Stadiums and Arenas of Canada

[elly63]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Lower tier structure going in

(Hamilton) They've got about half of those supports already in (in one day). Not sure if there is some night work being done but there are lights installed.

THF as of 5pm Friday Sept 20th
Tks to drummer_god at ticats.ca

[elly63]

Braley Would Like To Sell Lions, Argos In Next Three Years
TSN.ca Staff 9/20/2013

Current BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts owner David Braley told TSN's Dave Naylor he would like to sell at least one and maybe both of his teams in the next three years.

According to a report in the Hamilton Spectator, the 72-year-old Ontario Senator told supporters at a Progressive Conservative fundraiser in Hamilton that he will sell his two CFL franchises by the time he is 75.

Braley said he has seven people interested in buying the Lions and three people interested in the Argonauts. Selling the financially stable Lions will be easy but it could be a different story with the Argos, with the team still losing money.

Braley anticipates the Argos will eventually make money once a new stadium is secured for the franchise. He said three communities are looking at land for the new stadium and a location, as well as the finances to secure the new stadium, should be completed within a year.

Both the provincial and federal governments are expected to help finance a new stadium.

The Argos announced a new deal to keep the team playing at the Rogers Centre until 2017 with an early opt-out clause for the team should they want it. Both parties also agreed that no licence renewal past that date is contemplated.

[thurmas]

BMO makes too much sense it keeps the Argos downtown at the CNE where they were most popular in the 70's and early 80's with the new TSN CFL TV deal the Argos should now be a break even operation even at Rogers Centre and if at BMO would be profitable. The Argos just need to move the endzone seating further back and can add a upper deck of seating to increase capacity to around 30,000 perfect capacity for FC and the Argos. The whole thing can be done for probably $30 to 40 million as opposed to $200 million for a new stadium.

[mr.John]

Originally Posted by thurmas

BMO makes too much sense it keeps the Argos downtown at the CNE where they were most popular in the 70's and early 80's with the new TSN CFL TV deal the Argos should now be a break even operation even at Rogers Centre and if at BMO would be profitable. The Argos just need to move the endzone seating further back and can add a upper deck of seating to increase capacity to around 30,000 perfect capacity for FC and the Argos. The whole thing can be done for probably $30 to 40 million as opposed to $200 million for a new stadium.

$200 million for a 30,000 seat stadium? try doubling that price, for 400 million you get a stadium that will be used 9-10 times a year,it ain't going to happen,it's BMO or nothing

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by elly63

Braley Would Like To Sell Lions, Argos In Next Three Years
TSN.ca Staff 9/20/2013

Current BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts owner David Braley told TSN's Dave Naylor he would like to sell at least one and maybe both of his teams in the next three years.

According to a report in the Hamilton Spectator, the 72-year-old Ontario Senator told supporters at a Progressive Conservative fundraiser in Hamilton that he will sell his two CFL franchises by the time he is 75.

Braley said he has seven people interested in buying the Lions and three people interested in the Argonauts. Selling the financially stable Lions will be easy but it could be a different story with the Argos, with the team still losing money.

Braley anticipates the Argos will eventually make money once a new stadium is secured for the franchise. He said three communities are looking at land for the new stadium and a location, as well as the finances to secure the new stadium, should be completed within a year.

Both the provincial and federal governments are expected to help finance a new stadium.
The Argos announced a new deal to keep the team playing at the Rogers Centre until 2017 with an early opt-out clause for the team should they want it. Both parties also agreed that no licence renewal past that date is contemplated.

Why would the feds help pay for a new stadium in Toronto? Every other city will have their hands out if that happens.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by mr.John

$200 million for a 30,000 seat stadium? try doubling that price, for 400 million you get a stadium that will be used 9-10 times a year,it ain't going to happen,it's BMO or nothing

Winnipeg paid $200 mill for 33.5k expandable to 40k.

[FutureSmith]

Originally Posted by mr.John

$200 million for a 30,000 seat stadium? try doubling that price, for 400 million you get a stadium that will be used 9-10 times a year,it ain't going to happen,it's BMO or nothing

Have to disagree with mr.John. Investor's Group Field cost around $200 million for a capacity of 33,422. $200m sounds about right to me.

I think BMO field would be a great location for the Argos, but what I don't think many people have considered is that after the natural grass is installed in 2017/2018, the Rogers Centre may not be able to change configuration. If Rogers cannot play host to the Grey Cup anymore, then any venue that the Argos move to MUST be expandable to 40,000.

I can see BMO converted to a 25,000-seater, but a Grey Cup configuration would be a far bigger headache. The Argos might be better off starting from scratch.

[Berklon]

Taxpayers paying for a stadium to be used by a team that few care about is a nice waste of money.

Let them tear up BMO field or add some stands to Varsity. Good enough.

So the Argos can't host the Grey Cup any more. Big deal. Just alternate between the other cities.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Braley's an industrialist and a senator: he's a throw-back to a very different time. Unlike his 19th century predecessors - and so many of his contemporaries - he's squeaky clean and remarkably generous. With his contacts on The Hill and Bay St, all he's got to do is ask and the money will flow. Can't wait to finally get this done.

