Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[Migs]

@YQRstadium @RRI

[Migs]

Originally Posted by CCF

At least this sort of activity/life was designed into the space. Regina's new stadium development has given no consideration to context. Just a large football stadium plunked down. One single use which will likely be void of life throughout the year.

Of course, perhaps with the redevelopment of Mosaic stadium into the 'Taylor Field' neighbourhood there may be some connections between the two areas - but I won't hold my breathe....

100% false. The new Regina stadium is located directly beside the Lawson Aquatic Centre, the Regina Fieldhouse, the Brandt Centre Arena, the Queensbury Convention Centre, the Cooperators Centre 6-rink complex, the Eventplex soccer facility, the brand new 150K sq/ft multipurpose trade centre, & the the brand new 8 story Marriott hotel. There likely isn't a busier area year round anywhere in the province. Oh yeah & it's about a 10 minute walk from downtown.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by Migs

100% false. The new Regina stadium is located directly beside the Lawson Aquatic Centre, the Regina Fieldhouse, the Brandt Centre Arena, the Queensbury Convention Centre, the Cooperators Centre 6-rink complex, the Eventplex soccer facility, the brand new 150K sq/ft multipurpose trade centre, & the the brand new 8 story Marriott hotel. There likely isn't a busier area year round anywhere in the province. Oh yeah & it's about a 10 minute walk from downtown.

When I talk about activity/life I'm speaking to pedestrian activity and the vibrant street life that cities across the world are creating. Including in sports districts seen across North America.

While I don't disagree that those uses are in relative close proximity, none of them are going to generate the type of activity seen in the Lansdowne photos (which is what I was speaking to). They are all uses that act as a vacuum. There are no uses that encourage people to take a stroll, to linger after the game. There are no restaurants located adjacent to the stadium. There are no shops (aside from perhaps a Rider Store). There are no uses to generate and support an active, vibrant public realm.

There are strong connections between the new stadium and the other infrastructure and venues located at Evraz Place - that much is obvious. The location indeed makes sense. Again, what's lacking is an urban form that encourages a vibrant context around the stadium. Sure it's close to downtown, but proximity does not equate to pedestrian friendly. There needs to be a substantial investment into creating stronger linkages between the two areas.

Moreover, the larger context should have been considered - with one of the key questions being "how do we make this a vibrant, interesting, and exciting space and place?" - all the excitement will be taking place inside the stadium with little regard for the surrounding context. A missed opportunity to do something really great here in my opinion.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by CCF

When I talk about activity/life I'm speaking to pedestrian activity and the vibrant street life that cities across the world are creating. Including in sports districts seen across North America.

While I don't disagree that those uses are in relative close proximity, none of them are going to generate the type of activity seen in the Lansdowne photos (which is what I was speaking to). They are all uses that act as a vacuum. There are no uses that encourage people to take a stroll, to linger after the game. There are no restaurants located adjacent to the stadium. There are no shops (aside from perhaps a Rider Store). There are no uses to generate and support an active, vibrant public realm.

There are strong connections between the new stadium and the other infrastructure and venues located at Evraz Place - that much is obvious. The location indeed makes sense. Again, what's lacking is an urban form that encourages a vibrant context around the stadium. Sure it's close to downtown, but proximity does not equate to pedestrian friendly. There needs to be a substantial investment into creating stronger linkages between the two areas.

Moreover, the larger context should have been considered - with one of the key questions being "how do we make this a vibrant, interesting, and exciting space and place?" - all the excitement will be taking place inside the stadium with little regard for the surrounding context. A missed opportunity to do something really great here in my opinion.

I understand what you are saying but sometimes that is impossible given the locations that were available. My preference would've been the original site on Dewdney but that didn't work because of lack of space & developers wanting that area for other purposes. The location at Evraz is IMO the second best location because of its close proximity to all these other very busy facilities as well as the close linkage to downtown (ped pathway to be built). When you see Hotels like the Marriott popping up you know the potential there for this to surpass all expectations. Think about the General admission lounge within the stadium that will be open year round, think about the festivals within Confederation Park right beside the stadium.




i think you'll be quite pleased with everything they have planned, especially the plaza that will surround stadium.

[Coldrsx]

Investors eye real estate in Edmonton’s arena district

You have already heard plenty about how Edmonton’s arena district is a catalyst for development. But now overseas real estate investors are taking note.

The Real Estate Investment Network says its research shows new arenas can boost the value of nearby real estate by three to fifteen percent, based on experience with projects across North America and Europe. And Edmonton could be the next prime example.

“Where we saw the largest increase (in real estate values) was within one kilometre, so within walking distance of the arena,” says Melanie Reuter, director of research for REIN. Ice District has a lot going for it, including access to rapid transit, another significant boost to real estate values, says Reuter.

“We’ve got the MacEwan (LRT) station to the north, so we know that will have a positive impact alone. But now couple that with the arena and those properties–whether it’s a homeowner or a real estate investor–are going to hit a home run.”

Reuter believes Edmonton is one of the best real estate markets to invest in, in the country.

“Foreign investors who are looking to put money into somewhere that has a safe return are looking at Canada and are specifically looking at Edmonton.”

Reuter says some Edmonton real estate investors are unaware of the opportunity in their own backyard. But with increasing international attention, she adds you might even see some Vancouver-like increases driven by offshore investors, just not to the same extent. (bd)

http://www.630ched.com/2015/10/13/69464/

[osmo]

I have no issues with how Mosiac is being situated. The whole idea of forcing these one-use facilities to be more then what they are is bogus. Its a football stadium.. that is what is... and yes it will be only used 10 days a year.

