Stadiums and Arenas of Canada

[esquire]

The Pontiac Silverdome continues its achingly slow march into becoming a pile of rubble as the owners put stadium fixtures up for sale, including seats at $100 a pop:

http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/4421777-silverdome-seats-signs-and-more-up-for-auction/

The stadium is in rough shape these days with the roof being in tatters (it has become even worse since this photo was taken):



Source: Fieldofschemes.com

It blows me away that this massive stadium was used for a grand total of 27 NFL seasons.

Totally daydreaming here, but if the CFL was a little more on the ball I wonder if it wouldn't have been wise to scoop up the Silverdome (the current owner bought it a couple years ago for $583,000) and put a Windsor CFL expansion franchise in there?

I know it would have been a hassle to get Windsorites to cross the border, but considering it would have effectively had a free stadium to play in (apart from whatever renos were needed to expand the field to CFL dimensions), I'm sure the low overhead would have allowed for profitability even with slightly smaller crowds than the league average.

[king10]

Originally Posted by esquire

The Pontiac Silverdome continues its achingly slow march into becoming a pile of rubble as the owners put stadium fixtures up for sale, including seats at $100 a pop:

http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/4421777-silverdome-seats-signs-and-more-up-for-auction/

The stadium is in rough shape these days with the roof being in tatters (it has become even worse since this photo was taken):



Source: Fieldofschemes.com

It blows me away that this massive stadium was used for a grand total of 27 NFL seasons.

Totally daydreaming here, but if the CFL was a little more on the ball I wonder if it wouldn't have been wise to scoop up the Silverdome (the current owner bought it a couple years ago for $583,000) and put a Windsor CFL expansion franchise in there?

I know it would have been a hassle to get Windsorites to cross the border, but considering it would have effectively had a free stadium to play in (apart from whatever renos were needed to expand the field to CFL dimensions), I'm sure the low overhead would have allowed for profitability even with slightly smaller crowds than the league average.

are you kidding me? the stadium is in pontiac. over an hour drive from the border. it is an 80 000 seat stadium with a playing field far too narrow for a cfl field. Renovations would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. not to mention absolutely nobody would show up. not to mention air supported domes are a thing of the past because of the utility costs to pump air into the building to keep it pressurized.

the windsor lancers cis football team has the worst attendance in the OUA. they dont care for canadian football

were you not around for the failed american expansion of the 1990's? Do you not know that the city of Detroit is billions of dollar in debt with over 50% of homes foreclosed and the highest unemployment rate in the country.

how could a city of windsor with maybe 350 000 ppl travel 90 mins into a different country to support a cfl team when they can see ford field from their own waterfront.

also low overhead? the constant use of electricity to pressurize the dome and having a stadium sit empty for over 330 days a year scream anything but low overhead. the Canadian dollar is trading at 89c US. would players be paid in Canadian dollars? if so the'd be playing catch up to the American dollar from the get go.

I mean im sure you meant the best with that proposal, but jesus some common sense is needed here

[esquire]

Originally Posted by king10

I mean im sure you meant the best with that proposal, but jesus some common sense is needed here

So I take it you will not be signing up for season tickets?

But seriously though, I recall that a number of years ago some investors were kicking the tires on exactly that concept. I'm sure the inability of the Silverdome to actually host a proper CFL sized field without major renovations must have killed the idea before it really gained any momentum.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by king10

the windsor lancers cis football team has the worst attendance in the OUA. they dont care for canadian football

What's more accurate is that no Windsor teams receive any significant support with the possible exception of their hockey team (Spitfires). They have no city sports scene to speak of. They just latch on to Detroit's sports scene. They're never going to support something that's their own.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by isaidso

What's more accurate is that no Windsor teams receive any significant support with the possible exception of their hockey team (Spitfires). They have no city sports scene to speak of. They just latch on to Detroit's sports scene. They're never going to support something that's their own.

Considering the closest pro teams in any league are American why should they support Canadian pro teams? 15 minutes to cross the border to see hockey, baseball or football, and maybe 45 minutes to see basketball verses hours long drives to watch the Canadian equivalent, it's a no brainer. Detroit teams it is...

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by isaidso

What's more accurate is that no Windsor teams receive any significant support with the possible exception of their hockey team (Spitfires). They have no city sports scene to speak of. They just latch on to Detroit's sports scene. They're never going to support something that's their own.

That's true about a lot of Canadian cities though. Saskatoon has a long history of failed sports franchises with the city primarily supporting the Riders and out-of-province hockey teams, for example.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by esquire

The Pontiac Silverdome continues its achingly slow march into becoming a pile of rubble as the owners put stadium fixtures up for sale, including seats at $100 a pop:

http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/4421777-silverdome-seats-signs-and-more-up-for-auction/

The stadium is in rough shape these days with the roof being in tatters (it has become even worse since this photo was taken):



Source: Fieldofschemes.com

It blows me away that this massive stadium was used for a grand total of 27 NFL seasons.

Totally daydreaming here, but if the CFL was a little more on the ball I wonder if it wouldn't have been wise to scoop up the Silverdome (the current owner bought it a couple years ago for $583,000) and put a Windsor CFL expansion franchise in there?