[thurmas]

From what I have read and seen Tim Leiwicke the president of MLSE which owns Toronto FC wants some pretty massive improvements to BMO. He said if BMO does expand to include the Argos with that renovation there has to be a roof of some sort because so many FC games have been played in the rain. With the resources MLSE has I won't be surprised if Brayley sells the Argos to MLSE and they move to BMO. MLSE gives the Argos far more marketing power, more resources and more creditability in the Toronto market as a major player in the Toronto sports scene to more casual sports fans in the GTA. Also with the resources MLSE has I am sure they can do a pretty massive reno and reconfiguration of BMO field to maybe be large enough to expand to 40,000+ for Grey Cups and get a roof or partial stadium covering like IGF field in Winnipeg.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Berklon

Taxpayers paying for a stadium to be used by a team that few care about is a nice waste of money.

Let them tear up BMO field or add some stands to Varsity. Good enough.

So the Argos can't host the Grey Cup any more. Big deal. Just alternate between the other cities.

Sorry Vidkun but you're contradicting yourself in your trolling. To tear up BMO would be to have MLSE own the Argos. MLSE won't own the Argos unless they can make a substantial profit. To make a profit you have to have people interested.

And the Argos can still have Grey Cups at the RC (sorry that's gotta hurt). Well, my American friend just like your beloved Bills can still play games after the baseball season, so can the Argos.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by Berklon

Taxpayers paying for a stadium to be used by a team that few care about is a nice waste of money.

Let them tear up BMO field or add some stands to Varsity. Good enough.

So the Argos can't host the Grey Cup any more. Big deal. Just alternate between the other cities.

Actually they can continue to do so. Baseball season ends in October so the grass would be removed so the stadium stands can be converted into football configuration for Grey Cup games, Bills games and concerts.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by elly63

Braley Would Like To Sell Lions, Argos In Next Three Years
TSN.ca Staff 9/20/2013

Current BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts owner David Braley told TSN's Dave Naylor he would like to sell at least one and maybe both of his teams in the next three years.

According to a report in the Hamilton Spectator, the 72-year-old Ontario Senator told supporters at a Progressive Conservative fundraiser in Hamilton that he will sell his two CFL franchises by the time he is 75.

Braley said he has seven people interested in buying the Lions and three people interested in the Argonauts. Selling the financially stable Lions will be easy but it could be a different story with the Argos, with the team still losing money.

Braley anticipates the Argos will eventually make money once a new stadium is secured for the franchise. He said three communities are looking at land for the new stadium and a location, as well as the finances to secure the new stadium, should be completed within a year.

Both the provincial and federal governments are expected to help finance a new stadium.

The Argos announced a new deal to keep the team playing at the Rogers Centre until 2017 with an early opt-out clause for the team should they want it. Both parties also agreed that no licence renewal past that date is contemplated.

I like the part about "three communities looking at land for the new stadium". That means he's looking to get out of downtown. The CFL television ratings in Toronto are just as high as they are everywhere else, but the attendance is down, and what that suggests to me is that the stadium is in the wrong place.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mr.John

$200 million for a 30,000 seat stadium? try doubling that price, for 400 million you get a stadium that will be used 9-10 times a year,it ain't going to happen,it's BMO or nothing

Mein Gott, if I see this same stupid post again...I don't know what I'll do. How many pro stadiums in Canada are used 9 or 10 times a year? Is BMO used for only 17 MLS soccer games a year? Or does the public rent the field, or Rugby Canada or the Canadian Men's and Women's Soccer NTs play there? Oddly enough, somehow BMO makes money.

Yeah David Braley, who's a zillionaire because he's a moron, will build a 200 million dollar stadium for 10 events a year. Lord give me strength.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^It could also suggest Skydome is wrong for CFL football. I don't want the Argos to become a Scarborough or Mississauga-based team - I can't help but think they'd slip further into obscurity. I think they're better off downtown and in a highly visible location.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

^It could also suggest Skydome is wrong for CFL football. I don't want the Argos to become a Scarborough or Mississauga-based team - I can't help but think they'd slip further into obscurity. I think they're better off downtown and in a highly visible location.

If I’m Braley I’m looking at building in the burbs, where the fans are. I’m also looking to make a deal with one of these surrounding communities that will allow for tailgating. Maybe you do something different with the stadium as well, like have the washrooms accessible from outside during the pregame tailgating. I’d like it to be near the end of a subway line somewhere, but I’m not sure that’s essential. If you look at downtown Toronto everything other than the Leafs seems to struggle down there.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Actually they can continue to do so. Baseball season ends in October so the grass would be removed so the stadium stands can be converted into football configuration for Grey Cup games, Bills games and concerts.

The object in question, showing the football lines.
Photo courtesy globalnews.ca

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Allan83

If I’m Braley I’m looking at building in the burbs, where the fans are. I’m also looking to make a deal with one of these surrounding communities that will allow for tailgating. I’d like it to be near the end of a subway line somewhere, but I’m not sure that’s essential. If you look at downtown Toronto everything other than the Leafs seems to struggle down there.

Amen. To me a York deal would be good (a la Winnipeg) but I think his plan is for more than a stadium, gotta have other revenue flows.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by elly63

Amen. To me a York deal would be good (a la Winnipeg) but I think his plan is for more than a stadium, gotta have other revenue flows.

I agree. I think Toronto has a shortage of this kind of sports and entertainment facility as well. 6 million people and only one major stadium? If they do it right I think they could do a lot with it.

[Innsertnamehere]

Markham arena is going to be sucking up most of that market, especially considering that the NHL prospects are looking weak, now that Phoenix has been secured for a couple of years and Quebec city and Seattle being clear favourites for new teams.