This isn't a arena that gets 100 days of active use a year or a Baseball Stadium that gets 80+ active days. In those cases it is easier to justify creating a larger scale pedestrian and varying use strategy to make attempts to cycle around the activity going around the stadium to other uses. But for football, it is what is.

The best way I have seen football stadiums or even stadiums being used is to cram them full of office space. You create a employment hub whiten the stadium that then creates demand outside of event days for services such as restaurants and whatever else.

[king10]

Originally Posted by osmo

I have no issues with how Mosiac is being situated. The whole idea of forcing these one-use facilities to be more then what they are is bogus. Its a football stadium.. that is what is... and yes it will be only used 10 days a year.

This isn't a arena that gets 100 days of active use a year or a Baseball Stadium that gets 80+ active days. In those cases it is easier to justify creating a larger scale pedestrian and varying use strategy to make attempts to cycle around the activity going around the stadium to other uses. But for football, it is what is.

The best way I have seen football stadiums or even stadiums being used is to cram them full of office space. You create a employment hub whiten the stadium that then creates demand outside of event days for services such as restaurants and whatever else.

The city of Hamilton uses a portion of THF for their office space.

[Nicko999]

$100M renovations for the Bell Center... all private money.

Bell Centre to receive $100M facelift

Canadiens owner Geoff Molson announced a $100 million facelift for Montreal’s Bell Centre over the next three years.

“This major investment is intended to maintain our standards of excellence and to ensure the quality of the Bell Centre visitor experience,” said Molson, adding that the work has been planned carefully so that it will not in any way interfere with the activities at the Bell Centre.

Some of the work has already been done as the 21,288 seats in the Bell Centre have all been replaced.

Plans also call for the transformation the Avenue-des-Canadiens into a pedestrian street, and to construct a spectacular new glassed-in entry hall to the Bell Centre, which would also serve as a pedestrian passageway accessible to the public.

Molson also said the team wants to build a new major sports restaurant as part of the renovations.

Other work inside the Bell Centre includes the redesign of the corridors and the addition of video screens, a new look for food concessions, renovated loges and salons, WI-FI coverage/access, restoring the Jacques-Beauchamp room and updating of La Mise au Jeu and 9-4-10 restaurants.

Behind the scenes, the backstage areas and mechanical and staging equipment will be upgraded.

http://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/bell-centre-to-receive-100m-facelift

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by osmo

I have no issues with how Mosiac is being situated. The whole idea of forcing these one-use facilities to be more then what they are is bogus. Its a football stadium.. that is what is... and yes it will be only used 10 days a year.

This isn't a arena that gets 100 days of active use a year or a Baseball Stadium that gets 80+ active days. In those cases it is easier to justify creating a larger scale pedestrian and varying use strategy to make attempts to cycle around the activity going around the stadium to other uses. But for football, it is what is.

The best way I have seen football stadiums or even stadiums being used is to cram them full of office space. You create a employment hub whiten the stadium that then creates demand outside of event days for services such as restaurants and whatever else.

The new Mosaic will be utilized a hell of a lot more frequently than 10X/year, . . I'll guarantee you that.

[osmo]

Good to hear that on THF. Office space is a good turn over of use as they never will really be around when a game is on so things like parking and such can be shared between uses.

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

The new Mosaic will be utilized a hell of a lot more frequently than 10X/year, . . I'll guarantee you that.

Revenue days I mean. HS football, Rams, and whatever else do not count.

There may be a few concerts but no more than 20 revenue generating days.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by osmo

Good to hear that on THF. Office space is a good turn over of use as they never will really be around when a game is on so things like parking and such can be shared between uses.



Revenue days I mean. HS football, Rams, and whatever else do not count.

There may be a few concerts but no more than 20 revenue generating days.

Well, don't see you stating "REVENUE" days originally. Talk about moving the goal posts after the fact.....

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

Well, don't see you stating "REVENUE" days originally. Talk about moving the goal posts after the fact.....

I understood what he was saying. No one builds a large stadium on the basis of high school girls field hockey games with 100 people in the stands that might take place there... community events and small amateur sports events are largely irrelevant to the decision to build.

[Oilkountry]

“This major investment is intended to maintain our standards of excellence and to ensure the quality of the Bell Centre visitor experience,” said Molson, adding that the work has been planned carefully so that it will not in any way interfere with the activities at the Bell Centre.


Basically translates to "we want to keep up with videotron"

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by esquire

I understood what he was saying. No one builds a large stadium on the basis of high school girls field hockey games with 100 people in the stands that might take place there... community events and small amateur sports events are largely irrelevant to the decision to build.

Yeah I got what he was saying too. Without a roof it's going to take a lot longer to generate enough revenue to pay for it, won't it?

[osmo]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Yeah I got what he was saying too. Without a roof it's going to take a lot longer to generate enough revenue to pay for it, won't it?

It will never make back what it cost to build, but going without an roof is actually much cheaper as it costs much more to maintain and run a roofed facility.

[Oilkountry]

Looks like true north is gonna fix the problem the loge seats created in the 300's by raising the seats 2 and a half inches and restructuring the seamless glass and railings. Good on em

http://globalnews.ca/news/2281135/winnip...ix-obstructed-view-for-hundreds-of-fans/

[Oilkountry]

New seats at bell centre. They quickly and quietly I might add replaced all 21k of them

[king10]

they look pretty similar to the old ones.

does anyone have a comparison of new and old?

also good to see True North is working to remedy the problem causing by the lodge seating.

[globeman]

Toronto Blue Jays ALDS Series Win at Rogers Centre (Skydome)

Toronto Blue Jays Division Title Game 5, Rogers Centre by globetrekimages, on Flickr

[Berklon]

^ Even with the roof closed, it has a great atmosphere. It's all about butts in the seats.
There's generally nothing wrong with the Skydome that a few renovations won't fix.