Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I hope ottawa gets this done. At the same time Calgary should very close, Assuming CalgaryNext goes through. That would put every NHL arena in Canada Downtown.

Just heard through a friend that there's going to be an announcement soon that CalgaryNext is dead. Going to build a new rink in east end and a measly 17 million reno to McDump. What a joke.

[FFX-ME]

Not surprising given how little effort people put on the calgarynext proposal. Here's a half-assed concept, give us taxpayer dollars!

[elly63]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Just heard through a friend that there's going to be an announcement soon that CalgaryNext is dead. Going to build a new rink in east end and a measly 17 million reno to McDump. What a joke.

Hope that's not true, what would that be, paving the parking lot?

[Coldrsx]

Rogers, JW Marriott, Stantec, City of Edmonton Tower


http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx139/DSC00003_zpsdgabphu4.jpg

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by elly63

Hope that's not true, what would that be, paving the parking lot?

No kidding. It's not going to be enough to get current or new fans excited about going to that place. Just shows how the Stamps rate in Calgary: second class citizens.

[isaidso]

CalgaryNext being dead just means that particular proposal is dead. Another will appear in due time. I wasn't a fan of CalgaryNext and Calgary shouldn't accept whatever comes along simply because current venues aren't up to standards.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Just heard through a friend that there's going to be an announcement soon that CalgaryNext is dead. Going to build a new rink in east end and a measly 17 million reno to McDump. What a joke.

That'll suck big time! We need a new stadium and it needs to be covered.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by FFX-ME

Not surprising given how little effort people put on the calgarynext proposal. Here's a half-assed concept, give us taxpayer dollars!

Not true. What the public saw back in June (?) was only a small portion of what city council saw. A little while ago very detailed plans were released that showed a lot of work was put into the proposal.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Just heard through a friend that there's going to be an announcement soon that CalgaryNext is dead. Going to build a new rink in east end and a measly 17 million reno to McDump. What a joke.

East end? Any idea where that would be?

Agree $17 million for a refurb to McMahon is a joke. Is that even an adequate amount to expand the concourses?

I would have hoped a $100 - $125 million refurb similar to Ottawa where they do a refurb on one side while completely tearing down the other side and rebuilding a new grand stand with all the bells and whistles.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by elly63

Hope that's not true, what would that be, paving the parking lot?

Parking lot is already paved.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

East end? Any idea where that would be?

Agree $17 million for a refurb to McMahon is a joke. Is that even an adequate amount to expand the concourses?

I would have hoped a $100 - $125 million refurb similar to Ottawa where they do a refurb on one side while completely tearing down the other side and rebuilding a new grand stand with all the bells and whistles.

And where would one expect the current owners of McMahon to come up with this kind of money?

As far as the arena, probably Railtown - just north of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede grounds.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

East end? Any idea where that would be?

Agree $17 million for a refurb to McMahon is a joke. Is that even an adequate amount to expand the concourses?

I would have hoped a $100 - $125 million refurb similar to Ottawa where they do a refurb on one side while completely tearing down the other side and rebuilding a new grand stand with all the bells and whistles.

McMahon has better bones, but the complete overall of Mosaic (one of the "options" that pushed the powers that be to a full new stadium) was going to be well north of $100 mill to just addressing issues, bringing things up to modern regulations, and some small upgrades, though shoehorned into the current dimensions. And that estimate is already almost 10 years old. Methinks it would be a pretty expensive endeavour to really make major improvements.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Not true. What the public saw back in June (?) was only a small portion of what city council saw. A little while ago very detailed plans were released that showed a lot of work was put into the proposal.

Secret briefing books link CalgaryNext and Olympics bid, despite official denials
Drawing including the Olympic rings, winter sports banners makes link to 2026 Games bid
Scott Dippel, CBC News Nov 13, 2016


Briefing books obtained by CBC News include detailed drawings of the CalgaryNext project incorporating the Olympics logo. (Scott Dippel/CBC)

If the briefing books the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) has given to city council are any indication, the owners of this city's top sports teams have already put a lot of work into the megaproject they call CalgaryNext.

An awful lot of work.

CBC News has obtained drawings of the arena/stadium/fieldhouse complex that Calgarians didn't get to see at the council meeting in June.

They show a precise level of detail. Right down to where the coaches' offices will be located. How many washrooms are needed. Where the restaurants will be placed.

The documents leave the impression that the owners of the Flames and Stampeders didn't just pay an architectural firm for a few conceptual drawings.

No. This is clearly what they want to build.


Briefing books obtained by CBC News show detailing drawings of CalgaryNext facility. They include precise locations of many amenities, including locker rooms, owners' luxury box and washrooms. (Scott Dippel/CBC)

And while it's a detailed glimpse of what Calgary's future sports facilities could look like, there's also one image which raises so many more questions.

