Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

Honestly, I think the Argos had the right idea a few years ago when they packed the Skydome with schoolkids for the preseason game. Might as well just try and get as many bodies into the place as you can even if that means papering the house.

And introducing potential new fans to your game. You'll be seeing a lot more of introducing the game to younger and new fans under new commish, Orridge. I'd go so far as to say that it is his mandate.

[esquire]

Got the France/Colombia game on in the background; the Moncton stadium looks pretty good on TV with a decent crowd in the house. Even though it's small, it looks better on TV than some of the older Canadian stadiums that have been or are being replaced, like CanadInns, Ivor Wynne or old Mosaic.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by esquire

Got the France/Colombia game on in the background; the Moncton stadium looks pretty good on TV with a decent crowd in the house. Even though it's small, it looks better on TV than some of the older Canadian stadiums that have been or are being replaced, like CanadInns, Ivor Wynne or old Mosaic.

It works, got a completely different feel than any of the other venues.

However, I like it. Mocnton is the outlier host City this year, but a full house looks great on TV, and I find Montreal has been the biggest disappointment so far. Small crowds so far, old stadium. Winnipeg has been great, although the US team helped out there. Edmonton's been good, although I anticipated more people there on Thursday for Canada's second game. Vancouver's been good considering what teams they're hosting and the limited draw those teams provide. Even with Japan being the previous champions, they just don't have that feeling that say Brazil or England, France, etc would provide.

[esquire]

^ Canada has done an outstanding job of supporting the tournament considering how unacquainted most people are with women's soccer in general. Let's face it, apart from the 2012 Olympics run, the WNT barely registers on the radar here. No disrespect to them either, that's just how it is.

[king10]

The edmonton crowd was probably only 35k because of the thunder showers. They probably didnt get a good walk up crowd. 35k is still decent for a rainy thursday night.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Canada has done an outstanding job of supporting the tournament considering how unacquainted most people are with women's soccer in general. Let's face it, apart from the 2012 Olympics run, the WNT barely registers on the radar here. No disrespect to them either, that's just how it is.

That's what I meant in the other thread!

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Don't forget they have the 500 seat aquatic centre in there as well and a huge lobby with several displays of the 1976 Olympics.

Whoops meant 5000 seat aquatic centre.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by esquire

Is it just me or does it seem like preseason games are becoming a tougher sell across the board these days? When sports tickets (even for CFL) are as expensive as they are, the thought of shelling out huge dollars for a game that doesn't count in the standings is a bit off putting.

Even in the years before the NHL came back to Winnipeg, the preseason games that sunbelt teams would stage here wouldn't sell out despite the fact that Winnipeg fans were supposedly "NHL starved" and had something to prove to the league...

Honestly, I think the Argos had the right idea a few years ago when they packed the Skydome with schoolkids for the preseason game. Might as well just try and get as many bodies into the place as you can even if that means papering the house.

I'm not sure if preseason games are harder to sell nowadays or not. Could be. Some teams seem to force you to buy preseason games as part of a season ticket package.

That Eskies - Argos game is actually a regular season game. Tickets are still over-priced though.

[Oilkountry]

Good news for Winnipeg and Jets fans. True north square is a go starting in 2017. With the arena upgrades and this project that should keep MTS Centre in stadium journeys top 5 list for a while yet.

[Airboy]

After the last year and a half working on Shell place it will be interesting to see it on television tonight. I still have a few more site trips to make so I will see it in all its football glory before the Western Canada Games take over.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by Airboy

After the last year and a half working on Shell place it will be interesting to see it on television tonight. I still have a few more site trips to make so I will see it in all its football glory before the Western Canada Games take over.

From what I hear they haven't even filled the permanent stands yet. The entire temp seating was a waste of money. Embarrassing for a city with 70,000+ invested residents.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

Good news for Winnipeg and Jets fans. True north square is a go starting in 2017. With the arena upgrades and this project that should keep MTS Centre in stadium journeys top 5 list for a while yet.

A top 5 list of what? Arenas in Canada? Arenas in the NHL? MTS wouldn't make the top five in either list for me.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by JHikka

A top 5 list of what? Arenas in Canada? Arenas in the NHL? MTS wouldn't make the top five in either list for me.

I believe stadium journeys takes into account the arena district/immediate area surrounding the arena, concessions, atmosphere/fans and a few other things besides the arena itself.

