Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[craner]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

True, but sadly that's because you guys are the only ones that really care. Yes there are some pockets of fans in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and maybe Hamilton but definitely not to the extent where they plan road trips to other stadiums.

I always do a CFL roadie with the buddies.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

True, but sadly that's because you guys are the only ones that really care. Yes there are some pockets of fans in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and maybe Hamilton but definitely not to the extent where they plan road trips to other stadiums.

I call BS. There are always sizable contingents of Bomber fans at games in Regina (it's the only readily drivable CFL city from Winnipeg). Lots of Hamilton and Toronto fans make the trip to each other's cities, as with Calgary and Edmonton... maybe not for a random Thursday night game, but definitely for the LDC, playoffs and other big matchups. This much is obvious from watching a game on TV.

[Dougler306]

But if you compare CFL city's that are not really in the driveable range. Riders are above the pack. Plenty off Rider fans at Toronto games and BC games.

I think a lot of that is just a sheer number of people that have moved away from our province to the bigger centers but they still carry there rider pride with them.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

True, but sadly that's because you guys are the only ones that really care. Yes there are some pockets of fans in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and maybe Hamilton but definitely not to the extent where they plan road trips to other stadiums.

No. There is just a massive amount of economic refugees from Saskatchewan living around this country.

It would be like some Mexican national team playing in the South West states.

It's the unfortunate reality of being a sports fan living in a desirable place that attracts people looking for a future for them and their families.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Lol. I've never been an economic refugee, but I do agree, many move away and are still fans.

[Coldrsx]

'It would be like some Mexican national team playing in the South West states.'

classic lin, love it.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Dougler306

But if you compare CFL city's that are not really in the driveable range. Riders are above the pack. Plenty off Rider fans at Toronto games and BC games.

I think a lot of that is just a sheer number of people that have moved away from our province to the bigger centers but they still carry there rider pride with them.

I think SHO summed it up best

But you are dead right. I have a couple of Sask expat buddies in Toronto, and I know that they show up to Rider games in Toronto. One does a weekend trip every season to another eastern city for football too. There are a lot of people like them with Sask roots in Canada's largest cities.

As an aside, could you imagine if there was a Newfoundland team in the CFL... oh man, their road games at Commonwealth would be something else

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by esquire

As an aside, could you imagine if there was a Newfoundland team in the CFL... oh man, their road games at Commonwealth would be something else

Drywall taping and mudding industry in Alberta would certainly suffer.

[Coldrsx]

rogersplace.com

[Coldrsx]

Don't think these have been post yet.











all from rogersplace.com

[tomthumb2]

Looks like lots of room for concessions - something that was badly lacking from Rexall (and Saddledome too...just brutal)

[Coldrsx]

The expanded concourse and offerings are the 2 things I am most excited about.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by esquire

I call BS. There are always sizable contingents of Bomber fans at games in Regina (it's the only readily drivable CFL city from Winnipeg). Lots of Hamilton and Toronto fans make the trip to each other's cities, as with Calgary and Edmonton... maybe not for a random Thursday night game, but definitely for the LDC, playoffs and other big matchups. This much is obvious from watching a game on TV.

Do the Hamilton fans dress up as empty blue seats when they go to Toronto or am I just missing them because TSN alters the camera angles in the Rogers Center to hide the embarrassing fact that nobody's there?

I've been to almost all the CFL parks and in my experience, no one travels like Rider fans do. Let's face it, they are way more passionate about the CFL than anywhere else. Which is why I look forward to Stamps - Riders games every year. And this year its on Halloween. #gongshow

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

The expanded concourse and offerings are the 2 things I am most excited about.

I'd be especially happy with an underground LRT station right at the front door. That was smart planning.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Do the Hamilton fans dress up as empty blue seats when they go to Toronto or am I just missing them because TSN alters the camera angles in the Rogers Center to hide the embarrassing fact that nobody's there?

I've been to almost all the CFL parks and in my experience, no one travels like Rider fans do. Let's face it, they are way more passionate about the CFL than anywhere else. Which is why I look forward to Stamps - Riders games every year. And this year its on Halloween. #gongshow

You're right about how there are more Rider fans at out of town games than there are for other teams (for reasons explored earlier), but that doesn't mean the other teams' fans aren't there or don't care. You're dead wrong about that part.

