Stadiums and Arenas of Canada

[savevp]

It really is a great website and they also have a magazine out now. There was most recently an article about the Maple Leafs at the ACC that was quite a good read. Some interesting links to Canadian stadia on there, I've just selected a few of them from Ontario but there are many nationwide:


Recent news article on Investors Group Field
Toronto Blue Jays

Argos
Barrie Colts
Queen's Golden Gaels football - really interesting read
North Bay Battalion

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by elly63

Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton 1978

Interesting. I had the false notion that only one of the second tiers was initially built. Based on the picture, both tiers were built and then they expanded it by adding more corner seats and end-zone seats.

[king10]

an interesting article documenting the ongoing issues at Investors Group Field http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/12-07...tinues-to-be-plagued-by-serious-problems

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by king10

an interesting article documenting the ongoing issues at Investors Group Field http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/12-07...tinues-to-be-plagued-by-serious-problems

It seems to be overly negative. Some of the issues that are referred to as serious seem relatively minor - such as needing an extra $350,000 for improvements to the press box to host a Grey Cup. The writer mentions the construction delay that delayed the opening for one season but that is in the past. No inflatable bubble over the field during the winter doesn't seem to be a serious issue since such an inflatable bubble can be located anywhere in the city.

If the stadium is located at a poor location then that is difficult to overcome (I think a central location is important for any major sports facility). The virtual seating website seems to indicate that the seats with the obstructed views are the cheaper corner seats, however, the seats are also close to the field making the stadium more intimate.

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Interesting. I had the false notion that only one of the second tiers was initially built. Based on the picture, both tiers were built and then they expanded it by adding more corner seats and end-zone seats.

A couple of us buddies were Ushers at Commonwealth Stadium back in da day..we were charged with security of the grass in the corners of Commonwealth...No man woman or child was allowed on it!! If they stepped across the line....Justice was swift lol.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by king10

an interesting article documenting the ongoing issues at Investors Group Field http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/12-07...tinues-to-be-plagued-by-serious-problems

I didn't post it before because it was mainly old news and much ado about nothing. Nit picking really, on behalf of the author.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by elly63

Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton 1978

Thanks! If only I had Googled "Commonwealth Stadium" with a year

So they extended each end of the upper decks and wrapped the lower tier right around.

Surprisingly, I didn't realize there are residential areas just across the street until I saw this. You never see that on television.

[Coldrsx]

Arena rezoning amendments passed at Council tonight, DP ^in circulation, ideal start is late Q1/14 ideally.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Thanks! If only I had Googled "Commonwealth Stadium" with a year

So they extended each end of the upper decks and wrapped the lower tier right around.

Surprisingly, I didn't realize there are residential areas just across the street until I saw this. You never see that on television.

It's still a bit surprising to me that Edmonton expanded Commonwealth a few years after it was built. 42,000 was the perfect size for them over the long term. Bumping up to 60,000 eliminated any hope of creating scarcity, even though they did attract capacity crowds for the first year or two after the stadium was expanded.

It's also amazing that Commonwealth was built in such an urban location at a time when the conventional wisdom was to build a stadium in the middle of nowhere by a freeway. Even though the location works, I'm not sure you could even get away with building something like that today... the neighbours would raise holy hell.

Commonwealth was always one of my favourite stadiums... when it fills up, it has a big-time feel that the other CFL parks really can't match. I love the fact that most fans arrive by transit (LRT and bus)... it puts the lie to the notion that you need massive parking lots around the stadium.

Interestingly, you can see Commonwealth's predecessor, Clarke Park, in that picture. I vaguely remember it from when I was a kid... it was basically like the old Winnipeg Stadium before the upper decks were added. Edmonton did the smart thing in choosing to replace it and build something entirely new... Winnipeg decided to expand its old stadium rather than building new, which meant the Bombers were saddled with a stadium that was pretty much obsolete by the early 90s.

