Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

People talk about Saskatoon as a potential market but I just don't see the demand. We're notoriously bad for supporting our own teams and I'd say the Rush are the exception for a variety of reasons. Given the choice between the Riders and our own team, I think many people would prefer the Riders.

?..I thought the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football team in Saskatoon routinely sell out their games and is one of the highest attended CIS Football sports teams in Canada.

people in Saskatoon would prefer the Riders in Regina more than their own Saskatoon CFL team? .. I'll have to take your word on that..
..I think most people in Saskatoon would be more up in arms about paying any potential tax money toward a facility/Stadium for the CFL..

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

?..I thought the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football team in Saskatoon routinely sell out their games and is one of the highest attended CIS Football sports teams in Canada.

According to Wikipedia Griffiths Stadium seats just over 6000, so it doesn't look they routinely sell out according to their website. Two games out of five isn't that great, especially when a majority of people attending are students.

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

According to Wikipedia Griffiths Stadium seats just over 6000, so it doesn't look they routinely sell out according to their website. Two games out of five isn't that great, especially when a majority of people attending are students.

We are still talking about Canada and not American College sports right?
..still better percent sell outs than 95% of any other CIS Football team & CFL team for that matter..
I'm not sure why students attending makes any difference or makes it less valid

[craner]

Here is my fantasy CFL structure for somewhere around the year 2050:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Pacific Division
Victoria
Vancouver
Kelowna
Calgary

Prairie Division
Edmonton
Saskatoon
Regina
Winnipeg

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ontario Division
Windsor
London
Toronto
Hamilton

Atlantic Division
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec City
Halifax

Every team plays each other once (15 games) plus their own division a second time (3 more games) for an 18 game schedule.
Top 2 teams in each division make the playoffs.

One other crazy idea that popped into my head is to reward the first place team an advantage in the divisional playoff game by spotting them a lead equal to the number of points they finished ahead of the second place team. For example, if Ottawa finished first in the Atlantic division with 26 points and Halifax was second with 22 points then Ottawa would start the playoff game with a 4 point lead.

Crazy I know but I wish it was in affect this year as the Stamps would start the West final with an 11 to 13 point lead - ha.

Ok - criticize away!

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

We are still talking about Canada and not American College sports right?
..still better percent sell outs than 95% of any other CIS Football team & CFL team for that matter..
I'm not sure why students attending makes any difference or makes it less valid

True, it's better than most teams, but it's still not a constant sellout. The fans only come out in droves for the major games like Homecoming and the Blackout game. Students get in for free so I wouldn't say that they're a good determinant for how a professional team would draw.

Originally Posted by craner

Here is my fantasy CFL structure for somewhere around the year 2050:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Pacific Division
Victoria
Vancouver
Kelowna
Calgary

Prairie Division
Edmonton
Saskatoon
Regina
Winnipeg

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ontario Division
Windsor
London
Toronto
Hamilton

Atlantic Division
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec City
Halifax

I don't Windsor would support a team; that's Lions territory. Perhaps K-C-W instead?

[eemy]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

True, it's better than most teams, but it's still not a constant sellout. The fans only come out in droves for the major games like Homecoming and the Blackout game. Students get in for free so I wouldn't say that they're a good determinant for how a professional team would draw.



I don't Windsor would support a team; that's Lions territory. Perhaps K-C-W instead?

I'm skeptical that KW would support a team, but I could be wrong.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by craner

Here is my fantasy CFL structure for somewhere around the year 2050:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Pacific Division
Victoria
Vancouver
Kelowna
Calgary

Prairie Division
Edmonton
Saskatoon
Regina
Winnipeg

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ontario Division
Windsor
London
Toronto
Hamilton

Atlantic Division
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec City
Halifax

My only immediate criticism is the splitting of Edmonton and Calgary in separate divisions. That would never fly.

Otherwise, who really knows what (or if) the CFL would look like in 35 years time. I would love to see support and enthusiasm for the league grow to the point where a 16-team league would be feasible.

One other comment - should the CFL's popularity grow to the point where 16 teams would be possible, it's extremely likely that Toronto and/or Montreal would have multiple teams.

For now, the news that there may be a serious effort to get a stadium in Halifax is amazing and the elusive 10th Canadian team could become reality. That in itself would be a great step forward.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

We are still talking about Canada and not American College sports right?
..still better percent sell outs than 95% of any other CIS Football team & CFL team for that matter..
I'm not sure why students attending makes any difference or makes it less valid

I went to the Uof Regina and UBC game last night. It was a fantastic game, kept me on the edge of my seat all night.
The flow was fantastic, especially since there were no video reviews and challenges. It was enjoyable watching Blake Nill lose his mind in Kent Austin like fashion!
CIS football is very good to watch and is so much more affordable than other entertainment options.
I am buying season tickets for the Rams next year.

