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

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by flyer99

Thanks, please keep us advised.

It's back up, thanks to our intrepid Net Admin who is mostly water-proof.

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

It's back up, thanks to our intrepid Net Admin who is mostly water-proof.

Thank you and thank him for his hard work!

[HanSoloCup]

You can now make out the outdoor ice rink/gathering space starting to take shape as they work on the plaza.

[flyer99]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

It's back up, thanks to our intrepid Net Admin who is mostly water-proof.

Thanks a lot. Much appreciated!

[PEI highway guy]

lots of digging in the north end of the Plaza today.

[MonctonRad]

General manager named for new Moncton Downtown Event Centre
As one of his first priorities, Nick DeLuco says he'll organize a transportation and parking plan
CBC News Posted: Jun 05, 2017 8:29 PM AT|
Last Updated: Jun 05, 2017 8:31 PM AT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...-moncton-deluco-parking-naming-1.4147199

Moncton's new 8,500-seat Downtown Event Centre is not expected to open for another year but it now has a general manager.

In the coming months, Nick DeLuco said he'll look after everything from event planning to parking and naming rights to get the $104 million sports and entertainment complex ready for its opening in September 2018.

One of his first tasks includes creating a transportation plan for visitors, as the centre offers no additional parking spots — a point of some contention for Moncton residents.

[felip_ars]

Was looking at some old news about KRock Centre (see how they were doing), and looks like I found what kind of contract Moncton signed with SMG.

In Kingston, the City gets the first 700k in revenue from the centre (if SMG fell short, they have to pay the balance themselves). A feat they only did twice in the last 4 years.

Now they are renegotiating to have it lower at 500k (10% between 550k and 625k, and 65% of 625k+) without putting out a call for new bids. Plus they'll add 300k in arena upgrade.

At the end of the article

"According to the staff report, only two such agreements now exist in Canada: the other is between SMG and the Moncton Arena."

http://www.thewhig.com/2017/01/09/council-to-be-asked-to-extend-arena-contract

[MonctonRad]

Good find!

[MonctonRad]

Apparently the parking plan for the new events centre will be released on Monday night at city council.

The word (according to the T&T) is that people should have "diminished expectations".

They're still pushing the concept of people arriving at the centre by transit or by bicycle (which should be a quite popular option during a February blizzard).

On a more serious note, the plan calls for a "distributed" parking plan with people expected to walk for up to 10 minutes before arriving at the centre. If they think they can make this work though, 10 minutes isn't so bad.

Still, the city can't ignore the fact that if they want to get rid of surface parking in the core, they will have to replace this with parking structures. Of all of the major cities in the region, Moncton is the city most poorly served by public parking garages. This needs to change..........


But where will they park???

On the transit side, I gather that the city plans to increase the size of the bus lay-by in front of the centre so that they can accommodate 11 busses rather than the current six. This is a good idea.

As far as Wildcats fans are concerned, when I paid for my season's tickets a couple of weeks back, I enquired about parking options at the new events centre, asking specifically about reserved parking options for seasons ticket holders or club seating patrons, and I was informed that was an option being considered by the team, but that nothing would be guaranteed until after the traffic and parking plan for the centre was released.

Interesting times.........

[theshark]

Its time for people to get out of the "i wont go if i can't park 5 feet from the door" mentality, Moncton is growing and changing, traffic is only going to become worst whether we like it or not no matter how many parking spaces they build.

Alternatives need to be found, modified bus schedules for events, park and ride needs to be taught about now and planed along with future growth.

Walking a few minutes more a day will just do good to people!

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by theshark

Its time for people to get out of the "i wont go if i can't park 5 feet from the door" mentality, Moncton is growing and changing, traffic is only going to become worst whether we like it or not no matter how many parking spaces they build.

Alternatives need to be found, modified bus schedules for events, park and ride needs to be taught about now and planed along with future growth.

I think it's less of a 5 feet from the door, and more of a I just wont go in a blizzard if my only options are walking, Biking, or Public Transit. Specially with the issues Codiac Transpo is cycling threw right now. The lack of staff, and the lack of accessible buses puts a kink in the plans to use Public Transportation for a lot of Monctonians.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently the parking plan for the new events centre will be released on Monday night at city council.

The word (according to the T&T) is that people should have "diminished expectations".

They're still pushing the concept of people arriving at the centre by transit or by bicycle (which should be a quite popular option during a February blizzard).

On a more serious note, the plan calls for a "distributed" parking plan with people expected to walk for up to 10 minutes before arriving at the centre. If they think they can make this work though, 10 minutes isn't so bad.

