Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 214

tomthumb2 · #**4261** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 9:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedog

While the Saddledome is a lost cause as far as upgrades - the facility just isn't built in such a way to do anything of the sort, McMahon could be improved upon at some expense but as the University of Calgary owns McMahon, that just won't ever happen.

If you could completely replace the bathroom and concession areas at McMahon with something bigger and better (yeah, it could be done) and better seats, would people consider keeping the old girl around?

I'm not so sure. These days you need to have more than just a competitive team to get bums in the seats. Especially for the CFL it seems. Things like party decks, angled seating, massive jumbotrons, specialty foods, etc aren't just gimmicks IMO. I think they definitely draw people to the stadium as an alternative way to enjoy the games besides watching on your flat screen TV at home.

Oilkountry · #**4262** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Regina
Winnipeg
Vancouver
Hamilton
Ottawa
Toronto

Add Edmonton to this list If you include the Indoor practice field, well over 120M invested over the last 4 years. New locker rooms,player facilities,seats,jumbotron,sound system,feild,running track coating ect.

Acajack · #**4263** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Yes, forgive me. I was lying. Most people in London actually drive to CFL games and that's why it's so hard to get tickets for the Argos. I didn't realize that you westerners were just so darn sensitive aboot the CFL.

I won't dispute your assertions that the CFL is not on the radar of most people in London and in many places in southern Ontario, but that said... weren't you the person who came back from the UK a few years ago and lamented that Canada didn't have its own unique cultural identity (e.g., more of its "own" stuff)?

Kind of odd to have someone who deplores that then turn around and spout the usual party line of the acculturated Canadian set: "U.S. stuff is soooo much better than the Canadian, so why on earth would we pay attention to the latter?"

Oilkountry · #**4264** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedog

If you could completely replace the bathroom and concession areas at McMahon with something bigger and better (yeah, it could be done) and better seats, would people consider keeping the old girl around?

I agree. Fixing up the old girl might be acceptable, build a big ring around it, for player facilities/concourse/bathrooms. Slap down some new seats...done

I mean it could be worse....

tomthumb2 · #**4265** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:13 PM**

^ Worst concept design I have ever seen! What were they thinking?

Oilkountry · #**4266** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

^ Worst concept design I have ever seen! What were they thinking?

They were thinking of an ugly public funded stadium to run their multimillion dollar business out of. Riders excluded, You can't have your cake and eat it too. You either pony up and get an IGF or settle for a TD place/THF...or for demonstration purposes,New Calgary stadium

Riise · #**4267** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedog

If you could completely replace the bathroom and concession areas at McMahon with something bigger and better (yeah, it could be done) and better seats, would people consider keeping the old girl around?

It may not bring in the Prawn Sandwich brigade but it would definitely help with people who aren't looking for the 'AVX' experience you get at Cineplex. Casual fans that require the ability to purchases their beer quickly and then use the toilet just as quickly would return.

speedog · #**4268** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riise

It may not bring in the Prawn Sandwich brigade but it would definitely help with people who aren't looking for the 'AVX' experience you get at Cineplex. Casual fans that require the ability to purchases their beer quickly and then use the toilet just as quickly would return.

And things like party decks, massive jumbotrons, speciality foods, etc are a real possibility at McMahon. The bones are there - it's just whether or not it would ever be worth it if it were a possibility.

Riise · #**4269** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

By your ridiculous definition Calgary was larger than Toronto pre-amalgamation.

His definition corresponds to the definition of 'municipality' and prior Toronto's amalgamation Calgary was the second largest municipality in Canada. The application may have been wrong but the fact is correct.

Also, the City of Calgary includes farmland as we are still sprawling and agricultural land is part of our land bank that is continually depleted and refilled. Nevertheless, semantics.

speedog · #**4270** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

You are a moron. Calgary's city limits may as well be a CMA it is so ridiculously oversized (it includes bloody farmland). Vancouver dwarfs Calgary in every way imaginable. By your ridiculous definition Calgary was larger than Toronto pre-amalgamation.

Okotoks seems to have more deluded booster morons than anyplace in Canada thanks to the idiotic Calgary BoostersAreUs Herald...

I can only go by what StatCan says with respect to cities and CMA's and Calgary has never been larger than Toronto population-wise whether it be city or CMA.. I did not define what a city is nor what a CMA is.

Not even sure why you brought Okotoks into this conversation, not somewhere I particularly wish to go. Anyhow, back to the topic at hand, k?

Edit: I stand corrected as Calgary's city population was larger than Toronto's city population in Canada's 1996 census - interesting TIL fact.

