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

[benvui]

Originally Posted by Budyser

Yes, they should reverse that color scheme. Black at the bottom and mix the red
going upward, then mix in the grey near to top.

One good reason to not do that is if you are playing and those seats are empty you can loose sight of the puck if is gets above the boards and the seats are dark. I know years ago playing at Harbor Station, that is the only memory I really have of that game.

[MonctonRad]

I'm in New Orleans this week on a conference therefore will not be too active on the forum.

I found this render interesting:



The concourse level wraps around the east side of the arena in full view of the ice surface (in front of the club lounge, and one level below the private box seating), before disappearing below the stadium seating for the remainder of the circumference of the building.

You can see that this open area of the concourse is intended for handicapped seating. This is where wheelchairs wil be accommodated, with some seats set up for attendants and non handicapped companions. This is a nice touch, similar to the situation that exists at the current coliseum.

[Colouratura]

The inside renders look really nice. The multi-colour seating is also a way that if something is on TV and not a sold out it fools the eye and looks fuller than it is.

I still can't wrap my brain around how people are going to manage with parking to get to the new place. Are there any comparable events centres that are in this situation and do they work well shuttling etc?

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by Colouratura

I still can't wrap my brain around how people are going to manage with parking to get to the new place. Are there any comparable events centres that are in this situation and do they work well shuttling etc?

Stay tuned for the transportation plan to be released in June.

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by Colouratura

The multi-colour seating is also a way that if something is on TV and not a sold out event, it fools they eye and looks fuller than it is.

This is actually a really good point and probably explains why they went with the darker colours further back, as those seats are more likely to be empty at smaller events.

[MonctonRad]

The hotel I'm staying at in New Orleans overlooks the Mercedes Benz Superdome and the Smoothie King Centre (home of the Pelicans of the NBA). There's a Neil Diamond concert on tonight at the Smoothie King Centre, and they have an outdoor light display on the crown of the Centre, which gives me an idea of what they have in mind for the events centre in Moncton on events nights. It'll be kinda cool and unique in the region..........

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by flyer99

PS Can anyone answer my query regarding the roof of the complex. It's a few posts above. Thanks so much!

Perhaps what's there now is simply the underlay for the final product to be installed later. I know Bird Construction wanted to completely enclose the center before the winter season arrived.

So maybe what you're seeing is just not the finished product yet, just like the rest of the outside cladding.

[L'homard]

Re: parking for events centre:
Use Google Earth to look at Main Street. It is essentially a line of buildings along each side of the street, behind which are acres and acres, literallly hundreds of acres, of surface parking within a 10- or 15-minute walk of the joint. More than 40% of the downtown is parking.
I'm an old man and I have heard people saying that there is no parking downtown for half a century. Funny thing, I go downtown a lot, I worked downtown for decades, I attend many events at the Capital Theatre, and I like my downtown beers. I have NEVER had a problem parking downtown, even on the busiest nights of the year, even when Main St. is closed for things like the Atlantic Nationals. Not one time. Ever.
Now, maybe when 8,000 people come down for something at the Events Centre, there could be an issue finding nearby parking. I can see that being possible. But I'm not worried about it. God gave me two legs for more than just a place to put my ass at the top of them. Walking 5 or 15 minutes doesn't bother me, and when I get too old to walk, I can get dropped off at the curb while someone goes and parks.
Just my 2 cents CDN, and we all know how much that's worth.

[Monctoncore]

It's been very interesting going on the indoor webcam and watching the progress, the rink surface is now currently being laid. It looks like so far they have put down insulation and a plastic wrap.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by L'homard

As well, use Google Earth to look at Main Street. It is essentially a line of buildings along each side of the street, behind which are acres and acres, literallly hundreds of acres, of surface parking within a 10- or 15-minute walk of the joint. More than 40% of the downtown is parking.
I'm an old man and I have heard people saying that there is no parking downtown for half a century. Funny thing, I go downtown a lot, I worked downtown for decades, I attend many events at the Capital Theatre, and I like my downtown beers. I have NEVER had a problem parking downtown, even on the busiest nights of the year, even when Main St. is closed for things like the Atlantic Nationals. Not one time. Ever.
Now, maybe when 8,000 people come down for something at the Events Centre, there could be an issue finding nearby parking. I can see that being possible. But I'm not worried about it. God gave me two legs for more than just a place to put my ass at the top of them. Walking 5 or 15 minutes doesn't bother me, and when I get too old to walk, I can get dropped off at the curb while someone goes and parks.
Just my 2 cents CDN, and we all know how much that's worth.