[esquire]

Investors Group Field is going to host the Heritage Classic, most likely in Februray of 2016, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. (Story here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/winnipeg-lands--heritage-classic-235188251.html )

The story indicates that the Bombers are likely going to host the Grey Cup in November 2015, so the plan will be to add temporary end zone seating to boost stadium capacity from 33,500 to 41,000 in time for the Banjo Bowl in September, and keep it up until the Heritage Classic.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by elly63

I didn't post it before because it was mainly old news and much ado about nothing. Nit picking really, on behalf of the author.

The author clearly set out to find every shred of bad news he could find about the place. Obviously it wasn't a 100% smooth ride, but the finished product is very good and the article loses sight of that.

Of all the bumps that IGF encountered, the only long-term problem IMO will be the relative difficulty in accessing the facility. The location itself is a good one and not the problem... it's the lack of adequate entrances and exits to the U of M campus. This could be easily alleviated by completing the rapid transit line to the stadium, adding a couple of lanes to the major east-west route, and perhaps adding a new access road through the vacant land north of the stadium. Even then stadium access was far less of an issue as the season went on and people figured out how to get there quickly.

Other things like the press box or soccer bubble are insignificant, IMO. The soccer bubble money was just moved to another part of town that's underserved by indoor soccer facilities, and the press box was just a budget cut that could be (and will be) easily completed.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

It's still a bit surprising to me that Edmonton expanded Commonwealth a few years after it was built.

Interestingly, you can see Commonwealth's predecessor, Clarke Park, in that picture. I vaguely remember it from when I was a kid... it was basically like the old Winnipeg Stadium before the upper decks were added. Edmonton did the smart thing in choosing to replace it and build something entirely new... Winnipeg decided to expand its old stadium rather than building new, which meant the Bombers were saddled with a stadium that was pretty much obsolete by the early 90s.

Remember they expanded for Universiade, so they must have thought they needed a big time stadium for that, although I would think the CG would have paralleled Universiade.

I would assume they were awarded the bid at least four years in advance so that would be about 1979 (likely earlier) and maybe seeing the crowds the Als were getting in the Big O also helped encourage Edmonton to go big.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of images of old Clarke Stadium floating around and from what I understand aside from the land Clarke Park has been rebuilt from the ground up so it really isn't Clarke Stadium. Kinda like THF.


Clarke Stadium

[elly63]

Tim Hortons Field Hamilton December 10/2013

[craner]

Originally Posted by esquire

It's still a bit surprising to me that Edmonton expanded Commonwealth a few years after it was built. 42,000 was the perfect size for them over the long term. Bumping up to 60,000 eliminated any hope of creating scarcity, even though they did attract capacity crowds for the first year or two after the stadium was expanded.

I agree, that first iteration of Commonwealth was the perfect size.
With the wider seat replacement would have brought capacity in about 38,000.
Always thought it was a very cool looking stadium. Just need to lose the track.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by esquire

It's still a bit surprising to me that Edmonton expanded Commonwealth a few years after it was built. 42,000 was the perfect size for them over the long term. Bumping up to 60,000 eliminated any hope of creating scarcity, even though they did attract capacity crowds for the first year or two after the stadium was expanded.

It's also amazing that Commonwealth was built in such an urban location at a time when the conventional wisdom was to build a stadium in the middle of nowhere by a freeway. Even though the location works, I'm not sure you could even get away with building something like that today... the neighbours would raise holy hell.

Commonwealth was always one of my favourite stadiums... when it fills up, it has a big-time feel that the other CFL parks really can't match. I love the fact that most fans arrive by transit (LRT and bus)... it puts the lie to the notion that you need massive parking lots around the stadium.

Interestingly, you can see Commonwealth's predecessor, Clarke Park, in that picture. I vaguely remember it from when I was a kid... it was basically like the old Winnipeg Stadium before the upper decks were added. Edmonton did the smart thing in choosing to replace it and build something entirely new... Winnipeg decided to expand its old stadium rather than building new, which meant the Bombers were saddled with a stadium that was pretty much obsolete by the early 90s.

