Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 185

king10 · #**3681** Posted **Oct 28, 2015, 1:23 PM**

Moncton with a decent outdoor facility as well as a very good indoor facility in the works.

Halifax needs to get that outdoor facility built. Hello 10th cfl team!

MonctonRad · #**3682** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 2:45 PM**

Posted by Budyser on the [Moncton] Downtown Events Centre thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budyser

New construction video from the moncton.ca web site.

• Video Link

And, a flyby of the finished product.

• Video Link

Nashe · #**3683** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 2:55 PM**

Re: Moncton

Apologies if we get a bit chatty about this one over the next few months/years... This is a very exciting project for us. Our current main sports venue is over 40 years old and hurting.

wacko · #**3684** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 3:43 PM**

A new arena in Moncton? Good news for you guys, for sure. I'd just like to ask why the arena isn't sunken, so that seats can be accessed directly from the main entrance? Seems kind of goofy to do otherwise these days, unless the arena is in close proximity to water. Is it located near the river?

Since I don't live anywhere near Moncton, I'd also like to ask what's wrong with your current sports venue? Our arena in Regina (Brandt Centre) is 38 years old, but is structurally sound and could easily go another 15 or even 20 years before needing to be replaced. (For reference, the Brandt Centre seats 6,136 for hockey, and this is more than adequate for the Regina Pats of the WHL.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migs

Significant Regina stadium update coming tommorrow

*edit* postponed now for a couple weeks.

What was the reason for the postponement? Don't tell me it was because of the weather that day!

HomeInMyShoes · #**3685** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 3:53 PM**

I could really use a hot cup of information from the INFO café.

I like how the buildings in front maintain the streetscape for a good portion of the street while the arena is tucked behind opening up to the public courts. Should be a great place for street events like 3-3 basketball street hockey tournaments, etc.

esquire · #**3686** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 3:53 PM**

Is the Moncton Coliseum going to be demolished or will it be kept around for community use?

MonctonRad · #**3687** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacko

A new arena in Moncton? Good news for you guys, for sure. I'd just like to ask why the arena isn't sunken, so that seats can be accessed directly from the main entrance? Seems kind of goofy to do otherwise these days, unless the arena is in close proximity to water. Is it located near the river?

Since I don't live anywhere near Moncton, I'd also like to ask what's wrong with your current sports venue? Our arena in Regina (Brandt Centre) is 38 years old, but is structurally sound and could easily go another 15 or even 20 years before needing to be replaced. (For reference, the Brandt Centre seats 6,136 for hockey, and this is more than adequate for the Regina Pats of the WHL.)

1) - I don't know why it isn't sunken, but that doesn't bother me. If you look at my post on the previous page, the arena floor will be directly accessible from the atrium level for floor level seating during concerts. Overall, I imagine it is a design feature to make the facility seem more grand (entrance atrium with grand staircase, escalators and a second floor mezzanine).
2) - The current 6500 seat Coliseum still has life in it, but has major design flaws that really limit it's ability to host major events. If it was only going to be used for major junior hockey and NBL basketball, it would be OK, but to be in the running for hosting major events, something definitive needed to be done. In particular, the existing coliseum has a weird sloped roof which means that major touring concerts can't set up their full stage. The acoustics in the old Coliseum are terrible and the HVAC is horrible leading to major problems with heat and ventilation, especially in the spring and summer. The Coliseum used to get major acts like Celine, Shania and Elton, but not any longer. They now bypass Moncton for Halifax and saint John. We also have it on good authority that events like the Memorial Cup and the World Mens Curling Championship would never again come to Moncton, due to problems guaranteeing good ice conditions in April or May (HVAC again). If Moncton wants to stay in the "big leagues" as an events destination, a replacement is necessary.
3) - The Wildcats average about 4,500 in attendance, so the existing Coliseum is an adequate size, but the city wants a facility "right sized" for major concerts and sporting events, hence the need to increase seating to 9,200. This will allow us to bid on things like the Memorial Cup, the Brier, World Juniors, World Mens Curling etc. It will also allow us to be on an eastern concert circuit including Saint John Harbour Station and Scotiabank Place in Halifax.

