Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm sure someone will inform me of the exceptions, but by and large stadiums with beautiful exteriors happen mainly when there is a generous political sugar daddy footing all the bills.

Always.

Allianz Arena in Munich was financed by Bayern Munich. Local Government changed the land agreement so the two football clubs investing in the stadium (Bayern & 1860 Munich) saved about €70M on land purchasing, whilst Länder government spent €200M on local infrastructure upgrades (subway/highway connections). It should be noted these infrastructure investments had to be voted on, and won, in a referendum.

Bayern's original plan was to pay Allianz Arena's €346M off in 30 years and they did it in 9 years.

Another example would be Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, home of Schalke 04. The entire €143M pricetag for the Arena was privately financed.

Emirates Stadium in North London, home to Arsenal, also appears to have been privately financed if my finance reading comprehension is up to snuff (it may not be).

Anyway, that's my devil's advocate work for the week.

[esquire]

^ thanks... I have to admit, international soccer is a bit of a blind spot for me when it comes to stadiums.

Generally whenever I see pictures of venues that are anything beyond utilitarian on the exterior, it tends to be heavily subsidized football or baseball venues in the US, or soccer and athletics stadiums in corrupt kleptocracies. It's somehow satisfying to know that there are a few exceptions.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by speedog

Why would a new stadium make any difference with respect to fans getting hit by trains? The old stadium was pretty much just as close to the same tracks.

Did you think I was being serious?

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

Generally whenever I see pictures of venues that are anything beyond utilitarian on the exterior, it tends to be heavily subsidized football or baseball venues in the US, or soccer and athletics stadiums in corrupt kleptocracies. It's somehow satisfying to know that there are a few exceptions.

The US has a tremendous problem with blindly spending public money for privately-run sports franchises. Although it comes across as almost a NIMBY-esque equivalent at times with a heavy slant against the use of public funds, Field of Schemes gives a pretty good background on American stadium projects. Unfortunately, this American fascination carries over into Canada as well, either through public perception or actual practice.

In Europe it's common for clubs or national associations to foot the bill for stadium projects. Wembley Stadium in London is finally now beginning to break even after nearly a decade of operation. In this case Wembley is owned by the English Football Association. Likewise, Twickenham is owned by the Rugby Football Union which has owned the land the stadium sits on since 1907, progressively redeveloping and adding stands over time.

It's more common to see governments in smaller, centralized countries foot part of the bill for stadiums/arenas of national significance which go on to host most major events for that country.

In contrast to this, Nuevo Mosaic is heavily subsidized by provincial and local government.

[BretttheRiderFan]

Well, to be totally fair, Mosaic will be the only significant stadium in the province of Saskatchewan, will be host to large events like the Grey Cup, stadium concert tours, the odd event that may make a stop in Regina (like a future FIFA tournament), etc. Not to mention the nine Rider games a season, which apart from the concerts to be held, are the biggest events in the province during a given year.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

the odd event that may make a stop in Regina (like a future FIFA tournament)

Unfortunately that won't happen because of the permanent lines and there is no way around it that won't make it cost prohibitive.

[Daveography]

Rogers Place - having seen that LED screen up close, it is very sharp and very high res



(More)

[Coldrsx]

Lovely, although I still wish they had incorporated the swoops to the left and right in the digital board.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by elly63

Unfortunately that won't happen because of the permanent lines and there is no way around it that won't make it cost prohibitive.

That's ok. Us hillby Saskatchewanites don't understand this soccer game. To sophistimacated for us. No smash bang and uggh hitting, just fancy smancy pants pretty boy diving divas. Doesn't work for us overall wearing farmers.

SARCASM

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by elly63

Unfortunately that won't happen because of the permanent lines and there is no way around it that won't make it cost prohibitive.

If FIFA comes to Canada in '26, chances are that the turf will need to be replaced anyway. In '26, haul out the old CFL turf, put in the FIFA turf, then stick in new CFL turf.

Done.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

If FIFA comes to Canada in '26, chances are that the turf will need to be replaced anyway. In '26, haul out the old CFL turf, put in the FIFA turf, then stick in new CFL turf.

Done.

I think the current point is that Saskatchewan is losing all potential to prove that they can support football events by being closed to smaller events/tournaments/matches. By shutting down the field so only gridiron can play there for the next decade it prevents that from happening. Saskatchewan has hosted 0 FIFA/CONCACAF events in the past and they'll be hosting 0 FIFA/CONCACAF events in the next decade, meaning that when it comes time to choose hosts for a potential World Cup bid what makes Saskatchewan more appealing than Winnipeg or Hamilton? Those cities and stadiums have histories of hosting, and supporting, international football matches and events.

In other words, it's a sort of 'what have you done for us?' type of scenario.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

If FIFA comes to Canada in '26, chances are that the turf will need to be replaced anyway. In '26, haul out the old CFL turf, put in the FIFA turf, then stick in new CFL turf.

Done.

If Regina somehow does get games in a World Cup, the men's WC uses grass. This was an issue in the WWC as it was the first one held only on turf and the players said "The men would never play on turf".

[elly63]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

If FIFA comes to Canada in '26, chances are that the turf will need to be replaced anyway. In '26, haul out the old CFL turf, put in the FIFA turf, then stick in new CFL turf.

Not quite as easy as you post. Most artificial turf is rated for eight years but will usually be replaced in five. You would want to time the EOL (end of life) so you don't have an artificial surface for two years that would be replaced by a turf surface for a World Cup (and keep that for a year) and then back to an artificial surface for the reasons that artificial turf is more economically viable than a natural turf surface. Planning is everything here.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Franco401

The men would never play on turf".

Yeah they would, turf is grass, hence we have the term "artificial turf"

[oiler-dude]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Lovely, although I still wish they had incorporated the swoops to the left and right in the digital board.

Me too! The renderings had the entire swoops incorporated. Wonder what material they'll be using now instead?


From: http://www.rogersplace.com/renderings/

[MonctonRad]

Work continues on the 9,000 seat events centre in downtown Moncton:

[king10]

So once rogers place and mosaic 2.0 come online, will moncton be the only construction project?

[khabibulin]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

That's ok. Us hillby Saskatchewanites don't understand this soccer game. To sophistimacated for us. No smash bang and uggh hitting, just fancy smancy pants pretty boy diving divas. Doesn't work for us overall wearing farmers.

SARCASM

Banjo Bowl in less than six weeks!!!!

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I think the current point is that Saskatchewan is losing all potential to prove that they can support football events by being closed to smaller events/tournaments/matches. By shutting down the field so only gridiron can play there for the next decade it prevents that from happening. Saskatchewan has hosted 0 FIFA/CONCACAF events in the past and they'll be hosting 0 FIFA/CONCACAF events in the next decade, meaning that when it comes time to choose hosts for a potential World Cup bid what makes Saskatchewan more appealing than Winnipeg or Hamilton? Those cities and stadiums have histories of hosting, and supporting, international football matches and events.

In other words, it's a sort of 'what have you done for us?' type of scenario.

Well, the Mosaic facility will be completed as per FIFA standards. (If you don't believe me, do your own research.)

Canada's nine largest facilities could be used akin to Brazil's hosting in '14. We will find out by '26. (If we don't host FIFA, well, it was fun debating this anyway.)

[tomthumb2]

Old clip from 1978, showing Taylor Field expansion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSnJI1BIJjY

Scrub to 40:00. I never knew Winnipeg Stadium expansion happened at that time as well.