It's the one that shows the Olympic rings on the wall and banners hanging from the roof which display winter Olympic sports like bobsleigh, skiing and speedskating.

So far, everyone with the city and CSEC have said the Olympics and CalgaryNext are not linked. The picture shows either something else or a whimsical glimpse of some future 'maybe' if a bunch of planets align.

When the last CalgaryNext discussion happened at city council in June — a mere week after the city plunked down $5 million to explore a potential bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics — the mayor was asked about the connections between the two sports mega-projects.

'Just a coincidence'

"It's just a coincidence that it's happening at the same time. But the Olympic discussion is so far behind this discussion that it doesn't make any sense to tie them together," said the mayor.

"Clearly if you were going to go forward with an Olympic bid, you'd need more facilities. But whether those facilities look like CalgaryNext... you certainly don't need a new stadium, so it's a very different question."

The head of CSEC, Ken King, said something similar in April.

"Our project is a bonus to a bid, as opposed to a bid necessarily being a bonus to our project," said King.

It's worth noting that King is also a member of the board for the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority, the group that pitched city council on spending $5 million to explore an Olympic bid.

Coun. Druh Farrell voted against exploring an Olympics bid. To her mind, the two sports ventures are joined at the hip.

"How it's being discussed is CalgaryNext is associated with the Olympic bid, so I think we're past that point of saying it's not linked," said Farrell. "They clearly are linked."

Whether one believes CalgaryNext will cost $1.8 billion as the city estimates or $1.3 billion as CSEC believes, such a project will undoubtedly bring Calgary's sports facilities into the 21st century.

While a study is expected at city council in the new year on what's known as Plan B (possibly building a new arena at Stampede Park and renovating McMahon Stadium), the drawings for CSEC's Plan A can be tantalizing for some.

It's just that currently, there's not enough money to actually build it.

[franktko]

A video I just saw on mtlurb showing some renos at the Big-O. Some cool POV and timelapse shots....

• Video Link

[FrankieFlowerpot]

What Grey Cup?

https://twitter.com/torontofc/status/804056051020664832

[VANRIDERFAN]

[QUOTE=FrankieFlowerpot;7637891]What Grey Cup?

QUOTE]

good work by the grounds crew to get it ready for the soccer match.

[esquire]

^ What was all the fuss about when three days later, you can't even tell that a football game was played on that surface?

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ What was all the fuss about when three days later, you can't even tell that a football game was played on that surface?

Because soccer fans just want to be World class whingers.

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Dreschel: FirstOntario Centre reno options laid out in new report
‘Massive’ study is in, but we won't get a peek for some weeks

http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/698...tre-reno-options-laid-out-in-new-report/
Hamilton Spectator By Andrew Dreschel
A $240,000 private sector report on options for updating the aging city-owned FirstOntario Centre has finally landed at Hamilton City Hall.
Urban renewal manager Glen Norton says the "massive" study is being analyzed by staff in preparation for presentation to councillors early in the new year.
"There's a lot to look at and a lot to think about," said Norton. "It's a very detailed and comprehensive look at the condition of FirstOntario Centre and what it needs."
The study includes costed options for a major upgrade and partial and full renovations of the 30-year-old downtown arena, formerly known as Copps Coliseum.
The partial renovation involves turning the lower bowl into a state-of-the-art 8,000 or so seat facility with extensive remodelling of some hospitality and operational facilities.
The full renovation would see the entire 17,000-seat building uplifted to 21{+s}t-century NHL and other pro sports standards.
The report and construction costs remain confidential. But it's anticipated a full transformation would cost under $300 million while a partial renovation would be under $100 million.
The study is also expected to explore the possibility of the development of an entertainment precinct in and around a rejuvenated arena, which could include updated or new convention and hospitality facilities.

It's also believed to include information about the potential location of a lacrosse franchise in Hamilton.

The report was prepared by Toronto-based Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects (BBB), internationally known experts in sports-related venues whose clients include the NHL and NBA.
BBB designed, among other facilities, the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and led renovations at Madison Square Garden in New York and Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome.
The origin of the study is unusual to say the least.
It was commissioned last year by city manager Chris Murray after he was approached by local lawyer and development consultant Jasper Kujavsky with an unsolicited offer he couldn't refuse.
In return for a $50,000 fee, Kujavsky undertook to drum up $240,000 in private sector funding to pay for the BBB study.
Billionaire Ron Joyce, the Carmen's Group, FirstOntario Credit Union, LIUNA and Fengate Capital all contributed money to the study.

This is great news for Hamilton,
If SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon can secure a pro lacrosse team, surely with even a few renos, FirstOntario arena can do the same.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^Had one. Nobody went. They left.