Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[elly63]

On a somewhat related matter

B.C. Place roof raises cost questions
Cassidy Olivier / The Province April 3, 2016

More questions are being raised about the cost overruns associated with B.C. Place’s retractable roof following the release of new figures by the NDP, which suggest it’s costing far more to maintain the $500-million roof than initially promised.

Vancouver MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert said the figures, released through a freedom of information request, show annual maintenance costs for the roof have more than doubled, compared with the previous roof, which did not retract.

The new roof became fully operational in 2011.

Maintenance cost in 2010, with the old roof, was $152,439. In 2014, the cost was $348,096.

It’s an increase at odds with a cost estimate released by the government in 2009 during the initial days of the project, Chandra-Herbert said.

At that time, the province said in a statement the state-of-the-art roof would realize savings of $100,000 in annual maintenance costs.

“To see, in fact, the maintenance cost of the roof [increase], and not be cut by $100,000 as the government promised, there is really no excuse,” Chandra-Herbert said. “And it points out to me that this project was badly managed from start to finish.”

PavCo, the Crown corporation that oversees B.C. Place, said in an emailed statement that it was not accurate to directly compare the maintenance costs of the two roofs.

For one, the old, air-supported roof was static and not retractable, the statement said.

“Additionally, portions of the maintenance program for the old air-supported roof were deferred once the retractable roof project was announced,” it said.

PavCo said the annual cost of maintaining and operating the retractable roof is between $250,000 and $350,000 a year. This covers costs associated with operating the roof, cleaning and inspection and general and preventative maintenance.

The cost of replacing the roof has been the source of considerable scrutiny for years.

The government’s initial budget in 2009 for the replacement, and other renovations, was $365 million.

Soon after, it increased to $563 million. In 2012, the government said the final price tag was $514 million.

The roof has also made headlines for leaking water during a Whitecaps game, and an incident when grease and oil was dripping from its support cables.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by elly63

Well, that will take care of much of the roof to start off with.

Yeah fair enough actually

Does anyone have the picture/video of that retracting solid roof concept for the big O?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Ham Wallet

TD Place was built the year the Chicago cubs last won the World Series. Fact.

No. It was built the year the Leafs won their last Stanley Cup.

[wacko]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

You're really taking your name literally,eh?

The gridiron lines are negotiable, but the artificial turf isn't. Our current football stadiums aren't going to all sink some untold amount of money into trying to properly grow grass for a one-off World Cup. That would be a huge waste of time and money. In any case, artificial turf has come a long way in recent years, and I think the men can learn to play on it just as easily as the women did two years ago.

If FIFA is at all serious about becoming more transparent and (equally as important) more sustainable, they need to drop their lofty standards and start making do with already-existing facilities. In Canada, that will mean playing on artificial turf in existing stadiums. If FIFA doesn't like that, they can easily go to the United States instead. I'm fairly certain the U.S. would actually be better suited to stage a world event like that, and they certainly have the infrastructure to do so.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by wacko

The gridiron lines are negotiable, but the artificial turf isn't. Our current football stadiums aren't going to all sink some untold amount of money into trying to properly grow grass for a one-off World Cup. That would be a huge waste of time and money. In any case, artificial turf has come a long way in recent years, and I think the men can learn to play on it just as easily as the women did two years ago.
.

I think you're overestimating how hard and costly it would be to put a grass field into 8-10 stadiums for a month in mid-summer.

You can do that for 2 million bucks or something. It's peanuts for this magnitude of an event.

It can be laid or rolled onto an artificial field without any problems. Been done before in many places. And then New Mosaic can keep their stiched CFL football lines!

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I think you're overestimating how hard and costly it would be to put a grass field into 8-10 stadiums for a month in mid-summer.

You can do that for 2 million bucks or something. It's peanuts for this magnitude of an event.

It can be laid or rolled onto an artificial field without any problems. Been done before in many places. And then New Mosaic can keep their stiched CFL football lines!

Just have to stick that shot in don't you?

You know what a lot of people in Saskatchewan loves those stitched in lines because it seems such a stick in some peoples asses.

I'll gaze apon them every game from now on with a smile on my face.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

Does anyone have the picture/video of that retracting solid roof concept for the big O?

Don't Count On Seeing The Sun In The Olympic Stadium
Andy Riga Oct 13 2009

Unless the roof caves in again, don't expect the sun to shine inside the Olympic Stadium any time soon.

La Presse columnist Yves Boisvert today has a story about François Delaney and his $197-million idea for a retractable Olympic Stadium roof.

Take a look at a diagram of his roof concept.

• Video Link

(Delaney is the guy who bought the original Big-O roof and is selling strips of it online for a mere $47.94 plus taxes). Add his idea to the growing list of roof schemes. Here's one written up in Le Devoir last year.