GreatTallNorth2 · #**4271** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I won't dispute your assertions that the CFL is not on the radar of most people in London and in many places in southern Ontario, but that said... weren't you the person who came back from the UK a few years ago and lamented that Canada didn't have its own unique cultural identity (e.g., more of its "own" stuff)?

Kind of odd to have someone who deplores that then turn around and spout the usual party line of the acculturated Canadian set: "U.S. stuff is soooo much better than the Canadian, so why on earth would we pay attention to the latter?"

Ha, you have a great memory. I don't detest the CFL nor wish it to fail. I'm just stating the view from my seat that the league doesn't have a lot of interest here. I am very happy to see the gov't invest in Canadian identity - CBC, museums, etc. And the gov't has invested in stadia and I'm not complaining.

Steveston · #**4272** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 1:03 AM**

If you look at old pictures of Lambeau Field, and current shots of McMahon, you can see the potential of a major upgrade, which would likely cost far less than the Calgary Next proposal.

Oilkountry · #**4273** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 2:10 AM**

Great point. I would much rather see this than the "Next" Stadium. you could have all the modern flash of a brand new stadium with the history of the old. Honestly that Makes me hope this New project fails..

another good example is the big house in Michigan. They have the same basic design really. And McMahon is perfectly shaped to that oval look. The only problems I can see is

#1 private boxes although not impossible they might just have to be higher up or in the endzones

#2 The stadium already seats 35,000 So unless they somehow liquidate some of those seats this could pose a problem if you add more to the endzones.

speedog · #**4274** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveston

If you look at old pictures of Lambeau Field, and current shots of McMahon, you can see the potential of a major upgrade, which would likely cost far less than the Calgary Next proposal.

Yupp and plop a new arena on the railtown lands directly north of the Stampede grounds.

Oilkountry · #**4275** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 3:12 AM**

edit

Riise · #**4276** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 3:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedog

And things like party decks, massive jumbotrons, speciality foods, etc are a real possibility at McMahon. The bones are there - it's just whether or not it would ever be worth it if it were a possibility.

While I think major renovations to the bathrooms, concession and even seats could be covered by a ticket tax, anything more would probably be pushing it. One would need to compare the cost of such a massive refurbishment with the cost of a brand new ground. However, I don't think we need to pursue either option at this point.

Welkin · #**4277** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Maybe you are missing my point. I said that Toronto teams draw a lot of fans from LONDON, yet I don't know of anyone in LONDON that drives down for CFL games. Yep, this is my experience, not a scientific poll.

I do see how Hamilton can draw decent crowds - they will never get a pro football team and it's highly unlikely it will ever get another "pro" team. Its teh same reason why London's OHL team sells out 9,100 people 12 years in a row because we have no legit shot at an NHL team. Hamilton is content with CFL as they will never get a NFL team, but Toronto is totally different. They have a legit shot at an NFL team and overall are not that interested in a second rate league.

In all honesty, any football fan that is not going to a CFL game in Toronto because they are still holding out for Toronto's "legit shot" at getting an NFL team is a f**king idiot. That ship has sailed and is never coming back. The Argos are your hometown football team. There are no other professional options for going to a live game in Toronto.

caltrane74 · #**4278** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 4:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

They were thinking of an ugly public funded stadium to run their multimillion dollar business out of. Riders excluded, You can't have your cake and eat it too. You either pony up and get an IGF or settle for a TD place/THF...or for demonstration purposes,New Calgary stadium

Too bad Hamilton doesn't have a multi-billion dollar corporation running their team, so they could slap a fancy roof, on their not so fancy stadium, BMO Field style.

Acajack · #**4279** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 11:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Ha, you have a great memory. I don't detest the CFL nor wish it to fail. I'm just stating the view from my seat that the league doesn't have a lot of interest here. I am very happy to see the gov't invest in Canadian identity - CBC, museums, etc. And the gov't has invested in stadia and I'm not complaining.

OK thanks for the clarification.

As I have often said, I like the CFL but I think it would be better and more fun and exciting to follow if more Canadians got into it.

This is true of many other aspects of Canadian culture BTW.

Berklon · #**4280** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 2:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welkin

In all honesty, any football fan that is not going to a CFL game in Toronto because they are still holding out for Toronto's "legit shot" at getting an NFL team is a f**king idiot.

I don't think there are any football fans that are avoiding the CFL because they're "holding out" for an NFL team. They're just watching what they like and ignoring what they don't like. There's no ulterior motive involved.