Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[elly63]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

The dude probably has been rehired or is working elsewhere for even more.

I doubt it, especially as most HR people are women, I should know, I was in a class full of them.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

yikes. I though the north end had close to 2000 seats or somthing. The thought of a half grass half turf end zone makes me cringe.

Nothing to cringe about they had it in Edmonton and Moncton and they didn't paint it black.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

That said, I'm pretty sure that the last couple of years have seen inflated numbers for the Argos due to giveaways and deeply discounted group tickets ... I doubt they were selling much more than about 10,000 tickets a game last year.

Braley didn't do freebies aside from one pre game school kids promotion, now the previous owners C and S were known for papering but Braley, no. Think about it, Braley giving something away for free? He saves that money so he can make a big donation and get his name on a building. Strange duck

[Coldrsx]

Arena community benefits meeting tonight, Mr. Lowe has joined in place Mr. laforge.

Construction update was good, on time, budget, no lost time due to accidents.

Expect 6 more cranes in the area by end of summer.

Turnover from PCL anticipated to be September 2, 2016.

Plaza grand opening will be about 2-3 yrs behind, full opening a few after that ie. Greyhound development.

CRL anticipated to be about $250,000,000 above expectations even after that 32mil and 80 mil for operations

EPS presentation again about their plans, sounds like 200-300 admin into City Tower with a temp presence ^in Greyhound for operations.

Parking plan update, E-park, plate registry for some residents, non game night no rate changes ie. free after 6 and Sunday to remain.

[king10]

Originally Posted by elly63

Braley didn't do freebies aside from one pre game school kids promotion, now the previous owners C and S were known for papering but Braley, no. Think about it, Braley giving something away for free? He saves that money so he can make a big donation and get his name on a building. Strange duck

redpatch boys probably refuse to believe it living in their alternate reality.

[king10]

Ticats expect to be profitable this year for the first time in 40 years with its first full season at THF. Great news for the CFL. The cats and argos were the only two teams who weren't profitable. Now both seem to be headed in the right direction.

Tiger-Cats expect to be in the black for first time in decades

The last time the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are believed to have turned a profit, Angelo Mosca had just hung up his cleats.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/05/25/ti ... in-decades

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by elly63

Braley didn't do freebies aside from one pre game school kids promotion, now the previous owners C and S were known for papering but Braley, no. Think about it, Braley giving something away for free? He saves that money so he can make a big donation and get his name on a building. Strange duck

I want the Argos to succeed (at least off the field) but even I find this a bit surprising. I mean, they're still at Rogers Centre for this year so nothing changes in the fan experience at the stadium for the time being.

Is there some type of anti-Braley sentiment out there that I am unaware of?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by elly63

Braley didn't do freebies aside from one pre game school kids promotion, now the previous owners C and S were known for papering but Braley, no. Think about it, Braley giving something away for free? He saves that money so he can make a big donation and get his name on a building. Strange duck

Whether it was freebies or deep group discounts, something was up with tickets. It was obvious when watching on TV that there were large blocks of similarly-aged people in the stands (often students or other young people) with nary a stitch of Argonauts clothing on them. You could also see it in the Ticketmaster seat maps... perfectly regular-shaped blocks of seats unavailable, or two full rows in a section that was otherwise completely empty, that sort of thing. Those patterns aren't really suggestive of normal ticket sales to individuals.

Originally Posted by king10

Ticats expect to be profitable this year for the first time in 40 years with its first full season at THF. Great news for the CFL. The cats and argos were the only two teams who weren't profitable. Now both seem to be headed in the right direction.

I am really surprised by this... there were at least a few seasons over the past 40 where the team did well and managed to sell a lot of tickets. It's amazing - almost unbelievable, really - that they have not been profitable at all since the 70s. If that is true, it's practically a miracle that they still exist. I don't think you could find too many private enterprises that have been consistent money losers since Elvis was alive which are still in operation.

[king10]

^^^^ there were some really rocky times in the mid 90s and early 2000s for the ticats and the city of hamilton as a whole. But thankfully bob young rescued them and ate the losses. He calls himself a caretaker not an owner, and his goal was always to make the team profitable so when he sells the new owner doesnt buy them out of charity to keep them afloat. And the city of hamilton is also in the midst of exciting times just as the cats are.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by king10

redpatch boys probably refuse to believe it living in their alternate reality.

One of those arseholes was bitching at Tim Leiweke to "go home" as Leiweke was handing out free beers to "fans". They are going to whine themselves out of a team soon as they aren't likely to get as soccer a friendly CEO as Leiweke was. Would be hilarious if it was Cohon.

These TFC jerks should see what it was like to be treated like the Argos have been for the last 20 years then they might not whine as much.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I want the Argos to succeed (at least off the field) but even I find this a bit surprising. I mean, they're still at Rogers Centre for this year so nothing changes in the fan experience at the stadium for the time being.

Is there some type of anti-Braley sentiment out there that I am unaware of?

Sounds like some Argo fans are getting a jump on 2016 season tickets by getting in this year.

