[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed

[KnoxfordGuy]

Love it!

[MonctonRad]

Most recent City of Moncton construction update:

PROJECT BY THE NUMBERS:

- In addition to stairs and elevators, the facility is equipped with two escalators to quickly transport spectators from the street level entrance lobby to the upper concourse level.
-  The washroom facilities located on the concourse level alone have in total of 68 toilets and 26 urinals, along with three family washrooms.
-  A structural steel rigging grid (structure that allows for hoisting or hanging equipment from the building) located in the roof trusses covers more than 2/3 of the arena surface and has a capacity in excess of 100,000 lbs. This allows major events to quickly set up and dismantle their staging equipment.
-  Four spotlight platforms are located off the catwalk in the roof trusses to enhance lighting capacity during shows and events.
-  Four large main staircases allow people to quickly and safely exit the building.
- Two exterior entrances provide access to the box office and one exterior entrance accesses the merchandizing store allowing for people to visit these areas when the facility is not hosting an event.
- To date, the contractor has recorded over 90,000 man hours worked on site.
- There are approximately 110 tradespersons working onsite daily.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY
WHERE ARE WE?

– Approximately 80% of the high dome type bowl roof is installed.
- The structural steel is complete, miscellaneous metals such as interior handrails will continue to be installed for several months.
- The exterior metal siding on the bowl level is being installed on the north side of the building facing Main Street.
- Glass is being installed in the club lounge facing the plaza and the main entrance area facing Main Street.
- The catwalk, which allows access over the event surface, is being installed.
- The mechanical air handling equipment located on the roof tops have begun to arrive on site and are to be placed in position by the end of the month.
- Interior walls have begun on the media level.
- Sprayed on fireproofing material is being applied to the structural steel. This spray maintains required fire separations between building levels and allows the structure to withstand a fire.
- Temporary heat is installed on the event (lowest) level. This will allow the construction work (interior) to continue throughout the winter months.
- The Downtown Centre construction project is currently on schedule.

WHAT IS PLANNED
FOR THE NEXT 4 WEEKS?

- The building will be weather tight allowing work to continue through the winter.
- Exterior siding will continue to be installed on the perimeter of the bowl section.
- Roofing will be completed on the bowl roof.
- Exterior glass will be completed in the club lounge and main entrance.
- Some exterior, but mostly interior masonry work will continue on the event level.
- Water and sewer work will continue on the future street extension (south side of the building facing the rail tracks).
- Sprayed on fireproofing material will continue on the west side (Sobeys) of the building.
- Mechanical and electrical work will continue on all levels.

INTERESTING FACTS

1) There are six windows on the south end of the concourse measuring almost 5m wide and 5m tall. These allow for a view of the Petitcodiac River from the concourse level and enable natural light to flow into the building.
2) A full commercial kitchen is located in the south end of the event (lowest) level. It services the concession stands, club lounge, suites and special events areas. Additionally, there are localized food preparation areas to support the main kitchen.
3) During events, portable concession stands will be used to compliment the permanent concession stands located throughout the concourse level.
4) The club lounge is a two story space starting on the concourse level and extending through the suite level. It has a full glass view overlooking the adjacent plaza and east towards City Hall.


Interesting view of the main entry lobby area.


Future club lounge


East side perspective

Something tells me I'm not going to miss the old Coliseum

[Monctoncore]

One thing I noticed is they decided to go with all the same style brick masonry outside, which is a change from the renders, where they had more grays and darker grays. I wonder when they decided to change that and why? The renders colour wise are looking much different than the actual building.

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by David_99

New Event Centre + Plaza Rendering



From todays Times & Transcript

You can see what I'm talking about from this render.

[MonctonRad]

Largest arenas in Canada (including the events centre)

#1 - 21,273 - Bell Centre (Montreal), tenants (NHL)
#2 - 19,289 - Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary), tenants (NHL, WHL, NLL)
#3 - 19,153 - Canadian Tire Centre (Ottawa), tenants (NHL)
#4 - 18,819 - Air Canada Centre (Toronto), tenants (NHL, NBA, NLL)
#5 - 18,810 - Rogers Arena (Vancouver), tenants (NHL)
#6 - 18,641 - Rogers Place (Edmonton), tenants (NHL, WHL)
#7 - 18,259 - Videotron Centre (Quebec City), tenants (QMJHL)
#8 - 17,383 - FirstOntario Centre (Hamilton), tenants (OHL)
#9 - 16,281 - Pacific Coliseum (Vancouver), tenants (WHL)
#10 - 15,294 - MTS Centre (Winnipeg), tenants (NHL, AHL)
#11 - 15,195 - SaskTel Centre (Saskatoon), tenants (WHL, NLL)
#12 - 10,595 - Scotiabank Centre (Halifax), tenants (QMJHL, NBL)
#13 - 9,862 - TD Place Arena (Ottawa), tenants (OHL)
#14 - 9,100 - Budweiser Gardens (London), tenants (OHL, NBL)
#15 - 8,500 - Moncton Events Centre (Moncton), tenants (QMJHL, NBL)

One thing to consider is that both Ottawa & Vancouver appear on this list twice. As such, Moncton will be one of the top 13 cities in the country in terms of having a top drawer sporting/events venue. We should draw events to the city quite well, especially if packaged with Scotiabank Centre in Halifax and Harbour Station in Saint John.

[felip_ars]

Maybe for smaller 3-4k shows, but anything that could attract 5-6k and more, there will be bidding war from Moncton vs Halifax.