MonctonRad · #**3688** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Is the Moncton Coliseum going to be demolished or will it be kept around for community use?

It won't be demolished, but the ice surface and seating will be removed. The current Coliseum/Agrena is the largest trade show space in Atlantic Canada. By making these changes, the Coliseum will become even more versatile as a trade show venue.

Taeolas · #**3689** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Is the Moncton Coliseum going to be demolished or will it be kept around for community use?

I believe the current Coliseum will be kept for now. Eventually it will probably be sold off, but for the mid term, it will be an additional location for events in the city.
*Edit* See MonctonRad's post above for more details.

As for having a sunken arena, it is fairly close to the river and a lake. Not so close that going down would have been an insurmountable problem; but probably not worth digging down further than they need to.

esquire · #**3690** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 4:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

2) - The current 6500 seat Coliseum still has life in it, but has major design flaws that really limit it's ability to host major events. If it was only going to be used for major junior hockey and NBL basketball, it would be OK, but to be in the running for hosting major events, something definitive needed to be done. In particular, the existing coliseum has a weird sloped roof which means that major touring concerts can't set up their full stage. The acoustics in the old Coliseum are terrible and the HVAC is horrible leading to major problems with heat and ventilation, especially in the spring and summer. The Coliseum used to get major acts like Celine, Shania and Elton, but not any longer. They now bypass Moncton for Halifax and saint John. We also have it on good authority that events like the Memorial Cup and the World Mens Curling Championship would never again come to Moncton, due to problems guaranteeing good ice conditions in April or May (HVAC again). If Moncton wants to stay in the "big leagues" as an events destination, a replacement is necessary.

Kind of sounds like the Maritimes' version of the Saddledome with those limitations.

Besides, the Coliseum is really out in the sticks... it belongs to that era of 70s and 80s era major junior rinks that were really designed like small community arenas but with a few more seats. The replacement will be a prominent feature in downtown Moncton.

I always thought that Regina would benefit from having a 10,000 seat venue right in the heart of downtown, although with the money put into renovating and expanding seating at the Brandt Centre in recent years, I assume that's not on the table right now.

Nathan · #**3691** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Kind of sounds like the Maritimes' version of the Saddledome with those limitations.

Besides, the Coliseum is really out in the sticks... it belongs to that era of 70s and 80s era major junior rinks that were really designed like small community arenas but with a few more seats. The replacement will be a prominent feature in downtown Moncton.

I always thought that Regina would benefit from having a 10,000 seat venue right in the heart of downtown, although with the money put into renovating and expanding seating at the Brandt Centre in recent years, I assume that's not on the table right now.

Also not on the table due to the nearly $300 million stadium currently under construction.

I wouldn't be surprised if when the Brandt Centre is eventually replaced, the Brandt Centre sticks around. There is quite the collection of event spaces in that area, and it's only increasing/being modernised with some old barns/buildings being knocked down and new facilities going up in the next 2 years. The Agribition and Farm Progress Show especially are big money (and attract a lot of international visitors).

In 2 years when the current projects at the exhibition grounds are finished, there will be a ~6,500 seat arena, 33k seat stadium, 6 arena community rink complex, 4 field indoor soccer facility, convention centre, and a large amount of exhibition/trade show space.

I'm thinking, depending how plans go, that a new arena could be incorporated into the rail yard renewal project just north of downtown. The space available was too small for the stadium, but an arena could fit. It all depends on timing though. I wouldn't be disappointed if they set aside the required land and used it as a park or something until the time is right though.

Migs · #**3692** Posted **Oct 29, 2015, 6:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacko

What was the reason for the postponement? Don't tell me it was because of the weather that day!

The city was ready to go with the announcement but the Riders wanted to wait until their season is over in a couple weeks. In other words, cheer the fans up & bring some positivity moving forward.

elly63 · #**3693** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Besides, the Coliseum is really out in the sticks.

I would hardly call it out in the sticks. it's barely 10 minutes from the new arena. Now that I think about it, I might have been able to bike it in that amount of time.

SaskScraper · #**3694** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Kind of sounds like the Maritimes' version of the Saddledome with those limitations.