[craner]

^Was it at New Mosaic ?

[craner]

Originally Posted by Horus

My only immediate criticism is the splitting of Edmonton and Calgary in separate divisions. That would never fly.

Otherwise, who really knows what (or if) the CFL would look like in 35 years time. I would love to see support and enthusiasm for the league grow to the point where a 16-team league would be feasible.

One other comment - should the CFL's popularity grow to the point where 16 teams would be possible, it's extremely likely that Toronto and/or Montreal would have multiple teams.

For now, the news that there may be a serious effort to get a stadium in Halifax is amazing and the elusive 10th Canadian team could become reality. That in itself would be a great step forward.

Totally agree with all this.
As I said, it really was just a pie-in-the-sky fantasy league.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by craner

^Was it at New Mosaic ?

Sorry no. No more football at the new stadium until 2017.

[zoomer]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

At the same time The "islanders" would be the only pro sports team available without a trip to the mainland. It also gives the island a sense of identity. Not arguing with you at all. I'm not saying it would or wouldn't work. But a football stadium which would need to be largely or full covered wouldn't come cheap. You cant build an THF or TD place in that climate. So that's a big hurdle. And cooperate support is another big question, Victoria is largely navy and tourism

Not sure why a stadium in Victoria would need to be covered?

Regardless, living in the city there I would say there is little interest for a CFL team. First of all there would be near zero support for an expensive stadium, I'm still shocked Regina pulled it off. Next, Victoria is more an amateur sport or participant based sports town.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by zoomer

Not sure why a stadium in Victoria would need to be covered?

Victoria has the best climate for an open stadium of any city in Canada. Not many people realize that it is much less rainy than Vancouver, and even Vancouver is only rainy in the winter, not in the summer usually. Both cities are milder than other parts of Canada.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by craner

Here is my fantasy CFL structure for somewhere around the year 2050:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Pacific Division
Victoria
Vancouver
Kelowna
Calgary

Prairie Division
Edmonton
Saskatoon
Regina
Winnipeg

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ontario Division
Windsor
London
Toronto
Hamilton

Atlantic Division
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec City
Halifax

Every team plays each other once (15 games) plus their own division a second time (3 more games) for an 18 game schedule.
Top 2 teams in each division make the playoffs.

One other crazy idea that popped into my head is to reward the first place team an advantage in the divisional playoff game by spotting them a lead equal to the number of points they finished ahead of the second place team. For example, if Ottawa finished first in the Atlantic division with 26 points and Halifax was second with 22 points then Ottawa would start the playoff game with a 4 point lead.

Crazy I know but I wish it was in affect this year as the Stamps would start the West final with an 11 to 13 point lead - ha.

Ok - criticize away!

I wouldn't be surprised if spectator sports sees a huge decline over the next 35 years taking out a number of leagues.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by someone123

Victoria has the best climate for an open stadium of any city in Canada. Not many people realize that it is much less rainy than Vancouver, and even Vancouver is only rainy in the winter, not in the summer usually. Both cities are milder than other parts of Canada.

The entire island is rainy. I worked there for 8 months it rained almost constantly in the winter cant speak for victoria itself

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by craner

Totally agree with all this.
As I said, it really was just a pie-in-the-sky fantasy league.

Do you really need divisions in a 16 team league with 18 regular season games anyway? I don't see why a western and eastern conference wouldn't suffice

I just look at quebec as a great potential market as well So that begs the question where would be the best place for a 12th western team even if were talking 15 years down the road

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I wouldn't be surprised if spectator sports sees a huge decline over the next 35 years taking out a number of leagues.

This. I'm afraid.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

The entire island is rainy. I worked there for 8 months it rained almost constantly in the winter cant speak for victoria itself

There is a huge range of different around Vancouver Island when it comes to rain. Tofino for example gets about 5 times as much as Victoria because Tofino is exposed to Pacific storm systems and Victoria is in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains. Victoria is one of the drier cities in Canada.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

The entire island is rainy. I worked there for 8 months it rained almost constantly in the winter cant speak for victoria itself

Victoria is in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains to the sw. The city and Saanich Peninsula do get less rain than up Island, the west coast of the island and Vancouver.

[Dalreg]

Down to the final game for the grand old lady. Will be a sad day for a lot of true green fans. As much as the new stadium is awesome and all that, this tired old girl will always hold a special place in memories.

Very sad that I can't make it to the last game. Thanks for the memories.