before a real risk of winter weather hitting, and another few weeks beyond that before winter is really here, that's probably do-able.

While Ottawa's design for the south stands is based on a concrete structure, I wonder if more of the remaining elements will be steel beams and pre-fabricated slabs? If so, things should come together quickly there too.

[Ramako]

Real grass is coming to SkyDome in 2018. The Argos have 4 years to find a new home:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/argos/2013...d_after_toronto_argos_leave_by_2017.html

[isaidso]

I hate Skydome for football, but tax payers money went to build a home for the Argonauts. How is maintaining Skydome as a home to the Argonauts not part of the obligation Rogers took on when buying the stadium?

If they want them out that's fine, but shouldn't they have to fund a new stadium for the Argonauts if they're intent on turfing them?

[The_Architect]

It's too bad the ship set sail on rebuilding Varsity. I know it isn't downtown but maybe they can expand York's field to hold them?

[Coldrsx]

So apparently the new Oilers rink will not be 18,000 seats, but 19,200.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by The_Architect

It's too bad the ship set sail on rebuilding Varsity. I know it isn't downtown but maybe they can expand York's field to hold them?

Where the Athletics track for Pan Am will be? It's an incredibly tight site as is - and that's with only 12,500 seats (+/-9,000 of those are temporary)




There may be space elsewhere on the campus that could facilitate a stadium however

[elly63]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

There may be space elsewhere on the campus that could facilitate a stadium however

The track stadium is expected to seat approximately 12,500 spectators (3,000 permanent and 2,000 temporary. During the games an additional 7,500 temporary seats will be added).

So here is the scenario, we have a 3000 seat track stadium which in the whole scheme of things is not much.

How possible is it for our well connected (politically) benefactor to build a large multipurpose stadium at York (in addition to the track stadium)? York was very receptive to the Argos the last time and the government will shell out cash for two things (1) multi-event games ie Hamilton and (2) university facilities ie Winnipeg. We have the latter situation here.

Can anyone see Braley getting involved with this or do you more see a multi-level deal involving other properties along with a stadium someplace else.

Get out your crystal balls, what do you think will happen?