You'll have the "Brand New Hi Tech Centre (but higher renting fees), with a motivated promoter (who will not want to pay fees at the end of the year if they lose money), but with a poor track record in term of concert attendance over 3k" (I heard about a couple of shows last year that almost got canceled at the last minute because of poor tickets sale) against the "Old Arena with a local promoter (who might not be as hungry as SMG), but with a far better attendances.

One thing we could see, is one city gets a show during Leg 1 of the tour, and the other during Leg 2.

What is happening now is that they are hitting the major markets during Leg 1, so they dont have the time to play a lot of shows outside those markets (especially since they will lose at least 2 days just by travelling). But because they already played Toronto/Montreal/Quebec, there's no point of gong back there for a show in the Maritimes.

Buttttt

Next year, Place Bell in Laval will open (home of AHL's Laval Rocket), and Evenko stated that they will use this venue to bring bands that sold really well at the Bell Centre during Leg 1 (that will assumably sell less if they come back in the next 6-12 months), bringing them closer to the Maritimes.

It could look something like:

Leg 1: Toronto/Montreal/Quebec/Halifax
Leg 2: Ottawa/Laval/Moncton

[OUIR@random]

The outside brick color is fine by me, I don't think the 2 colors were necessary. The only thing that bugs me is the name, I sure hope a major sponsor acquires the naming rights, it would sound way more official and in the ''big leagues''. Moncton Events Centre... it's as interesting as the Stade Moncton Stadium.
The Irving Centre perhaps or maybe it won't be an Atlantic company, time will tell. Sobeys is big in the Maritimes, however they are having difficult times now. Tangerine has a big big presence next door and Tim Hortons is major in many ways around here, just a thought.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

The only thing that bugs me is the name, I sure hope a major sponsor acquires the naming rights, it would sound way more official and in the ''big leagues''. Moncton Events Centre... it's as interesting as the Stade Moncton Stadium.

The Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria and the Centre Auto Gervais in Shawinigan disagree.

Like i've said here multiple times before i'd be surprised if it was anything other than an Irving subsidiary with naming rights.

[josh_cat_eyes]

People need to understand that the general public, bands, and promoters don't like going to the coliseum for concerts. I guarantee that Moncton will bring in a lot of bands that normally wouldn't even think about coming to the maritimes because of our inadequate 40 year old crappy venues. Just think back to how often there used to be concerts in the 70's & 80's. It's gonna be like that.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

It's going to be named the Downtown Moncton Events Centre 2018 centre d'événements Moncton centre-ville

Mark my words...

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

People need to understand that the general public, bands, and promoters don't like going to the coliseum for concerts. I guarantee that Moncton will bring in a lot of bands that normally wouldn't even think about coming to the maritimes because of our inadequate 40 year old crappy venues. Just think back to how often there used to be concerts in the 70's & 80's. It's gonna be like that.

Poor example. Think back to how many young people there were in the 70s and 80s compared to now. They absolutely drove the market and all trends, especially with no internet or social media availability. If you wanted to see a band they had to come to you. Demographics today make it more likely that tribute bands to those bands tour in the Maritimes more than bands directly catering to younger fans.

Not all of the venues in the Maritimes are crappy and 40 years old. Only the Coliseum, really, in terms of the large-scale ones.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Poor example. Think back to how many young people there were in the 70s and 80s compared to now. They absolutely drove the market and all trends, especially with no internet or social media availability. If you wanted to see a band they had to come to you. Demographics today make it more likely that tribute bands to those bands tour in the Maritimes more than bands directly catering to younger fans.

Not all of the venues in the Maritimes are crappy and 40 years old. Only the Coliseum, really, in terms of the large-scale ones.

The metro centre is also 40 years old. So the two largest venues are 40 years old

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

The metro centre is also 40 years old. So the two largest venues are 40 years old

I wouldn't consider the Metro Centre crappy, though. It certainly didn't need replacing ten years ago like the Coliseum did and it doesn't limit itself structurally from shows or events.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I wouldn't consider the Metro Centre crappy, though. It certainly didn't need replacing ten years ago like the Coliseum did and it doesn't limit itself structurally from shows or events.

The sight lines are aweful and the roof is low. It's a bad venue. I hate going to anything there.

[MonctonRad]

Interesting photo from the T&T showing workers at the events centre in the snow with Assumption Place in the background:

[MonctonRad]

Events centre main entrance.


T&T photo

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Events centre main entrance.


T&T photo

Wow. Very nice reflections of the government buildings on Main st. with the Crowne Plaza hotel.

[saintjohnirish☘]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

The outside brick color is fine by me, I don't think the 2 colors were necessary. The only thing that bugs me is the name, I sure hope a major sponsor acquires the naming rights, it would sound way more official and in the ''big leagues''. Moncton Events Centre... it's as interesting as the Stade Moncton Stadium.
The Irving Centre perhaps or maybe it won't be an Atlantic company, time will tell. Sobeys is big in the Maritimes, however they are having difficult times now. Tangerine has a big big presence next door and Tim Hortons is major in many ways around here, just a thought.

Really? Having a corporate name on such a public place is pretty gross-- especially Irving. Moncton Events Centre could be a bit more creative though

Just hoping "Harbour Station" perpetually remains the people's arena

[MonctonRad]

I sympathize. It would be nice for the events centre to have an iconic name of some kind, but we all know how these things work these days. The naming rights will likely fetch several hundred thousand dollars per year, and no municipal administration would pass this up, as it would go a long way to funding operating costs.

All modern arenas are essentially large billboards these days. The name of the arena will be sold to the highest bidder. It's the way of the world.........

[L'homard]

Agree with both of yas.
Ian Fowler Centre or even Moncton Whatever Arena sounds wonderful, but not so much if it costs taxpayers mega-dollars per year.