Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[esquire]

I'm not surprised that Edmonton is thinking of tearing down Telus Field. There hasn't been a tenant since 2011, and with Telus Field about 20 years old, it's probably getting to a point where it is going to require some fairly pricy renovations and maintenance. I'm guessing that the land it sits on is pretty desirable for residential uses, so it all adds up.

Baseball just isn't the draw that it once was... back in the early 90s I swear you could have drawn crowds for beer league softball, but these days the fan interest isn't really there. Winnipeg is a bit of an oddball with its consistent support for AA independent league baseball (really more like A ball according to my friends who have played the game), but that's a testament to how effective the team is at marketing its product... even there the crowds have dropped off significantly compared to 15 years ago when it was sellouts every night.

[cjones2451]

[QUOTE=Oilkountry;7008963]#1 How in gods name do ANY of you know what the seating will be for BMO? What if they plan it so that the Retractable stands for TFC games, get seperated in half and added to the sides of each end zone so its full length seating for CFL games? I'm not saying this is how it will be but you guys are speculating on Grey Cups and regular season attendance like you know whats going on.

Based on what Tim Leiwike has stated and Gen 1 renderings. BMO for TFC is just over 30K now. CFL is longer field so it was stated the endzones would retract for a 25K capacity. Based on space behind the endzone it was calculated that 10K temp seats can be added. Even if that is + / - a few thousand. It would be 37 - 40K for a GC at BMO, far less than the 53K at the Rogers Centre. The point was, why would they hold the GC is a venue with WAY less capacity, when one would be available.

[BretttheRiderFan]

Well that would suck if they tore Telus down. I guess if you can't get a team you can't keep the park. Probably prime location for condo towers.

[snowmobile]

Edmonton is a tough location for baseball. Great size and ballpark but just too far for a bus league. Winnipeg has 3 teams within 8 hours (fargo, st.p , sioux falls) but they do fly out to play the Canadian Can - Am League teams. The Cracker Cats and Vipers basically started the beginning of the end of the Northern League. Teams having to fly out to Alberta didn't balance out.

I wish Thunder Bay had built a new stadium for the Whiskey Jacks.

[king10]

[QUOTE=cjones2451;7008882]

Originally Posted by king10

BMO would only be able to host 25 000 fans in football mode. Soccer mode is 30 000. The 5000 endzone seats are retractable to make room for the CFL endzone. Hate when writers fail to do their due diligiance.

Is this configuration still in play? Over at RPB Forum (sorry for you being banned BTW) are saying that the North End would be ripped out completely and it is only the South that retract.

haha oo the RPB. two posters repeatedly swore at me and called me names and I asked that everyone respect each other no matter what their opinion is. I was subsequently banned from the forum along with another poster who was impartial to ground sharing. The posters who littered that forum with cursing and swearing at other members were not even cautioned. I did see one poster stuck up for me and questioned why I was banned for as I didn't really do much to deserve a ban. So much for posting on that forum since May 2008. If you don't share the opinion of the majority you're banned for "trolling and being a CFL troll." Never mind the fact im a TFC season ticket holder and attend all canMNT games at BMO

Anyways thats done and over with.

I did read that the RPB thought the North End wouldn't be retractable. But i haven't seen any concrete proof of that. It's just all worst part speculation on their part.

[king10]

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

What's the situation in Montreal as far as future Grey Cups goes? They're likely due for one pretty soon. Is the Big O still suitable in late November?

Well the Jays have been playing there in late March. The Impact have been playing there in Mid March for Champions League play. I don't see why November isn't doable at the Big O.

Sidenote: over 61 000 (sellout) expected to on hand for the champions league final tonight at olympic stadium at 8pm. Tune into sportsnet one to watch it if you have time.

[king10]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

#1 How in gods name do ANY of you know what the seating will be for BMO? What if they plan it so that the Retractable stands for TFC games, get seperated in half and added to the sides of each end zone so its full length seating for CFL games? I'm not saying this is how it will be but you guys are speculating on Grey Cups and regular season attendance like you know whats going on.

They released preliminary drawings on the setup last year. Plans may have changed but this is the only concrete info we have to go on. You're right though, how they plan on doing the CFL conversion is just speculation on our part until we actually see the final plans.

[cjones2451]

[QUOTE=king10;7009070]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

haha oo the RPB. two posters repeatedly swore at me and called me names and I asked that everyone respect each other no matter what their opinion is. I was subsequently banned from the forum along with another poster who was impartial to ground sharing. The posters who littered that forum with cursing and swearing at other members were not even cautioned. I did see one poster stuck up for me and questioned why I was banned for as I didn't really do much to deserve a ban. So much for posting on that forum since May 2008. If you don't share the opinion of the majority you're banned for "trolling and being a CFL troll." Never mind the fact im a TFC season ticket holder and attend all canMNT games at BMO

Anyways thats done and over with.



I did read that the RPB thought the North End wouldn't be retractable. But i haven't seen any concrete proof of that. It's just all worst part speculation on their part.