The Olympic Stadium has been beset by cost overruns and accidents. Its original retractable roof suffered repeated rips. In 1991, a 55-tonne concrete support beam collapsed, smashing onto a walkway. The current roof, which was supposed to be hardy enough to withstand the elements for 50 years, is to be replaced.(See this history of the roof on the Régie des installations olympique website)

The RIO, the provincial agency that runs the Stadium, last year decided on a fixed, metal roof and chose a vendor, SNC-Lavalin. Problem is, no contract has been signed yet, RIO spokesperson Sylvie Bastien told Metropolitan News. She wouldn't reveal SNC-Lavalin's cost estimate but the new cover would reportedly cost between $50 million and $70 million,

Last year, reports suggested construction was to start as early as November 2008. But Bastien said the RIO is still waiting for a green light from the provincial cabinet.

Émilie Rouleau, a spokesperson for Tourism Minsiter Nicole Ménard, said department experts are still "analyzing" SNC-Lavalin's plan. She said it's unclear when the plan would reach the cabinet for a final decision.

As for Delaney's idea, the RIO's Bastien said the agency gets a constant stream of unsolicited submissions. "We even got one coloured with pencil crayons," she said.

[Migs]

Via Ryan Pollock

Via me

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

Just have to stick that shot in don't you?

You know what a lot of people in Saskatchewan loves those stitched in lines because it seems such a stick in some peoples asses.

I'll gaze apon them every game from now on with a smile on my face.

Aren't we sensitive? I have never razzed SK about this.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Aren't we sensitive? I have never razzed SK about this.

About as sensitive as you I guess.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

About as sensitive as you I guess.

Ouate de phoque?

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by Acajack

You raise a good question about the political optics of the whole thing.

Can the feds get away with dumping the lion's share of World Cup stadium money in Montreal?

Would money for stadium upgrades and construction in places like Calgary and Halifax offset the image of all the money given to Montreal under such a scenario?

I assume that the Quebec government and even the city of Montreal would chip in on the Big O project too.

That said, given all the money spend on the Big O which is in Quebec, the likelihood of a World Cup and CFL stadium in Quebec City is about nil.

I would think the provinces and cities would have to split the costs evenly with the feds for improvements to existing stadiums or new stadiums - 33% each.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

You highlighted? You made an entire post boasting about soccers future in the country and how great the CPL is gonna be for international soccer ect.

I pointed out how dreadful current conditions are for Canadian development as the highest levels (MLS/NASL) still consider Canadians foreign players despite being developed by clubs playing in those leagues. CPL should (eventually) be an improvement on that.

I really don't understand why you're taking issue with this.

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

And How the news of the CPL somehow contributed to how "foothills FC" is "opening" a new practice facility worth 200X the net worth of the team and 300x the cost of the "stadium" they play in. When it has nothing to do with the soccer club itself but is in fact being built by private investors as a community use facility. How does that contribute to the conversation about the legacy of future stadiums from a world cup?

Private investors willing to invest in a $10M indoor football facility can't be a bad thing for the future of the sport in Canada.

It has nothing to do with the Foothills club? This article seems to indicate otherwise:

"The new complex will house the Calgary Foothills Soccer Club and will have more than 7,400 square metres (80,000 square feet) of turf, including Calgary’s only FIFA-approved, full-sized indoor field. It will also feature an enhanced Sports Science Department with a large gym an exercise room, and an area for coach education.
Foothills Soccer Club Technical Director, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. says the new facility will make a big difference for athletes training here. It will allow them to hone their outdoor skills in an indoor setting during our long winter."

Seems like an improvement to me.

[itom 987]

Here is Rogers Place and the Ice District at night.


rogersplacenight by Thomas Huizinga, on Flickr

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Migs

Is it just me or are the seats in Mosaic pretty far away from the field? The sidelines are massive in that photo.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Is it just me or are the seats in Mosaic pretty far away from the field? The sidelines are massive in that photo.

Those aren't the sidelines, the outskirts of the field are currently covered with a protective covering for equipment to go on the field to install video ribbon boards.

[craner]

Originally Posted by JHikka

The MLB's basically stated that the only way the Expos return is with a new stadium and that new stadium wouldn't be hosting any World Cup or CFL matches. So, which does Montreal want more: Expos or World Cup/CFL venue.

Atlanta built a new stadium with some temporary seating for the 1996 Olympics that was reconfigured for the Braves afterward. Maybe this would work for the WC & Expos 2.0 in Montreal.

Of course the Braves are set to move out of that (only) 20 year old stadium for new digs but that is just the Atlanta way.

Question: Did Montreal host any of the womens WC games ?

[craner]

Regarding a stadium for the WC in Calgary:
Wouldn't the thinking be that hosting in Calgary is unnecessary with Edmonton (i.e. Commonwealth) reasonably close ?
Or is it an ironclad FIFA rule that you must have 10 stadiums ?

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by itom 987

Here is Rogers Place and the Ice District at night.


rogersplacenight by Thomas Huizinga, on Flickr

The arena looks even better at night.

[craner]

Originally Posted by Migs

Via Ryan Pollock

Such a cool looking stadium ... if only the the seats weren't that god awful green color.
(spoken as a Stamps fan with an aversion to green football teams).