Besides, the Coliseum is really out in the sticks... it belongs to that era of 70s and 80s era major junior rinks that were really designed like small community arenas but with a few more seats. The replacement will be a prominent feature in downtown Moncton.

I always thought that Regina would benefit from having a 10,000 seat venue right in the heart of downtown, although with the money put into renovating and expanding seating at the Brandt Centre in recent years, I assume that's not on the table right now.

Just like SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, the Brandt Centre in Regina even with its expanded seating capacity a few years ago STILL has room for adding more seats..

Brandt Centre wikipedia

right now the arena is horseshoe shaped on the upper bowl, but there are plans to add more seats for an easy 7000 seats plus club seating some day..

www.snipview.com

Like the Saskatchewan arenas I was kind of hoping this new arena for Moncton would take a similar approach and build a bigger building it could grow into with adding seating capacity as it warrants later..
I am really glad Moncton is getting a bigger arena though and hopefully it will put Maritimes on the map for more major events & concerts, maybe a World Junior Hockey or World figure skating Championships or something like London, ON Budweiser Gardens with similar seating capacity.

Taeolas · #**3695** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 3:31 PM**

I'm not sure if Moncton will have future expandability, but I am glad that the push for more seating was somewhat successful. The original plans were for around 7500 seating. I think most proponents wanted them to break the 10k club. Ultimately, the design got 9000 seating, 10k+ in some configurations, so they should be in good standing for the next few decades easily.

esquire · #**3696** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 3:49 PM**

^ It does seem that expandability is not a huge concern these days... for better or for worse arenas tend to get replaced rather than expanded. Which major (NHL/AHL/CHL) Canadian arenas have been significantly expanded (+1,000 seats) over the last 20 years? Only ones I can think of is the pair in Sask, although I'm sure there are others. Other than that, everyone seems to replace.

Also, arenas don't seem to be growing as much either. After growing quickly from WWII until the 90s, we've settled into a pattern where the NHL rinks are consistently 15-20K and AHL/CHL rinks are mostly 4-8K in the smaller cities and 8-12K in the larger ones. No one is really pushing the envelope with larger venues these days...

MonctonRad · #**3697** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ It does seem that expandability is not a huge concern these days... for better or for worse arenas tend to get replaced rather than expanded. Which major (NHL/AHL/CHL) Canadian arenas have been significantly expanded (+1,000 seats) over the last 20 years? Only ones I can think of is the pair in Sask, although I'm sure there are others. Other than that, everyone seems to replace.

Also, arenas don't seem to be growing as much either. After growing quickly from WWII until the 90s, we've settled into a pattern where the NHL rinks are consistently 15-20K and AHL/CHL rinks are mostly 4-8K in the smaller cities and 8-12K in the larger ones. No one is really pushing the envelope with larger venues these days...

Given the new location of the Moncton Events Centre in the downtown core, I would think it highly unlikely that it would be replaced as quickly as if it had a generic suburban location. I'm sure this arena will be around for 50 years at least.

I was one of the ones who was quite distressed when the city began mulling over reducing the seating capacity to 7,500 as a cost saving initiative. That's barely more than the existing Coliseum! Personally, I was agitating for a 10,000 seat arena. I'm glad the city bent to popular pressure and ultimately I'm satisfied with the 9,200 seat capacity. Even though the arena is not expandable, that should be enough to satisfy the needs of the city well into the future.

Nashe · #**3698** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Kind of sounds like the Maritimes' version of the Saddledome with those limitations.

To illustrate, note the low, sloping beams in the interior:

And this is why:

SkydivePilot · #**3699** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 5:29 PM**

Every once in a while, during the '80s and '90s, I've heard that Regina's Brandt Centre's roof was designed to be easily expandable. (Via "popping" the roof.)

esquire · #**3700** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 6:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Every once in a while, during the '80s and '90s, I've heard that Regina's Brandt Centre's roof was designed to be easily expandable. (Via "popping" the roof.)

Probably makes sense to fill in the ends with seats given that it's usable space within the existing building, but once you get to expanding the actual structure... well that that point, you have to ask yourself if it would make more sense to build a new rink downtown.