Is it all the years of poor performance that has made them bitter and jaded? I thought moderators were supposed to be just that and be subjective? Guess not if you have an opinion that differs from theirs

[Oilkountry]

This is more for the Culture thread but I've often pondered on how a Domestic baseball league in Canada would do. You would have to have full participation by every major city in Canada Including Winnipeg. The gold eyes would really be the Golden horseshoe in the scenario. You would need ballparks built in Regina,Saskatoon,Victoria,Hamilton ect. All over Ontario. Quebec would need a couple,moncton,Halifax. as well as major renovations to the existing structures in Edmonton,Calgary,Vancouver,Ottawa. but their is potential for a 14-16 team league in the country. I would love to see it

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by king10

I did read that the RPB thought the North End wouldn't be retractable. But i haven't seen any concrete proof of that. It's just all worst part speculation on their part.

I believe it was Bob Hunter - head of development at MLSE who said the north end would be demolished entirely for a "staging area" and half the south end seats would retract.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/fo...-in-2016/article23880200/?service=mobile

[snowmobile]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

This is more for the Culture thread but I've often pondered on how a Domestic baseball league in Canada would do. You would have to have full participation by every major city in Canada Including Winnipeg. The gold eyes would really be the Golden horseshoe in the scenario. You would need ballparks built in Regina,Saskatoon,Victoria,Hamilton ect. All over Ontario. Quebec would need a couple,moncton,Halifax. as well as major renovations to the existing structures in Edmonton,Calgary,Vancouver,Ottawa. but their is potential for a 14-16 team league in the country. I would love to see it

Canadian Baseball League in 2003 was a disaster but I wish it was a success. They tried to convince the Goldeyes but they thankfully declined. Some of their games were on The Score but I can't find any footage of them.

When the Northern League was in trouble around 2009,2010, there was lots of speculation about expanding to Regina and Saskatoon but their stadiums would be a step backwards for the independent circuit. I don't think the American Association is interested in any more Canadian teams. There are just too many spots in U.S that can fill a void.

Anyway one really nice stadium in Alberta is Seamans Stadium in Okotoks home of the Okotoks Dawgs of the Western Major Baseball League. http://www.jdawgsbaseball.ca/images/facilities/stadium9.jpg

I wish this league could get some TSN games along with Goldeyes vs Ottawa/Quebec/TR this year

[snowmobile]

Former home of the Brandon Grey Owls and the West Man Wranglers of the Prairie League (1995-1997). Played teams in Saskatchewan, Dakotas and Minnesota

[king10]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

I believe it was Bob Hunter - head of development at MLSE who said the north end would be demolished entirely for a "staging area" and half the south end seats would retract.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/fo...-in-2016/article23880200/?service=mobile

When he meant staging area. I dont think he meant an actual stage. I think he meant dressing rooms, prep rooms, event rooms etc.

Check out the literal definition.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staging_area

I guess none of us know for sure yet until the actual drawings are released.

I remember games on the score in the cdn baseball league! Think i saw a couple games from london. Was cool to see.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by snowmobile

Former home of the Brandon Grey Owls and the West Man Wranglers of the Prairie League (1995-1997). Played teams in Saskatchewan, Dakotas and Minnesota

Until Shaw Park was built, that was the pre-eminent baseball stadium in Manitoba.

In second place was the sad little ball diamond wedged into the old Winnipeg Stadium, where the Goldeyes played their first five seasons.



Source: nlfan.com

[snowmobile]

Dont forget Transcona Stadium! Goldeyes should have played some games there!

[osmo]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

I believe it was Bob Hunter - head of development at MLSE who said the north end would be demolished entirely for a "staging area" and half the south end seats would retract.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/fo...-in-2016/article23880200/?service=mobile

This sounds more right. The "original" plans were to junk the south end and put the expansions in that way. The north end is really hemmed in, there isn't that much space as many think. The field may end up off slightly off centre.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

From the TFC Facebook page

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Looks like plans for the 65,000 capacity Fort Erie Speedway facility is slowly getting traction

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/04/22/speedway-incentives-approved

[king10]

WOW! That looks pretty good. Can't wait to see a roof go over it.

[mistercorporate]

[QUOTE=cjones2451;7009146]

Originally Posted by king10

Is it all the years of poor performance that has made them bitter and jaded? I thought moderators were supposed to be just that and be subjective? Guess not if you have an opinion that differs from theirs

In all fairness to the RPBs, there were a whole bunch of Saskatchewan RoughRiders fans who registered recently on that site and trolled the stadium comments while pretending they were fans of both TFC and the Argos. Most RPB were balanced until someone posted a screenshot from the Riders forum proving that one of the Argos/TFC fans was actually a fraud troll and then all sympathy and tolerance went out the window while all suspected trolls were banned outright. I was one of the people who defended king10 and although I didn't see the last series of comments leading upto the ban I can understand peoples anger on there with people using pretend allegiances to spread propaganda and pass back info.

Anyway, the RPB are not the only supporters group so there's plenty other groups to hang out and socialize with if people burnt bridges with one.