Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Good point - I didn't know that 12 stadiums were needed - I thought the minimum was 8. Regardless - not sure we'll see a WC here in our lifetime, I think it's more expensive than the Olympics isn't it?

Its cheaper (we have good infrastructure already, its only expensive if you dont already have good roads and airports, etc.) and we just have to build 2 stadiums (Calgary should also have a stadium built or refurbished by then). We are looked at as a responsible relatively uncorrupt country in an area which is the new frontier for association football. We can debate this till the cows come home but we are bidding and we are among the top 3 prospects (Mexico has hosted twice, US hasnt commited yet and they voted against the current FIFA president which we voted for from the start) given the continental rotation system. Our domestic league will be 9 years old by then and a whole new generation of domestic team academy trained players will be active. Canada also budgets a certain amount for major sporting events every 4 years or so and massive events every decade or so. We just hosted the largest and most successful Womens World Cup, no small achievement. We are ready.

[ggopher]

Calgary is considering the possibility of bidding for the 2026 Winter Olympics. I could see that or the World Cup bid going forward, but not both.

One of the advantages of the World Cup is that it spreads the events across the entire county.

I think Canada should bid, but leverage a lot of our existing infrastructure and stadiums (with a few new builds). I understand that some of our stadiums don't meet the FIFA requirements. Then in that case, change the requirements. Canada has a huge advantage being a stable country, we don't need to bow down to FIFA.

Same goes for the Winter Olympics, it only makes sense if we could reuse a number of the facilities from 1988. But of course the requirements and expectations have grown a lot since then.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by ggopher

Calgary is considering the possibility of bidding for the 2026 Winter Olympics. I could see that or the World Cup bid going forward, but not both.

One of the advantages of the World Cup is that it spreads the events across the entire county.

One of the advantages of the Winter Olympics is that our nation's team is competitive and won't embarrass themselves on a world stage. Heck, we can even realistically expect a top-4 finish!

If we're going to throw billions of dollars at a shady international sporting organization, it might as well be to the one which will at least provide us with a satisfying outcome.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Horus

If we're going to throw billions of dollars at a shady international sporting organization, it might as well be to the one which will at least provide us with a satisfying outcome.

At least being the host nation would spare us the indignity of falling short of the WC yet again via a tough loss to Curacao, or St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the qualifiers.

[mistercorporate]

Australia wasn't a sporting power till AFTER the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It even added fire to their soccer program. They are a consistent World Cup qualifier now.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by esquire

At least being the host nation would spare us the indignity of falling short of the WC yet again via a tough loss to Curacao, or St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the qualifiers.

So by being the host we get to (likely) win as many games as we usually do at every other World Cup AND get to spend Billions of our money to do so?

I would find no satisfaction in participating in a World Cup based upon having bought our way in (as host). If World Cup participation is that appealing, we could spend a fraction of that and earn our ticket.

I know it sucks to see our national team perpetually fall short by losing to countries most of us couldn't point out on a map. What prestige do we gain by buying our entry to the tournament? Qatar is doing the same thing and it's not really boosting their reputation. That, and slavery.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Horus

So by being the host we get to (likely) win as many games as we usually do at every other World Cup AND get to spend Billions of our money to do so?

I would find no satisfaction in participating in a World Cup based upon having bought our way in (as host). If World Cup participation is that appealing, we could spend a fraction of that and earn our ticket.

I know it sucks to see our national team perpetually fall short by losing to countries most of us couldn't point out on a map. What prestige do we gain by buying our entry to the tournament? Qatar is doing the same thing and it's not really boosting their reputation. That, and slavery.

I agree completely.

[Franco401]

If Calgary is seriously thinking of a 2026 bid, that would put us with potential bids in Calgary and Quebec 2026 and Toronto still considering 2028. For all the anti-Olympic sentiment that exists for financial reasons, the late 2020s seem like a good time for a Canadian Olympics.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

A random Canadian mens national soccer team qualifier attracts 50,000 sales and only 5000 tickets left with a couple days to go. A sellout is projected. Ticket purchases were limited to people within Canadian postal codes to ensure a complete home crowd advantage. Yeah, Canadians dont care about soccer

This is hardly a "random" qualifier. Let's not get carried away here, I've been following the CMNT for too long too remember and this is the first time the CMNT has showed any kind of interest anywhere near this. Part of it is the quality opponent, part the positive momentum and part getting the team the hell out of Toronto to build a wider fanbase. If they win it will sustain for awhile, if they lose it's back to 20k crowds at BMO.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by Franco401

If Calgary is seriously thinking of a 2026 bid, that would put us with potential bids in Calgary and Quebec 2026 and Toronto still considering 2028. For all the anti-Olympic sentiment that exists for financial reasons, the late 2020s seem like a good time for a Canadian Olympics.