Still, the city can't ignore the fact that if they want to get rid of surface parking in the core, they will have to replace this with parking structures. Of all of the major cities in the region, Moncton is the city most poorly served by public parking garages. This needs to change..........


But where will they park???

On the transit side, I gather that the city plans to increase the size of the bus lay-by in front of the centre so that they can accommodate 11 busses rather than the current six. This is a good idea.

As far as Wildcats fans are concerned, when I paid for my season's tickets a couple of weeks back, I enquired about parking options at the new events centre, asking specifically about reserved parking options for seasons ticket holders or club seating patrons, and I was informed that was an option being considered by the team, but that nothing would be guaranteed until after the traffic and parking plan for the centre was released.

Interesting times.........

How many parking spots are within a 1.5 km radius of the new arena? That is only a 15 minute walk for most people, maybe 20 minutes for some.

[theshark]

Originally Posted by Scarface

I think it's less of a 5 feet from the door, and more of a I just wont go in a blizzard if my only options are walking, Biking, or Public Transit. Specially with the issues Codiac Transpo is cycling threw right now. The lack of staff, and the lack of accessible buses puts a kink in the plans to use Public Transportation for a lot of Monctonians.

Wonder why they have a hard time to recruit drivers, wages must be decent and you get benefits I presume since its a city job?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

How many parking spots are within a 1.5 km radius of the new arena? That is only a 15 minute walk for most people, maybe 20 minutes for some.

I can't answer that off the top of my head, sorry.

The downtown is over 40% surface parking - a hideous amount but the vast majority of that is private leased parking, patrolled by the boot Nazis after hours and hence unavailable for casual public use. The majority of the surface parking in the city is therefore "dead space", serving no useful purpose. It's a horrible waste.

Ideally, this private surface parking should be replaced by new construction, with new parking structures added to provide both private and public parking options. This is the ideal, but I think it will take a long time to get there.

In the meantime, the options are primarily on street parking - which is fairly plentiful. I personally don't mind walking 10 minutes to get to the events centre, but many Wildcats fans are older retired men, many of whom would find this a hardship. I don't think their needs are being taken into consideration here. Also, in the depths of winter, when the city of Moncton gets it's usual dumping of several metres of snow, on street parking can virtually disappear because of poor road clearing and high snowbanks. This is a real issue that hasn't even been touched on in the current discussions. If we get a major storm, it could be virtually impossible to find on street parking for at least 10-14 days following.

If people don't think they'll be able to find parking in the wintertime, they likely won't even bother thinking about going to a game.

Paradoxically, despite the oceans of (mostly unavailable) surface parking in Moncton, the winter parking situation is probably better in downtown Halifax, because all your parking is enclosed and guaranteed to be available, despite the weather.........

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by theshark

Its time for people to get out of the "i wont go if i can't park 5 feet from the door" mentality, Moncton is growing and changing, traffic is only going to become worst whether we like it or not no matter how many parking spaces they build.

Absolutely.

Even if you don't want to bike and even if you loathe public transit there is still enough parking within a reasonable distance to not make your life a living hell. People are going to complain because that's what they do best but the Events Centre and Downtown Moncton should not give in to their complaining and avoid building more surface parking however possible. We need to get out of this rural parking mindset and into an urban, Downtown-living mindset. Park somewhere else, stop at a restaurant or bar on your way to the arena, and then walk back later.

If anything, the City should be better organizing transit and better organizing the private lots throughout Downtown to better alleviate the upcoming issues.

If people are going to complain about not being able to park within five feet of the building that's fine - the Events Centre won't need them anyway. If this is going to be an issue, though, i'd recommend that the Wildcats start pushing for as many weekend games as they can get. Hosting at 6/7PM on a Saturday and 2-4PM on a Sunday will be easier for traffic and parking than hosting games on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.

[felip_ars]

I just checked the bus schedules, and WOW! I know I'm spoiled with the MTL (and surroundings) system, but if they expect people to use it to get to the event, they better prepare for a major overhaul of their system.

Most Routes stopping at 10pm, and even less on Sundays?
The only one nearby UdM is only M-F and stops at 5h30PM
If you live in Dieppe...you better hope that you miss you're connection at Champlain (the last one leaves at 9h30).

If they are planning to make special shuttles during events, does that mean that the rest of the system will be canceled (like during the CFL games)? If that so, then it kinda canceled the whole purpose of "using transit system", if most people's connection are canceled.