The largest clump of Ticats fans in Toronto sits, not surprisingly, on the visitors' side at Skydome which is the opposite side that the TV cameras face. So you don't see the Box J Boys and the other Ticats fans on TSN unless the sideline cameras specifically point them out.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Looks like lots of room for concessions - something that was badly lacking from Rexall (and Saddledome too...just brutal)

Yeah, I agree... the wide concourses are a nice touch. The MTS Centre actually kind of felt like a downgrade in terms of the concourse width... it gets badly plugged during the intermission, worse than I seem to remember the old Winnipeg Arena being.

Still not sold on the financing model (Edmonton got fleeced), but Edmonton's rink looks exceptionally well executed from a design standpoint.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by esquire

You're right about how there are more Rider fans at out of town games than there are for other teams (for reasons explored earlier), but that doesn't mean the other teams' fans aren't there or don't care. You're dead wrong about that part.

The largest clump of Ticats fans in Toronto sits, not surprisingly, on the visitors' side at Skydome which is the opposite side that the TV cameras face. So you don't see the Box J Boys and the other Ticats fans on TSN unless the sideline cameras specifically point them out.

Sorry - I wasn't trying to imply that other teams fans don't care. They just don't seem to care as much as Rider fans and there are definitely a lot less of them. I am a Stamps season ticket holder and I don't see the level of passion that Rider fans have. Even during Grey Cup run here. No buzz in the city and not even close to the energy level in the stands compared to Mosaic. Maybe its just the section I'm in have found similar atmosphere in Commonwealth (unless the Riders are in town).

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

True, but sadly that's because you guys are the only ones that really care. Yes there are some pockets of fans in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and maybe Hamilton but definitely not to the extent where they plan road trips to other stadiums.

I remember in 2005 When the Blackhawks were Drawing 10,000 fans or less until Toews was drafted and all the sudden people who knew nothing about Hockey were diehard Hawks fans Once they stop winning that will be over with. And that's a day I can wait for I cant even enjoy the playoffs anymore. And Just like the Blackhawks somewhere around 2008 2009 it became "cool"to be a riders fan. Even eastern Albertan's jump on that band wagon. If the craze lasts another 20 years I will be impressed but to me the whole riders fandom is just a phase that will pass. They will always have a full building but I dont think the merch sales will keep up for much longer

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I remember in 2005 When the Blackhawks were Drawing 10,000 fans or less until Toews was drafted and all the sudden people who knew nothing about Hockey were diehard Hawks fans Once they stop winning that will be over with. And that's a day I can wait for I cant even enjoy the playoffs anymore. And Just like the Blackhawks somewhere around 2008 2009 it became "cool"to be a riders fan. Even eastern Albertan's jump on that band wagon. If the craze lasts another 20 years I will be impressed but to me the whole riders fandom is just a phase that will pass. They will always have a full building but I dont think the merch sales will keep up for much longer

I remember that too, but back then Bill Wirtz had been driving them into the ground for years. I also remember when the Riders couldn't win a game to save their lives and had to have telethons to stay alive. Frankly I'm glad that two great franchises were able to rise from the ashes and become strong organizations. Gives hope to others who are in a similar situation.

As for merch - I'm afraid you're going to be seeing a lot of green for a very long time to come... sorry!

FYI: good article on the rise of the Hawks http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/mark-...-omnipotent-in-chicago-sports-landscape/

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I remember in 2005 When the Blackhawks were Drawing 10,000 fans or less until Toews was drafted and all the sudden people who knew nothing about Hockey were diehard Hawks fans Once they stop winning that will be over with. And that's a day I can wait for I cant even enjoy the playoffs anymore. And Just like the Blackhawks somewhere around 2008 2009 it became "cool"to be a riders fan. Even eastern Albertan's jump on that band wagon. If the craze lasts another 20 years I will be impressed but to me the whole riders fandom is just a phase that will pass. They will always have a full building but I dont think the merch sales will keep up for much longer

2006/2007, the Saskatchewan economy started really getting into gear and the province started growing again and there was a renewed sense of pride in the place rather than being a place down on its luck. The Riders at the same time also kicked it into high gear so both sides of that equation fed each other... People from Saskatchewan generally pack some " Canada" attire and some Roughriders clothes to represent where they are from; it'll be tough to delink that at this point, unless the CFL goes by the wayside (and then we'll have a bunch of empty stadiums across the country).

The new stadium being built likely wouldn't have come without the above changes. Probably would have just tried to patch Mosaic as cheaply as possible and sweep deficiencies under the rug.

In any case, Riders merch sales have been going strong since 2007, so maybe it would be better to hope for other teams to grow to that level instead of waiting for the day that the Riders' sales drop down?