People say the same thing in Fredericton, yet we have four parking garages and quite a bit of surface parking. I don't think I've ever parked more than a five minute walk from my destination, and that includes going downtown during Harvest Jazz and Blues when downtown is busiest and we lose surface parking to concert venues. People think there is a "parking problem" if they can't park their car right in front of their destination.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by L'homard

Re: parking for events centre:
Use Google Earth to look at Main Street. It is essentially a line of buildings along each side of the street, behind which are acres and acres, literallly hundreds of acres, of surface parking within a 10- or 15-minute walk of the joint. More than 40% of the downtown is parking.
I'm an old man and I have heard people saying that there is no parking downtown for half a century. Funny thing, I go downtown a lot, I worked downtown for decades, I attend many events at the Capital Theatre, and I like my downtown beers. I have NEVER had a problem parking downtown, even on the busiest nights of the year, even when Main St. is closed for things like the Atlantic Nationals. Not one time. Ever.
Now, maybe when 8,000 people come down for something at the Events Centre, there could be an issue finding nearby parking. I can see that being possible. But I'm not worried about it. God gave me two legs for more than just a place to put my ass at the top of them. Walking 5 or 15 minutes doesn't bother me, and when I get too old to walk, I can get dropped off at the curb while someone goes and parks.
Just my 2 cents CDN, and we all know how much that's worth.

I wonder if these same complainers ever attended an event at the Montreal Bell Centre or the Toronto Air Canada Centre? Can you image if both of these downtown centres would have the same surface parking as Moncton?

Where do the 100,000 people park their cars during Moncton's Santa Clause Parade? Where do the 10s of thousands park their cars during the Atlantic National? Where do the tens of thousands park their cars during Canada Day events and fireworks?

If these folks don't have access to the parking stall right in front of Sobey's front door, where and how do they buy their groceries?

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by OliverD

People think there is a "parking problem" if they can't park their car right in front of their destination.

This is exactly it.

People say the same thing about Saint John, and I've never had an issue finding a parking space a short walk from where I'm going.

But "walk" is a four-letter word, in full context for many Maritimers...

[felip_ars]

I think the "Booting" issue still floats in people's mind when it comes to parking downtown.

I'm sure once the plan is unveiled, I'm sure people's complain will calm down...until they see that they'll have to pay 5-10$ to park for every Wildcats game...

[L'homard]

You have a point Felip. I can't see anyone with a parking lot offering free parking on game/concert nights. Why would they? I personally don't expect free parking, but for sure many people will.
Frankly, I can take a bus for $2.50 if I don't want to pay $5 or $10 for parking. It's hassle-free.

[HanSoloCup]

To put things into perspective for parking, during the occasional game (either event conflicts or big games) people have to park as far as Pellerin St.

That equivalent distance would put you from the front door of the Events Centre to roughly the Capitol Theatre on Main Street or walking up Highfield Street to the other side of St. George Street.

Everything is semantics, the distances needed to walk to the Events Centre are no greater than the distances walking to the Moncton Coliseum from existing parking. The problem/challenge lies in establishing a clear parking strategy and then how to communicate it properly which it sounds as though the City is doing.

[felip_ars]

I think people will get the hang of it...and after maybe 2-3 months, most people will have "their" parking spot of choices.

I remember when I was going to Quebec for FEQ the first year, I remember driving around going nuts being unable to find a proper parking (I even drove back to Montreal once so pissed off because I missed a good chunk of the show). But after 2-3 attempts, I managed to get a really good spot (free nonetheless) with a bus passing by every 5 minutes (for 3$) dropping people right downtown.

It's been close to 10 years, and I still use that lot.

[MonctonRad]

I'm convinced the main issue is the booting one.

There is no question there is far too much surface parking in the downtown core. It's quite frankly a blight. The vast majority of this surface parking however constitutes private parking patrolled all too eagerly by the boot Nazis. Because of the liberal usage of the boot in the downtown core, there is considerable paranoia out there about where it is safe to park. This fear of the boot is the main issue regarding parking in the downtown core, and quite frankly serves as a major impediment to the growth of any downtown retail.

The following needs to be done:

1) - ban the boot.
2) - fence and gate all the private parking lots.
3) - adopt an aggressive policy to replace surface parking with multi storey parking structures.
3) - replace the current surface parking (gradually) with appropriate infill development.

Phase one however has to be the banning of the boot!!!!!!!.

[Good2go]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

2) - fence and gate all the private parking lots.

Who is going to pay for that? I already pay over $100 per month for my spot, and it is one of the cheaper lots around.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by Good2go

Who is going to pay for that? I already pay over $100 per month for my spot, and it is one of the cheaper lots around.

The private-lot owners. If they want to make money off the centre. Most of the private lots are just empty after hours now. If you had a lot near the centre and put up a fence, a gate and a booth or pay kiosk, you could make a mint.

[felip_ars]

They could make money without having to make any modifications at all.

Just have a guy at the entrance to collect the money, put a "Not Responsible" sign, charge just a lil less than the "going rate" and you can bet people would still park there, especially if it's close to the Centre.