Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[Daveography]

Ok, wow, new QC arena is looking pretty great. I'm sorry I compared the exterior to Marvin the robot; the interior is nothing like Marvin the robot at all.

[Nicko999]

That QC arena is great. Well done!

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by davidivivid

Not sure if these have been posted before:

snip




[/URL]

Beautiful! High quality finishes on the new Quebec Arena. Not a sign of exposed drab concrete to be found anywhere.

A question about the picture above. Is that an outer concourse because there doesn't appear to be any places for permanent concessions? Is there an inner concourse on this level that has the concessions and washrooms beyond the cloudy glass partition?

[logan5]

The Bow River is right there. Why not take advantage of it and incorporate as part of the stadium experience.


http://seattle.curbed.com/places/husky-stadium

http://pac-12.com/article/2014/02/11/roundup-vote-husky-stadium-stadium-year

[king10]

^^^ seriously. Or like heinz field in pittsburgh. Not a convention centre glass box

Love the quebec arena. It has really grown on me. Clean and simple, yet high quality finishings. Great arena.

[logan5]

Yes! Heinz Field cost 374 million in 2015 dollars.


http://www.uprootedphotographer.com/post/7386392222/heinz-field-sunset-hdr

http://seatingchartview.com/heinz-field/

[ZeDgE]

Originally Posted by Stainless

I think it would be a nightmare. Probably 85% of this city's population lives outside of walking distance to a CTrain station, and the Park-and-Ride lots are legendary for property crime and are often comically undersized. I've lived in three different neighborhoods in Calgary (N, SW and SE), and getting to this new complex via CTrain would be an absolute pain in the ass from all three.

I truly do not understand this bizarre love affair with downtown stadiums and arenas in Canadian cities that really don't have a meaningful light rail infrastructure. Yes, a glittering stadium on the river among highrises looks very nice on a postcard, but the nuisance factor could wind up being quite damaging once the honeymoon phase ends.

Suburbia has an alt?

You do realize the saddledome is downtown and plenty of people get to games etc by ctrain right? As well as McCrap Hole. Calgary does not have meaningful light rail infrastructure? LMAO...Its one of the highest LRTs in the world for ridership.

Yea.. we should build it out in a field by Balzac so everyone can 'drive' their pickups there. Maybe stop at outdoor world on the way.. Yeehaw.

[esquire]

Now that it's (almost?) done, it's safe to say that Quebec's rink is easily the prettiest in all of Canada. That is just a spectacular piece of work.

The funding model is oh so wrong, but the design is oh so right.

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by esquire

Now that it's (almost?) done, it's safe to say that Quebec's rink is easily the prettiest in all of Canada. That is just a spectacular piece of work.

The funding model is oh so wrong, but the design is oh so right.

Agree...she is a beauty for sure. Very Impressive. All we need now is an NHL team for her.

[SkahHigh]

Good on Quebec City to finally have an NHL-caliber arena. Looks awesome too!

[king10]

Originally Posted by logan5

Yes! Heinz Field cost 374 million in 2015 dollars.


http://www.uprootedphotographer.com/post/7386392222/heinz-field-sunset-hdr

http://seatingchartview.com/heinz-field/

Now this is a model Calgary should follow.

Heinz Field was built for 374 million in todays dollars and originally had 65,000 seats.

Calgary should shave 30,000 seats off the Heinz field model, have a horseshoe configuration with a party patio in the open end that has views of the river. Being half the size of Heinz Field you could complete it for substantially less than $374 million.

Nevermind an enclosed building that has an expensive roof and doesn't even allow you to enjoy the outdoor scenery and weather next to the Bow River.

you can see where some of the cost savings came in at Heinz Field. Leaving the underside of the upper level exposed and unfinished. I am completely ok with that.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by king10

Now this is a model Calgary should follow.

Heinz Field was built for 374 million in todays dollars and originally had 65,000 seats.

Calgary should shave 30,000 seats off the Heinz field model, have a horseshoe configuration with a party patio in the open end that has views of the river. Being half the size of Heinz Field you could complete it for substantially less than $374 million.

Nevermind an enclosed building that has an expensive roof and doesn't even allow you to enjoy the outdoor scenery and weather next to the Bow River.

you can see where some of the cost savings came in at Heinz Field. Leaving the underside of the upper level exposed and unfinished. I am completely ok with that.

You're dead right, a 35,000 seat version of Heinz Field with a similar orientation towards the Bow would be a far far better option for Calgary.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Stainless

I think it would be a nightmare. Probably 85% of this city's population lives outside of walking distance to a CTrain station, and the Park-and-Ride lots are legendary for property crime and are often comically undersized. I've lived in three different neighborhoods in Calgary (N, SW and SE), and getting to this new complex via CTrain would be an absolute pain in the ass from all three.

I truly do not understand this bizarre love affair with downtown stadiums and arenas in Canadian cities that really don't have a meaningful light rail infrastructure. Yes, a glittering stadium on the river among highrises looks very nice on a postcard, but the nuisance factor could wind up being quite damaging once the honeymoon phase ends.

Are you sure you're not the poster alecz's dad who moved from Ottawa to Calgary?

[speedog]

Maybe just leave the Stampeders at McMahon and throw a whole bunch of money at that old girl - blow out the stuff underneath the stands and start over, expand those concourses and put in new facilities. Already a great crowd experience at McMahon and we've got some of the best tailgating around which will most likely disappear in any new facility in the West Village. I know this won't happen but money wise, could probably be done for a lot cheaper than a new stadium and location wise, still a not bad spot. Build the field house where it's been proposed just to the north of McMahon and build a wonderful arena in the West Village, better yet Railtown to the north of the Calgary Stampede grounds.

[esquire]

Renovating an old facility is just flushing money down the toilet. In the late 70s, Winnipeg enlarged and sort-of renovated the 1950s vintage arena and stadium, but they still always felt like old, worn-out facilities.

The only thing along those lines that might potentially work is the Euro-style gradual rebuild where you, say, demolish the west stands and rebuild them, and then 5 years later rebuild the east stands. But realistically a completely new stadium is the way to go.

[Chorduroy]

Looking at those stunning pics of Quebec's arena, I can't help but think that they knew beyond a doubt that they were going to get an NHL team. No way that gets built without some foreknowledge.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

Looking at those stunning pics of Quebec's arena, I can't help but think that they knew beyond a doubt that they were going to get an NHL team. No way that gets built without some foreknowledge.

That's been my impression all along.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

Looking at those stunning pics of Quebec's arena, I can't help but think that they knew beyond a doubt that they were going to get an NHL team. No way that gets built without some foreknowledge.

I agree. With the MTS Centre you knew it was kind of a hedged bet as it really just meets the minimum standards for the NHL and does in no way feel opulent or luxurious in relation to other new NHL rinks. Centre Videotron looks like it was fully designed and built to NHL spec... it's hard to imagine that there wouldn't have been a nod and a wink from the NHL.

But then again... KC and Tulsa also went all out on spectacular arenas without landing either a NHL or a NBA team.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

I agree. With the MTS Centre you knew it was kind of a hedged bet as it really just meets the minimum standards for the NHL and does in no way feel opulent or luxurious in relation to other new NHL rinks. Centre Videotron looks like it was fully designed and built to NHL spec... it's hard to imagine that there wouldn't have been a nod and a wink from the NHL.

But then again... KC and Tulsa also went all out on spectacular arenas without landing either a NHL or a NBA team.

Totally different mindset down there though. American cities do that all the time.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Totally different mindset down there though. American cities do that all the time.

Closer to home (and longer ago, admittedly), Hamilton and Saskatoon too!