Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 101

osmo · #**2001** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Omniplex!

www.edmontonsun.com

'It would have been an all-in-one fully-enclosed, suspended field 32,000-seat stadium, plus a 12,200-seat hockey rink that would become visible once the football field was raised high above (both also to be used for live performances), a 100,000 square foot trade and convention centre with seating for 25,000 delegates, a 3,400 seat cultural theatre, movie theatres and more all to be serviced by the yet-to-be-built underground LRT system.'

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/06/29/edmonton-omniplex-proposed-before-the-coliseum

This would of aged poorly if built. I get a visual of a dumpy Ontario Place and how that complex aged badly.

Riise · #**2002** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

Get the concept and idea out there. Talking about some imaginary building isn't going to draw public support to the project, remember all the good will that came from the Regina concept drawing.

I think it is a much different climate in Calgary. The public will not get behind this project no matter how pretty it is and it will probably be easier for the Flames organization to garner Government support while the public is kept quiet in the blind.

Jay in Cowtown · #**2003** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmobile

On the topic of the Canadian Open, it's really disappointing that it hasn't been on the prairies since 1961 and the maritimes since 1939! At least the women's open gets moved around.

That'll change hopefully when Phil's course opens west of Calgary in Springbank.

bkd · #**2004** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 6:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Omniplex!

www.edmontonsun.com

'It would have been an all-in-one fully-enclosed, suspended field 32,000-seat stadium, plus a 12,200-seat hockey rink that would become visible once the football field was raised high above (both also to be used for live performances), a 100,000 square foot trade and convention centre with seating for 25,000 delegates, a 3,400 seat cultural theatre, movie theatres and more all to be serviced by the yet-to-be-built underground LRT system.'

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/06/29/edmonton-omniplex-proposed-before-the-coliseum

Raising a football field and suspending it sounds like a logistical nightmare. Would have been interesting to see how that one would have worked out.

Coldrsx · #**2005** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 6:44 PM**

Not to mention that fact that it would have taken out about 20 character buildings.

FrankieFlowerpot · #**2006** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 6:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkd

Raising a football field and suspending it sounds like a logistical nightmare. Would have been interesting to see how that one would have worked out.

Something like that was suggested for the Old Pontiac Silverdome

Oilkountry · #**2007** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 8:07 PM**

I think the Silverdome is beyond the point of restoration.

elly63 · #**2008** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riise

I think it is a much different climate in Calgary. The public will not get behind this project no matter how pretty it is and it will probably be easier for the Flames organization to garner Government support while the public is kept quiet in the blind.

Being there, you would know better than I, but from what I've read people and councilors seemed supportive if what was rumoured was true, that the Flames were only looking to be gifted with the land. And several city councilors thought that would be fine.

I think it would be folly not to give them the land especially when apparently one of the top things on the city's wish list for facilities is a fieldhouse and the Flames proposal includes that.

elly63 · #**2009** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 9:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I think the Silverdome is beyond the point of restoration.

It's in rough shape. It's probably still structurally sound and not that you would want to use them but IIRC the seats still were ok, but there is mold and growth everywhere.

The two questions that need to be asked are: Is there still a use for the building and is it an iconic building worthy of restoration and the answer to both is likely no.

Funny, how brief a period it seems, when the closed dome was in vogue. Discounting the Astrodome, the construction "boom" probably began with the Superdome in 1975. We could probably name them all, the number and period of time being so short before SkyDome and later Camden Yards changed everything.

elly63 · #**2010** Posted **Jun 30, 2015, 10:19 PM**

Aside from the Roman Colosseum, anybody want to argue about what the first retractable roof stadium was.

If we use the term stadium very loosely, I s'pose we could say:
1 Pittsburgh Civic Arena

• Video Link

IIRC, there is a scene in the movie The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh that shows the roof opening.

2 Rod Laver Arena

3 SkyDome

Too bad about the issues that plagued Olympic Stadium or it could have been second or first depending on how you want to define things.

Nicko999 · #**2011** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

Aside from the Roman Colosseum, anybody want to argue about what the first retractable roof stadium was.

If we use the term stadium very loosely, I s'pose we could say:
1 Pittsburgh Civic Arena

• Video Link

IIRC, there is a scene in the movie The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh that shows the roof opening.

2 Rod Laver Arena

3 SkyDome

Too bad about the issues that plagued Olympic Stadium or it could have been second or first depending on how you want to define things.

Technically, it was the first outdoor stadium to have a retractable roof in 1988 (1 year before the SkyDome). It didn't last long but it was the first.

• Video Link

tomthumb2 · #**2012** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 3:05 AM**

^ Good concept, bad implementation. God I miss my 'Spos...

elly63 · #**2013** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Technically, it was the first outdoor stadium to have a retractable roof in 1988 (1 year before the SkyDome). It didn't last long but it was the first.

Notice the date on the clip (1989), I actually remember it happening but am trying to find the exact date. If they had been able to retract it before SkyDome, I think it would be first, but that's not what I think happened.

Nicko999 · #**2014** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 3:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

Notice the date on the clip (1989), I actually remember it happening but am trying to find the exact date. If they had been able to retract it before SkyDome, I think it would be first, but that's not what I think happened.

Yeah it depends on your definition. The actual roof was finished in 1988 (if I'm not kidding myself) but it was first retracted on July 17, 1989 to mark the anniversary of the opening of the Olympic Games.

king10 · #**2015** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 3:19 AM**

The way olympic stadium retracted looked sooo creepy/ cool.

elly63 · #**2016** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 3:39 AM**

The original Roger Taillibert roof

• Video Link

Some dates to remember
Roof Socodec-Lavalin (1985-1998)

On 15 March 1985, the contract was signed.
On 17 November 1986, one of the memorable moments was the lifting of the box beam 380 tons overseeing the storage niche retractable roof.
On 3 February 1987, the mast ends.
From 11 to 18 April 1987, the web of Kevlar 18 600 square meters is hoisted in its place. Its installation will be completed after the baseball season 1987.
On 21 November 1987 the observatory and the Funicular were inaugurated. Before Christmas 1987 present a bill Socodec extra $ 18 million to turnkey contract.
20 April 1988, the Stadium is covered and 49 000 spectators attended the opening of the Expos.
In the summer of 1988 Socodec installs "16 mounds" to lift the canvas twice rubbed opening operation on the technical ring, resulting in premature wear.
Mid-January 1989 Socodec has a 2nd bill of extras $ 24.5 Million to turnkey contract.
On 23 June 1989, the roof is mobile.

The Francois Delaney design (the idea that won't go away)

• Video Link

Oilkountry · #**2017** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 3:58 AM**

just demolish the damn thing already. What a waste of money

elly63 · #**2018** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 4:06 AM**

How is it a waste of money?

elly63 · #**2019** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 4:08 AM**

Some good pics of Olympic Stadium here in the baseball-fever.com forum

Oilkountry · #**2020** Posted **Jul 2, 2015, 4:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

How is it a waste of money?

How the hell is it not? This is what you get for 1.5 Billion? You could build an investors group field for the same price they are going to sink into the place for maintenance! In the end you are left with a tenant less stadium. Throw 50 mill into the place leave it open air put some new seats down, add new scoreboard and build a new 30k seat CFL stadium for the same price. Such a joke

Here's what that kind of money should look like. I get it's a different era but holy man montreal has to be embarrassed by now

$1.3B

$1.1B

$500k

$1.5B