Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 186

Oilkountry · #**3701** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 6:51 PM**

Just sayin...

10,000 seats is pretty big for the Q. An NHL team in QC might change the game for more than 1 city, It would be a pretty good answer to Bell place for quebec city and I really can't see a better option for an AHL affiliate for the Nords geographically..but again I'm not overly familiar with the hockey culture in NB. Is it big enough for both the Q and the American league? Are they willing to give up the 1 to gain the other?

esquire · #**3702** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 6:59 PM**

^ Now that the QMJHL has fully expanded into the Maritimes, is there still an appetite for the AHL there?

MonctonRad · #**3703** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Now that the QMJHL has fully expanded into the Maritimes, is there still an appetite for the AHL there?

There was a time when the Maritimes were firmly in the AHL camp. There were teams in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Halifax and Charlottetown. I think Halifax was the first to lose their team, only to be replaced by the Q League. Moncton was next and then all the other teams quickly decamped, with Saint John being the last (I believe).

The QMJHL is pretty well established now, with intense regional rivalries. I think it would be tough for an AHL team to get support right now.

Franco401 · #**3704** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 7:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There was a time when the Maritimes were firmly in the AHL camp. There were teams in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Halifax and Charlottetown. I think Halifax was the first to lose their team, only to be replaced by the Q League. Moncton was next and then all the other teams quickly decamped, with Saint John being the last (I believe).

The QMJHL is pretty well established now, with intense regional rivalries. I think it would be tough for an AHL team to get support right now.

Agreed. I'm more interested in a Q team in Freddy than another AHL team that might not last.

A possibility I see is the Remparts leaving QC after an NHL team arrives. There might be financial issues (Freddy doesn't have a rink over 3600 seats and the city wouldn't pitch in having just built 2 municipal duplexes) but I don't think attendance will be a problem.

JHikka · #**3705** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Now that the QMJHL has fully expanded into the Maritimes, is there still an appetite for the AHL there?

AHL is moving westward. No chance that AHL comes back to the Maritimes in the foreseeable future. NHL teams want their affiliates close.

I mean, for the 2015-2016 season alone:

Adirondack NY -> Stockton, CA
Hamilton, ON -> St. John's, NL
Manchester, NH -> Ontario, CA
Norfolk, VA -> San Diego, CA
Oklahoma City, OK -> Bakersfield, CA
St. John's, NL -> Winnipeg, MB
Worcester, MA -> San Jose, CA

In the event that the Nordiques return I would imagine that they would pick up the Portland Pirates, who are barely, barely still in Portland, ME due to leasing issues with the arena and city.

Not big enough for both Q and A. The Q does absolutely fine in the Maritimes and many of the markets are the perfect size for Junior hockey.

Taeolas · #**3706** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 7:45 PM**

I'd love to see Freddy get a Q team, even though I'm not much of a sports fan myself. The main problem is, the only arena suitable for them is owned by the University, and I have the feeling that UNB doesn't like anything detracting attention from their V-Reds.

Maybe if we got a group together that could push for a Q team, it could pull it off anyway, and eventually lead to G-H or O'Ree expanding to a proper sports arena. But I certainly am not holding my breath about it.

Franco401 · #**3707** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 8:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taeolas

I'd love to see Freddy get a Q team, even though I'm not much of a sports fan myself. The main problem is, the only arena suitable for them is owned by the University, and I have the feeling that UNB doesn't like anything detracting attention from their V-Reds.

Maybe if we got a group together that could push for a Q team, it could pull it off anyway, and eventually lead to G-H or O'Ree expanding to a proper sports arena. But I certainly am not holding my breath about it.

My absolute dream for sports in Freddy (20 year range) is a new, privately funded, 6k seat downtown arena. Behind city hall is an appropriate choice. The city just probably won't fund anything huge with all the projects completed recently.