Plus with the targeted "around 100 events per year" that means 1 one every 3-4 days, does that mean that the City will use the shuttle system at every one of them, or depending on the crowd?

They should start looking at getting later "last ride", by doing so you could start seeing people using it more and more to go downtown, have diner, a drink, then head home. More people downtown, and less buzz driving.

But then again, it would mean more drivers, and more buses...so more $$$ needed.

And I'll just leave this for fun. A guy recorded the row of buses that were ready for the U2 concert in MTL a couple of years ago...and the service was normal everywhere else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fccQaXcjGDU

[MonctonRad]

Great post!!!

Also, most transit routes in the city are notorious for meandering in and out of neighbourhoods, not being direct, and for having poor connections with other routes.

If they seriously want suburbanites to 'take the bus" to the events centre, then Codiac Transit will need a serious overhaul..........

It's really just another step in the gradual evolution of Moncton from being a small town to being a major centre. A serious city needs a serious transit system. Now is the time!!

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I can't answer that off the top of my head, sorry.

The downtown is over 40% surface parking - a hideous amount but the vast majority of that is private leased parking, patrolled by the boot Nazis after hours and hence unavailable for casual public use. The majority of the surface parking in the city is therefore "dead space", serving no useful purpose. It's a horrible waste.

Ideally, this private surface parking should be replaced by new construction, with new parking structures added to provide both private and public parking options. This is the ideal, but I think it will take a long time to get there.

In the meantime, the options are primarily on street parking - which is fairly plentiful. I personally don't mind walking 10 minutes to get to the events centre, but many Wildcats fans are older retired men, many of whom would find this a hardship. I don't think their needs are being taken into consideration here. Also, in the depths of winter, when the city of Moncton gets it's usual dumping of several metres of snow, on street parking can virtually disappear because of poor road clearing and high snowbanks. This is a real issue that hasn't even been touched on in the current discussions. If we get a major storm, it could be virtually impossible to find on street parking for at least 10-14 days following.

If people don't think they'll be able to find parking in the wintertime, they likely won't even bother thinking about going to a game.

Paradoxically, despite the oceans of (mostly unavailable) surface parking in Moncton, the winter parking situation is probably better in downtown Halifax, because all your parking is enclosed and guaranteed to be available, despite the weather.........

Thanks for the info.

For major events, it might be cost effective to have a shuttle service from parking areas within say 5 km. Even if people were charged $2 per trip, I think many people would use the shuttle service and then save on higher cost parking closer to the Event Centre, and walking.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by theshark

Wonder why they have a hard time to recruit drivers, wages must be decent and you get benefits I presume since its a city job?

Not sure about the New contract that they had to except after the lock out. But previous contract Drivers could get full time 40+ hours, and where well compensated.

Originally Posted by felip_ars

I just checked the bus schedules, and WOW! I know I'm spoiled with the MTL (and surroundings) system, but if they expect people to use it to get to the event, they better prepare for a major overhaul of their system.

Most Routes stopping at 10pm, and even less on Sundays?
The only one nearby UdM is only M-F and stops at 5h30PM
If you live in Dieppe...you better hope that you miss you're connection at Champlain (the last one leaves at 9h30).

If they are planning to make special shuttles during events, does that mean that the rest of the system will be canceled (like during the CFL games)? If that so, then it kinda canceled the whole purpose of "using transit system", if most people's connection are canceled.

Plus with the targeted "around 100 events per year" that means 1 one every 3-4 days, does that mean that the City will use the shuttle system at every one of them, or depending on the crowd?

They should start looking at getting later "last ride", by doing so you could start seeing people using it more and more to go downtown, have diner, a drink, then head home. More people downtown, and less buzz driving.

But then again, it would mean more drivers, and more buses...so more $$$ needed.

And I'll just leave this for fun. A guy recorded the row of buses that were ready for the U2 concert in MTL a couple of years ago...and the service was normal everywhere else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fccQaXcjGDU

Citizens, and Drivers alike have stated it would have been more sense for Codiac Transpo to keep the old Route system, and expand it verses having an all new Route system that takes you longer to get anywhere.

Also some routes with the old routing system where in the 15-30 Minute intervals, and this new system those same routes are now 30-60 minute intervals.

[mctnguy]

Maybe it's time to start connecting buildings downtown to the new arena via pedway. In Winter, I'll gladly park close to the Blue Cross bldg if I can walk into that building and navigate a series of pedways to get to the arena. One thing I like about Saint John is the pedway system they have.