It's highly unlikely we'll have another Winter Olympics in Calgary or a Winter Olympics in Quebec City before Toronto gets a Summer Olympics. The COC has already stated that openly. Events like this tend to be spread out by region and Ontario (38% of our national population) has never hosted at the highest level (unlike BC, Quebec and AB).

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by elly63

Let's not get carried away here, I've been following the CMNT for too long too remember and this is the first time the CMNT has showed any kind of interest anywhere near this. If they win it will sustain for awhile, if they lose it's back to 20k crowds at BMO.

One of the reasons interest is even at this current level is that Canada's results have markedly and steadily improved under Floro and we're now fielding the best team since our '86 run. We haven't lost our last few games against Mexico when playing in front of a home crowd and frankly the talk about us losing to St. Lucia doesn't change the fact that even world cup teams like US have also lost to tiny island countries, that's soccer. I don't have high hopes for this game but will be watching it (I rarely watch national team games) and have definitely seen a marked improvement in soccer support in our 3 major cities. It will only get stronger when the Canadian Premier League kicks off in 2017 and other cities can get in on the fun. Can't wait.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Those 5 city regions comtribute the vast majority of Canadas taxes so the rest can put up or get back to cow humping.

I thought you told us you were an educated scholar. Why do your posts constantly decry that?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Good point - I didn't know that 12 stadiums were needed - I thought the minimum was 8.

You're forgetting the FIFA Golden Rule. "There are no rules" only guidelines that can be conveniently set aside.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by elly63

I thought you told us you were an educated scholar. Why do your posts constantly decry that?

Explain...I'm all ears. Having a Masters and having been a university instructor hardly deems me a scholar. I'm not a published tenured prof or anything. We'll just have to agree to disagree, you and I never see eye to eye on regional/economic issues.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Its cheaper (we have good infrastructure already, its only expensive if you dont already have good roads and airports, etc.) and we just have to build 2 stadiums (Calgary should also have a stadium built or refurbished by then). We are looked at as a responsible relatively uncorrupt country in an area which is the new frontier for association football. We can debate this till the cows come home but we are bidding and we are among the top 3 prospects (Mexico has hosted twice, US hasnt commited yet and they voted against the current FIFA president which we voted for from the start) given the continental rotation system. Our domestic league will be 9 years old by then and a whole new generation of domestic team academy trained players will be active. Canada also budgets a certain amount for major sporting events every 4 years or so and massive events every decade or so. We just hosted the largest and most successful Womens World Cup, no small achievement. We are ready.

Agree with most everything except being cheaper. The security costs alone for over eight or ten locations are ridiculous.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Explain...I'm all ears.

The constant western putdowns. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, and yes I know of your ranch where you can grow your own food.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by elly63

The constant western putdowns. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, and yes I know of your ranch where you can grow your own food.

Why not? There are other hands. I do what I want to those who give me a blank cheque by putting down where I live. Some people appreciate direct unfiltered communications. That's how some of us grow, by challenging others and being challenged in return. If you feel uncomfortable with it, then don't engage.

[big W]

Originally Posted by esquire

What is Calgary's pro soccer team anyway? Or did you really mean Canada's top 4 city-regions?

No its top 6 skipping 4.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by ggopher

I understand that some of our stadiums don't meet the FIFA requirements. Then in that case, change the requirements. Canada has a huge advantage being a stable country, we don't need to bow down to FIFA.

There are no "FIFA requirements" that a modern built facility doesn't have. All of our facilities pass FIFA requirements. These are only for things like set aside areas for doping control, media facilities, security zones. etc.

The only real question would be what the playing surface would be. If we chose to go turf we would have to dig up all the artificial surfaces and install turf and maybe use them for a year or two for the CFL season and then replace with the artificial surfaces.

Or we could cover the artificial turf with natural turf or we could use artificial turf like we did for the WWC. The technologies and attitudes are changing and it will be a different scene in 10 years time.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

I stopped paying attention to him when he threw this nugget out

In 2004 FC Porto went from a cheapskate low budget (as in Ottawa Fury low) team to winning the UEFA Champions League.