Taeolas · #**3708** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 8:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franco401

My absolute dream for sports in Freddy (20 year range) is a new, privately funded, 6k seat downtown arena. Behind city hall is an appropriate choice. The city just probably won't fund anything huge with all the projects completed recently.

That space is earmarked for the Playhouse replacement and I'm not sure if there would be room (especially since an arena would block river sight-lines more than the Playhouse will). But a downtown arena would probably be great for a new arena eventually.

Maybe they could put it on the old Bus-station spot (taking over the entire block, or most of it at least), and integrate a Freddy Transit central station there too.

Pushing for it in 10 years, for completion in 15-20 years might be doable.

SkydivePilot · #**3709** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

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.

Yeah, I was referring to an expansion to 13-14,000 seats. There would be enough space to stick up to about 7,500 (or so) without popping the roof.

Coldrsx · #**3710** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 10:26 PM**

Can someone post this... can't access.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ho...ng-of-downtown-edmonton/article27045484/

Migs · #**3711** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 10:39 PM**

Regina update. Oct 30

& from a few days ago via @reginarev

Migs · #**3712** Posted **Oct 31, 2015, 7:37 AM**

A few new images from the City of Regina.

craner · #**3713** Posted **Oct 31, 2015, 4:29 PM**

^Looking good.
Jealous I am.

SkydivePilot · #**3714** Posted **Oct 31, 2015, 5:21 PM**

Mosaic II is looking pretty massive [in person] these days.

king10 · #**3715** Posted **Nov 1, 2015, 4:26 PM**

Mosaic 2.0 looks awesome.

Does anybody have any pictures of the BMO field Canopy construction/ Argos retrofit?

Really curious to see how that is progressing now that TFC is done for the year. Tight timeline to have it done by the Spring.

speedog · #**3716** Posted **Nov 1, 2015, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craner

^Looking good.
Jealous I am.

Ditto.

Work behind the scenes at McMahon and it's advanced age (for a stadium) definitely show.

Definitely need a new stadium here, just not sure the proposal is the right thing or place.

Migs · #**3717** Posted **Nov 1, 2015, 9:01 PM**

Mosaic Stadium preview centre opens in Regina in December!

Also the 'virtual venue' 3D View from your Seat is in beta testing right now. Will be very cool.

SkahHigh · #**3718** Posted **Nov 1, 2015, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taeolas

I'd love to see Freddy get a Q team, even though I'm not much of a sports fan myself. The main problem is, the only arena suitable for them is owned by the University, and I have the feeling that UNB doesn't like anything detracting attention from their V-Reds.

Maybe if we got a group together that could push for a Q team, it could pull it off anyway, and eventually lead to G-H or O'Ree expanding to a proper sports arena. But I certainly am not holding my breath about it.

Fredericton should logically have a team. It's unfortunate they don't have a proper arena though. The Q could also expand to Trois-Rivières (which had the Castors) and Sorel (which had the Eperviers). Granby might also work (they had the Predators).

The next AHL team is coming to Laval in 2017.

DavefromSt.Vital · #**3719** Posted **Nov 2, 2015, 4:39 AM**

Montreal is moving their AHL affiliate from St. John's to Laval once the arena there opens. Danny Williams owns the Icecaps name and has kept it after being initially affiliated with Winnipeg, then Montreal. Assuming Quebec City gets an NHL team, I predict their AHL affiliate will be the St. John's Icecaps.

Acajack · #**3720** Posted **Nov 2, 2015, 3:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

Montreal is moving their AHL affiliate from St. John's to Laval once the arena there opens. Danny Williams owns the Icecaps name and has kept it after being initially affiliated with Winnipeg, then Montreal. Assuming Quebec City gets an NHL team, I predict their AHL affiliate will be the St. John's Icecaps.

There is a good chance the Nordiques AHL team would go to Atlantic Canada somewhere as the number of cities in Quebec that aren't already in the Q is very limited. The only major still out of the league, Trois-Rivières, is rumoured to be coming back to the Q.