I know it would have been a hassle to get Windsorites to cross the border, but considering it would have effectively had a free stadium to play in (apart from whatever renos were needed to expand the field to CFL dimensions), I'm sure the low overhead would have allowed for profitability even with slightly smaller crowds than the league average.

That would have been an interesting idea. I don’t think you’d need to rely on all that many people from Windsor either. I’ve heard there is a small but loyal CFL following in the Detroit area. Kevin Glenn is from that area, and a number of other past and present CFLers are well. I believe Glenn owns a Tim Horton’s there, so there’s another Canadian tie-in. I think the question would be the labour laws. If you practiced all week in Canada, and played only 10 games in the US, could you keep the import ratio? I don’t think it would work without being able to keep the ratio. It would need some work of course. 80,000 is way too many seats, and you’d have to make the field fit. You’d be able to knock out a lot of seats to make that work, however.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

A few years ago there was an (admittedly quite high level and ridiculously expensive) proposal by supporters of a soccer team in Detroit to repurpose the stadium into a multi-purpose venue (with the intention of getting an MLS franchise) with a 30,000 soccer stadium on top of a 20,000 seat hockey arena and 20,000 seat concert venue

[J.OT13]

Wasn't this Detroit's new arena?



In all seriousness, the multi-use sports venue is a good idea (partly done in Ottawa back in 1967) as long as the City can actually afford it. Detroit is in no position to build anything.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

In all seriousness, the multi-use sports venue is a good idea (partly done in Ottawa back in 1967) as long as the City can actually afford it. Detroit is in no position to build anything.

Yet they're building a new arena.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Berklon

Yet they're building a new arena.

Just because you do something doesn't make it a good idea. If a city is bankrupt, it should not be building a new NHL arena.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Just because you do something doesn't make it a good idea. If a city is bankrupt, it should not be building a new NHL arena.

Agreed. Detroit is a pretty lucrative hockey market... it's not as if the Red Wings would leave town without a free new arena. I don't get why municipalities let themselves get pushed around by pro sports teams like that.

[elly63]

Tks to RawMeat1000 at ticats.ca

The work is at a point where although I can see differences each time I go, it's not really noticeable because all the really big stuff is up. The next thing we'll really notice will be the seats going in.



It's hard to tell from this angle but the south west stairs have rebar in place. They were also lifting rebar up to the press box level

[cjones2451]

Are the construction cams out on THF, I haven't been able to see anything all week

[elly63]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Are the construction cams out on THF, I haven't been able to see anything all week

Nobody seems to know what is going on with that but a representative said they might be back within a week. Until then we have this (halfway down page)

[Migs]

They will be lucky to play a game there this season IMO.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/442525...um-acknowledges-possible-six-week-delay/

[elly63]

Along with an e-mail from the Tiger Cats earlier this afternoon.

With the long awaited arrival of spring, no doubt your attention is beginning to turn to your beloved Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the opening of Tim Hortons Field and the 2014 CFL season. Today, the builders of our new stadium, ONSS, have provided the City of Hamilton and the Tiger-Cats with an update on the construction progress.

While ONSS continues to make every effort to meet the original delivery date of June 30, the update does state that they are currently behind schedule. Infrastructure Ontario, the government organization overseeing the construction of our new stadium, and ONSS have committed to a plan that will mitigate the delay and deliver the stadium as soon as possible. They have expressed confidence that it will be ready to go in time for our first regular season home game on July 26.

We will continue to work closely with all parties involved to ensure the stadium is 'game ready' for that initial home game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS. We have a great deal of faith in the governance of Infrastructure Ontario and competence of ONSS.

While we remain optimistic, it would be irresponsible on our part if we did not prepare a contingency plan in the event the stadium is not completed in time. Within the next 4-6 weeks, we should have a greater understanding about the construction progress. At that time – if necessary – we will fully share our contingency plan with you.

It's important for you to know that, similar to the Touchdown Atlantic process that took place last year, all season seat holders will be issued a credit or refund for the full value of any game that is not played at Tim Hortons Field this season. Again, we are optimistic that we will not have to implement this option.

Our organization recently signed a 20-year lease with the City of Hamilton to be the anchor tenant of our community's brand-new, world-class facility. In the coming weeks, you will hear news about the tremendous demand for the products available for Ticats games at Tim Hortons Field as well as other exciting events and attractions that will take place at our new stadium in the years to come. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our sales and service staff at 905-547-CATS (2287).

Sincerely,

Glenn Gibson
President and Chief Operating Officer
Hamilton Tiger-Cats

[sam2020]

Originally Posted by esquire

Agreed. Detroit is a pretty lucrative hockey market... it's not as if the Red Wings would leave town without a free new arena. I don't get why municipalities let themselves get pushed around by pro sports teams like that.

You never know if a team will move look at Seattle not many could have seen that coming but it did.

[Berklon]

Possible delay of up to 6 weeks. Which probably means it'll be at least 6 weeks delayed.

Not surprising... not at all.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by Berklon

Possible delay of up to 6 weeks. Which probably means it'll be at least 6 weeks delayed.

Not surprising... not at all.

Why they decided to build on the exact same footprint as the old stadium was a recipe for disaster. What were they thinking???