[JHikka]

Oh, Stadium Journeys is an actual website. My bad. In saying that, I don't typically gauge arenas and stadiums based on what food they serve, but perhaps that's just me.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

I'm not sure if preseason games are harder to sell nowadays or not. Could be. Some teams seem to force you to buy preseason games as part of a season ticket package.

Speaking to the Bombers, I'd wager that the vast majority of tickets sold to preseason games are to season ticket holders. They give away tons of tickets to fill the place up. I suspect other CFL cities are similar.

Hell, even the Jets had to advertise their preseason games last year... that was new.

As to MTS Centre, I'm not sure what difference True North Square will make to the actual game experience... in practical terms it will basically mean a hotel that's convenient to the rink and maybe another restaurant option or two. It's not like people will gather in an outdoor public square during hockey season...

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by esquire

Speaking to the Bombers, I'd wager that the vast majority of tickets sold to preseason games are to season ticket holders. They give away tons of tickets to fill the place up. I suspect other CFL cities are similar.

Hell, even the Jets had to advertise their preseason games last year... that was new.

As to MTS Centre, I'm not sure what difference True North Square will make to the actual game experience... in practical terms it will basically mean a hotel that's convenient to the rink and maybe another restaurant option or two. It's not like people will gather in an outdoor public square during hockey season...

You're looking at this very narrow minded

Wasn't the MTS Centre built in it's Location to bring people downtown? Most people go home right after a game. Now fans can catch a movie right after the game if they want or do some shopping before the game or grab a bite or a drink either way It's definitely going to appeal to a lot of people that are looking to "tailgate" before or celebrate after the games. or even if your meeting up with freinds for the event. "meet me at true north sqaure or meet me at the starbucks at true north sqaure" I would definitely show up an hour early and grab a quick drink or bite to eat before the game and if im gonna do that I wanna be somewhere close to the arena. As for it being outdoor If you look at the concept its got skywalks which I will imagine lead right into the MTSC and convention centre So the cold months shouldn't be a big deal

It will certainly be the hotel for out of towners looking to catch a game or concert. It will house restaurants and sports bars and be the go to place for people to hang out before and after games,concerts, events both at the MTSC and the convention centre (both setps away from the project). It will also have a big screens outside for a few 1000 fans to watch playoff games. A meeting place if you will. I'm not sure why you're even questioning its value when other markets are utilizing this model. These downtown arena gathering places aren't a new concept or unique to Winnipeg alone. And an added bonus is it's just another revenue stream for true north.

Rogers arena is almost always at the top of the "best arena" ratings but scored low for not having enough bars, restaurants near the arena

Westgate entertainment district in Glendale was specifically built for this same reason To give people options before and after yotes/cardinal games. Theatre/hotel/restraunts/bars/shopping mall ect.


maple leaf square


LA Live



Edmontons new arena




True north square





markets set up temporary screens and beer gardens for fans to come party watch the games. Vancouver even rented a big tv truck in 2011

Tampa bay as we speak

[JHikka]

Funny how those crowds in Toronto outside are standing but the crowds in LA and Tampa are sitting down.

[osmo]

The "Square" trend is to justify freebie land swaps that these arena owners are using when building developments. Its a lazy way of given back to the public IMO. All those examples posted either are ghost towns like Westgate, heavily controlled in LA Live (fine detail development with massive scale of venues and events), or Maple Leaf Square that was a fluke that MLSE almost botched. Toronto gets lucky with mild and warm weather during traditional playoff times. Its not a hard sell to tell somebody to watch the game for free when its 15 degrees out in April or 20 degrees in May.

NHL games are a to the point activity. It isn't a day event like a Football game on a Saturday afternoon. You grab a bite to eat at a restaurant, go to the game, go home to get rest for work the next day. If the weather was nicer during hockey season you would see more activity spill over but nobody can tell me that in the dead middle of January that Winnipeg or Edmonton are hot beds of activity even after a hockey game.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Funny how those crowds in Toronto outside are standing but the crowds in LA and Tampa are sitting down.

The crowds they generate outside in Tampa and LA are small enough that they have room to fit in chair/tables - plus it gives them more of an inventive to be there. In Toronto they can't afford to give up precious space for chairs/tables because there are so many fans - so they pack everyone in like sardines... which they'll gladly accept:

• Video Link

And this is for a team that hasn't seen any real success in a VERY long time.

[Nicko999]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Funny how those crowds in Toronto outside are standing but the crowds in LA and Tampa are sitting down.

Funny how the crowds in LA and Tampa are watching a Cup final while the Toronto crowd is only watching a first round game.