[Oilkountry]

TV deal pays most of player salaries. I really Don't see it being all that hard to be profitable in today's CFL even if you spend to the cap

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I want the Argos to succeed (at least off the field) but even I find this a bit surprising. I mean, they're still at Rogers Centre for this year so nothing changes in the fan experience at the stadium for the time being.

Is there some type of anti-Braley sentiment out there that I am unaware of?

People are buying season tickets this year to position themselves for season ticket seat selection at BMO next year.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

I am really surprised by this... there were at least a few seasons over the past 40 where the team did well and managed to sell a lot of tickets. It's amazing - almost unbelievable, really - that they have not been profitable at all since the 70s. If that is true, it's practically a miracle that they still exist. I don't think you could find too many private enterprises that have been consistent money losers since Elvis was alive which are still in operation.

Somewhat related to this is David Braley. Yup that guy, who many think is a rube, is a billionaire. Apparently there is only one team in the CFL he hasn't given financial aid to. Anybody hazard a guess?

[Riise]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Sporting Park?

That's not the most flattering picture of Sporting Park, which isn't an extraordinary ground but still manages to provide a nice backdrop and get some solid reviews.

One of the main reasons why I don't think BMO can contend with some of the gem grounds of the MLS is BMO has a temporary look and feel to it. Additionally, the new additions look tagged on rather than evolved.

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by Riise

One of the main reasons why I don't think BMO can contend with some of the gem grounds of the MLS is BMO has a temporary look and feel to it.

Agreed, but I think the roof will go a long way into making it seem more permanent.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Riise

That's not the most flattering picture of Sporting Park, which isn't an extraordinary ground but still manages to provide a nice backdrop and get some solid reviews.

One of the main reasons why I don't think BMO can contend with some of the gem grounds of the MLS is BMO has a temporary look and feel to it. Additionally, the new additions look tagged on rather than evolved.

Someone, (I forget who?) mentioned to me in this thread last week, that a few of the Premier League Stadiums have that same feel/look as new additions get built on over time. I think what you mention has to do with the north end stands, and what happens there right now is anyone's guess.

One thing is certain, and not in question, is that BMO Field is now one of the largest Soccer specific Stadiums in MLS and still has the potential to get bigger(and even more intimate?) with future renovations.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by elly63

Somewhat related to this is David Braley. Yup that guy, who many think is a rube, is a billionaire. Apparently there is only one team in the CFL he hasn't given financial aid to. Anybody hazard a guess?

Eskimos?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

TV deal pays most of player salaries. I really Don't see it being all that hard to be profitable in today's CFL even if you spend to the cap

Yeah, very true. That's why I don't think the Argo situation is as dire as some might think. In much the same way that NHL teams which can barely sell 10,000 tickets to games are in good shape due to national TV contracts, so it is with CFL teams that have a hard time selling tickets (really only Toronto is left in that group).

Combine TV money with a new stadium and the money that comes with it, and you have a recipe for profitability. Look at the Bombers, 2014 revenue was $26.7 million... 5 years earlier at the old stadium and under the old contract it was $14.4 million.

Originally Posted by elly63

Somewhat related to this is David Braley. Yup that guy, who many think is a rube, is a billionaire. Apparently there is only one team in the CFL he hasn't given financial aid to. Anybody hazard a guess?

Anyone who thinks a guy as rich as him is a rube has got another thing coming. Just because he has a haircut like a guy who works on a loading dock doesn't mean he doesn't have smarts. He was definitely the guardian angel who practically single-handedly kept the CFL alive during its rough years.

But to answer the question, I'll go out on a limb and wager that the Eskimos were the only team he didn't prop up... they are really the only CFL team I can think of that didn't have an existential crisis at one time or another...they were consistently well supported through the years. Although I don't think Montreal was ever in serious trouble (to the point of not being able to pay the bills) despite the rough start they had in 96/97.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by elly63

Somewhat related to this is David Braley. Yup that guy, who many think is a rube, is a billionaire. Apparently there is only one team in the CFL he hasn't given financial aid to. Anybody hazard a guess?

Edmonton. Guaranteed. Even sask had problems at one time. Eskimos have always pulled in a great amount of football fans

Originally Posted by The_Architect

Agreed, but I think the roof will go a long way into making it seem more permanent.

The thing About BMO is they are putting a canopy over the stands not a roof over the stadium. That is the the biggest single difference in Mosiac and IGF. Mosiac will have a closed in more intimate feel where as IGF has an open feel. Closing in the back of the stands right to the roof would have made a huge difference in BMO. Doesn't matter how big and fancy you build BMO to be It will never have the same intimate feel as Redbull or Sporting park. But theirs something about BMO that I Just like better...Most premier league stadiums look like Frankenstein stadiums as well. Saputo stadium is the same way and it still has more room to expand if needed. I like it more than these modern 20,000 seat stadiums. In short I would rather watch a game at a 2016 BMO than a BBVA Compass Stadium. I'm really curious to see what happens in Vancouver. BC place was only a temporary solution for the whitecaps

Originally Posted by esquire

Look at the Bombers, 2014 revenue was $26.7 million... 5 years earlier at the old stadium and under the old contract it was $14.4 million.

If only they didn't have that 4 Million dollar anuall mortgage payment. lol