Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[itom 987]

It's coming along nicely!

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by Mister F

Fair enough. The Winter Classic does seem to be losing a bit of its novelty though, at least in the States.

In any case, we've had a Winter Classic at Fenway with 38,000 people. That's not all that much bigger than BMO Field. I don't see it as a problem.

BMO can have seating expanded to 40,000 for big events. Not sure if that will be the format for the Winter Classic but it should be doable since they'll make the next phase of upgrades in the Fall 2016 season.

[sdimedru]

Originally Posted by Daveography

Ice District Community Rink:



Rogers Place:


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thx for the update!

They've done so,so much... only months remaining for the arena to be ready!

[Oilkountry]

I would expect more from Toronto than BMO? Sorry to say it but although great for the CFL/MLS it's a Tiny underwhelming venue for such a rare event. I don't know why your bringing "Hockey city" into this at all, nobody is gonna question that............... The conversation is RC VS BMO for a leafs game.

Originally Posted by Mister F

You and esquire are the ones who seemed to imply that a stadium like BMO lessens the stature of the Leafs and Toronto as a hockey city.

Are you dyslexic?

Again, wtf does a football stadium have to do with the level of hockey support in a city? Not once in this entire thread has anyone pointed out that BMO shows a lack of support for the Leafs. You're literally the only one pointing that direction. I can't speak for esquire but all I'm referring to is BMO vs RC on such a big stage. This same discussion could be had for a World Cup, Grey Cup, MLS final ect. BMO can host any big event with ease but that's not the debate. If the Blackhawks used Toyota park over Soldier field it would potentially raise a few eyebrows as to why they chose one over the other. Rogers centre is Toronto's premier Stadium. It's the 2nd most prominent structure in the cities skyline and is a big part of the fabric woven into the Toronto sports scene. Not to mention it has greater financial potential. I'm not sure why anyone would dismiss it as a suitable venue for an NHL game? BMO is an outdoor Stadium and the renovations were hinged on big events like a Heritage Classic and GreyCups so in the end BMO got the gigs, but that doesn't necessarily mean it makes the most sense on any level.

[blueandgoldguy]

BMO Field's size shouldn't prevent it from deriving similar or greater profits then Heritage or Winter Classics is 50,000 - 60,000 seat stadiums.

Let's say the average price is $200 in larger stadiums. MLSE and the NHL will charge an average ticket price of $300 or possibly more to make up the difference in Toronto.

[FFX-ME]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

BMO Field's size shouldn't prevent it from deriving similar or greater profits then Heritage or Winter Classics is 50,000 - 60,000 seat stadiums.

Let's say the average price is $200 in larger stadiums. MLSE and the NHL will charge an average ticket price of $300 or possibly more to make up the difference in Toronto.

But it's a really ugly stadium. Would make Canada look cheap. A Heritage/winter classic should be in the Skydome.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

But that's not outdoors and so defeats the purpose of the game.

[itom 987]

Taken on January 10, 2016

Edmonton skyline 2016
by Thomas Huizinga, on Flickr

[Coldrsx]

It is hard to really tell, but the size of the arena and surrounding developments with respect to the 'Downtown', is absolutely massive.

[SteelTown]

Soccer entrepreneur pitches “bubble” dome for Tim Hortons field

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/622692...tches-bubble-dome-for-tim-hortons-field/

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are backing a local pitch to "bubble" Hamilton's outdoor stadium field during the winter.

John McGrane, a former professional and Olympic soccer player, has asked to present his idea for a seasonal soccer dome at an upcoming meeting of the general issues committee.

It's unclear from his letter how much it would cost to install the bubble, but McGrane says in a letter to Mayor Fred Eisenberger there "would not be any city capital" needed for the project.

He also suggests the project would end up giving back $100,000 a year for a "turf replacement fund" for Tim Hortons Field and up to 500 "full field bookings" would be reserved for use by the city's recreation department.

An accompanying letter from Bob Young identifies the Ticats owner as an investor in the project.

"The Dome will also enable our group to develop a soccer academy which is an integral part of our long-term strategy for growing soccer at all levels in Hamilton and our region," wrote Young in the letter now posted online.

The football team, as part of its long-term lease of the stadium from the city, is required to make efforts to bring a professional soccer team to the city and develop youth soccer training opportunities in the coming years.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Work on the dirt infield at Rogers Centre begins next month

http://echoesfrom527.mlblogs.com/2016/01/09/dirt-in-the-dome/

This February, contractors will be on site excavating the poured concrete that currently lies underneath the Rogers Center’s base paths. In essence, they will be cutting a depth of 12-inches out of the existing surface in order to create a recession deep enough to allow moisture to cycle throughout the base of gravel, sand and surface material that will make up the proposed dirt portion of the stadiums infield.

In its current configuration, the base cutouts stand a mere four inches below the playing surface, a depth that head groundskeeper, Tom Farrell says is insufficient with regards to keeping the surface moist. In turn, a dryer makes for a harder sliding surface around the bags, which can lead to both hesitation and peril.

“Ideally we want to go deeper so that our base is thick enough and deep enough to help better manage the water content” said Farrell at the fourth annual National Coaching Clinic this past weekend.