Keep in mind the Bombers expanded their stadium and added the upper decks in the late 60s, only 15 yrs. after the original stadium was built. It would have been kinda silly to replace the stadium after so few years of usage. This isn't Atlanta you know.

IMO, they probably should have built a new stadium as part of the PAN AM games back in 1999. Would have added to the 188 million dollar budget for the games back then but I'm sure they could have constructed a similar stadium to IGF for half the price - around $100 million.

Here's an interesting video on the Bombers or should I say Winnipeg Winnipegs' previous home, Osbourne Stadium. Ten yard endzones! What is this? The NFL?!

http://vimeo.com/43772530

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by esquire

It's also amazing that Commonwealth was built in such an urban location at a time when the conventional wisdom was to build a stadium in the middle of nowhere by a freeway. Even though the location works, I'm not sure you could even get away with building something like that today... the neighbours would raise holy hell.

Commonwealth was always one of my favourite stadiums... when it fills up, it has a big-time feel that the other CFL parks really can't match. I love the fact that most fans arrive by transit (LRT and bus)... it puts the lie to the notion that you need massive parking lots around the stadium.

Same holds true in Hamilton. The only reason the "inner city" location makes sense is because it's had a stadium located there in one form or another since 1930, and the neighbours are used to it. But (and I originally felt the suburban highway site would be best) I think there are advantages, transit being a big one. And the future of that neighbourhood may be brighter than some think... we'll see.

Commonwealth is probably one of the top stadiums I'd like to visit. I'm a big CFL fan so I'd love to see a game anywhere, but I've yet to attend any games west of Ontario. I'd love to attend one in Regina too before their new digs are dug.

[thurmas]

Your a little incorrect in your timeline there blueandgoldguy. The west side upper deck for Winnipeg Stadium was built in time for the 1972 season and the east side upper deck was built for the 1978 season.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Your a little incorrect in your timeline there blueandgoldguy. The west side upper deck for Winnipeg Stadium was built in time for the 1972 season and the east side upper deck was built for the 1978 season.

The old stadium was simply expanded at a time when much of the league was either building new facilities (Montreal, Edmonton, BC) or dramatically overhauling existing ones (Toronto, Calgary, Hamilton)... it was the Winnipeg way in some respects. The place really started to deteriorate in a noticeable way by the mid 90s in part due to poor maintenance, and was ready for replacement by the end of that decade.

The 1999 Pan Am Games would have been an appropriate time to build a replacement although it was arguably worth the extra wait... I'm sure that a 1990s stadium would have been much more basic and barebones than what was actually built.

[esquire]

Here's a look at a pro stadium that is not widely known outside of Manitoba.

Shaw Park is home to the independent AA-class Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association. The stadium was built in 1999 and expanded twice thereafter for a total seating capacity of 7,481.

The Goldeyes are no longer the guaranteed sellout that they once were, but they still attract big crowds to most of their games and generally finish at or near the top of the independent baseball attendance lists.

Shaw Park was the first new pro sports facility in Winnipeg since the Winnipeg Arena opened in 1955, and one could argue that it paved the way for the MTS Centre and Investors Group Field. This park has been well cared for and looks newer than it is. It has been used occasionally for other events like concerts, but baseball is definitely the main attraction.


Source: AerialWinnipeg.com


Source: Winnipeg Free Press


Source: 49st.com

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Same holds true in Hamilton. The only reason the "inner city" location makes sense is because it's had a stadium located there in one form or another since 1930, and the neighbours are used to it. But (and I originally felt the suburban highway site would be best) I think there are advantages, transit being a big one. And the future of that neighbourhood may be brighter than some think... we'll see.

Commonwealth is probably one of the top stadiums I'd like to visit. I'm a big CFL fan so I'd love to see a game anywhere, but I've yet to attend any games west of Ontario. I'd love to attend one in Regina too before their new digs are dug.

The difference is Commonwealth was built at the same time as the first phase of the LRT system. The city was incredibly bold in those days and thought big. What better way to showcase one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world than to arrive by the transportation of the fture.