“If it’s too shallow, it dries out a lot quicker, becomes harder and cracks up during the game. We want to insure that there are enough layers built in to maintain that moisture”.

In the past, hamstring concerns have affected some of the Blue Jays most prominent players including Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and a laundry list of others who came before them. With a new infield, those within the organization are looking to curb this unfortunate outcome before it costs the club any further ailments.

The idea in doing this is to make the playing surface more comfortable for the players” explained Farrell, who’s been an integral member of the Blue Jays grounds crew since the days of blizzard like conditions at Exhibition Stadium.

In all, the retrofit will take between three to four weeks to complete, and should be ready to go before the Jays take the field in Dunedin this March.

[Brizzy82]

Winnipeg stadium/arena tour


Portage Avenue at Donald Street / MTS Centre by Greg Gallinger, on Flickr


19 Years in the Making... by Salvador Maniquiz, on Flickr



MTS Centre by Matt Duboff, on Flickr


Shaw Park by Kokulan Vivekananthan, on Flickr


Shaw Park Baseball Field by Garry9600, on Flickr

Shaw Park Winnipeg by NILO MANALO, on Flickr


Investors Group Field, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by jgawaziuk, on Flickr


Investors Group Field Panorama by froesei, on Flickr


Investors Group Field (panorama) by Paul Peters, on Flickr

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Nenshi laying the smackdown on Bettman

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^Stop rubbing it in!

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Work on the dirt infield at Rogers Centre begins next month

http://echoesfrom527.mlblogs.com/2016/01/09/dirt-in-the-dome/

I wouldn't have thought a foot would be deep enough - interesting.

Given that grass appears to be on the back burner, this is likely the best we can hope for in terms of the playing surface. I'll take it. I don't suppose they've considered doing the warning track too. It must be a big problem for outfielders...

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Nenshi laying the smackdown on Bettman

Yeah we like to waste our money on ridiculous pedestrian bridges, giant blue hoops and a library that about five percent of the city's population will ever use.

[esquire]

“If your attitude is ‘this all has to be private,’ then it never gets done because it’s not an investment that’s cost-justified,” said Bettman of the proposed project

Bettman forgot to explain how that becomes the taxpayer's problem.

IMO Calgary has the NHL over a barrel. I think the NHL needs Calgary more than Calgary needs the NHL... Bettman can't really play the "you guys are a frozen outpost that nobody would know about without my league" card the way he can with smaller cities.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Yeah we like to waste our money on ridiculous pedestrian bridges, giant blue hoops and a library that about five percent of the city's population will ever use.

Not a group of billionaires behind those things waiting to reap the profits. Those items are free for all to enjoy and utilize unlike the Flames where the price of entry is sure to be minimum $75 for the pleasure to enter the arena.

Libraries serve a greater purpose than sports entertainment which if anything is adverse to health as many of the attendees sit around for 3 hours and consume unhealthy amounts of booze and low quality, fried foods. Libraries enrich the minds and may keep bored youth out of trouble...not only with books but with the various programs they offer..all for free. Pedestrian bridges serve as links to other parts of the city and encourage alternative forms of transportation other then a car.

Less than 5% will use the arena. And let's face it - that deal is awful for taxpayers. How can you deny it isn't. King and his cohorts need to come up with something better.

[Mister F]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

Are you dyslexic?

Again, wtf does a football stadium have to do with the level of hockey support in a city? Not once in this entire thread has anyone pointed out that BMO shows a lack of support for the Leafs. You're literally the only one pointing that direction. I can't speak for esquire but all I'm referring to is BMO vs RC on such a big stage. This same discussion could be had for a World Cup, Grey Cup, MLS final ect. BMO can host any big event with ease but that's not the debate. If the Blackhawks used Toyota park over Soldier field it would potentially raise a few eyebrows as to why they chose one over the other. Rogers centre is Toronto's premier Stadium. It's the 2nd most prominent structure in the cities skyline and is a big part of the fabric woven into the Toronto sports scene. Not to mention it has greater financial potential. I'm not sure why anyone would dismiss it as a suitable venue for an NHL game? BMO is an outdoor Stadium and the renovations were hinged on big events like a Heritage Classic and GreyCups so in the end BMO got the gigs, but that doesn't necessarily mean it makes the most sense on any level.

Nice rant, but you linked the stadium with the Leafs when you said this:

I feel like BMO isn't gonna be a very good representation of this nations capital and the Toronto maple leafs in all their "glory"

Maybe you didn't mean it the way it ended up, with the implication is there. And yes, of course a football stadium has nothing to do with hockey support. That's precisely my point.

Originally Posted by FFX-ME

Would make Canada look cheap.

Who cares?

As I said in another thread, Canadians have an unhealthy obsession with what Americans think of us.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by Brizzy82

Winnipeg stadium/arena tour

I love what youre doing here but you should have used some updated pic of the MTS centre it looks so much better now than it did last season

Speaking of MTS just about a year ago today TNSE announced the off season renovations. I wonder if we should be expecting anything soon?

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

It is hard to really tell, but the size of the arena and surrounding developments with respect to the 'Downtown', is absolutely massive.

Couldn't agree more. The thing is at least 250 feet tall I couldn't believe how big it was when I was driving up 104th. Blew my mind how big it was. Makes Rex look like a community rink