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

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I think that would have created a much larger building footprint. The seating in the new building seem steeper, affording better views and making the building more "vertical".

If anything I'd think it would make the footprint of the building smaller as the second tier of seats somewhat overlaps the first. Looking at a view of Harbour Station vs the Downtown Events Centre, the bleachers definitely seem steeper at Harbour Station as well. Both buildings have about 24 rows of seats from bottom to top.

[SevenSquared]

I'm pretty sure that a two-tiered bowl in our 9000-seat building would have meant a curtained-off upper level for most Wildcats games, forcing us to sit low and see almost the entire ice surface through glass. No thanks.

Two-tiered arenas look great when they're full, and you just can't beat the view from upper levels in places like Everett WA where you can be 30 feet above the ice sitting just 18 rows back. If it were up to me we'd have built a 2-tier bowl with only 5000-6000 seats, like Tissot arena in Biel, Switzerland or Behrn Arena in Orebro, Sweden. Compact and incredibly vertical even in the lower level.

If going huge was truly a necessity, then I think Moncton chose the right design for it. The place looks great and the views are quite good overall.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

If it were up to me we'd have built a 2-tier bowl with only 5000-6000 seats, like Tissot arena in Biel, Switzerland or Behrn Arena in Orebro, Sweden. Compact and incredibly vertical even in the lower level.

Too small for concert circuit which was half the point of building a bigger building and replacing the Coliseum.

[SevenSquared]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Too small for concert circuit which was half the point of building a bigger building and replacing the Coliseum.

That was the narrative, yeah.

But given the severe issues with humidity and ice quality, not to mention the never-ending scheduling nightmares, the Coliseum was going to be replaced sooner than later even if the occasional mega-concert was never part of the conversation.

I'm still not convinced we needed a bigger rink, but rather a newer rink downtown. Time will tell if going huge for an extra $20-30M was justified, or if it was another case of thinking a little too big.

[lirette]

I am glad they went bigger, but also that they reduced by 500 seats to give additional legroom. I believe the capacity with a concert gets a nice round number of 10000 which I'm happy with. Concerts like Keith Urban will be selling out @ ticket prices averaging 100 bucks. When you quality acts coming in that will fill the place having that extra capacity means that much more revenue, especially with people coming from out of town spending money on hotels & restaurants.

The coliseum was bringing hardly any concerts that were noteworthy.

You can view videos of the interior on the wildcats website here

http://www.monctonwildcats.ca/

[Nashe]

Not sure if it's been posted but:

Official site: http://www.smgmoncton.com/

[lirette]

.

[SevenSquared]

Good to see that Keith Urban tickets sold out quickly (20 minutes?). Can't think of anything I'd want to see less than a country act, and even I tried to buy tickets just for the sheer novelty factor of seeing the first event.

True test will be once the novelty wears off, if the region can support big acts at $150 a pop on a long-term basis.

[L'homard]

Keith Urban wont be the first event so good thing you waited!

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

I'm still not convinced we needed a bigger rink, but rather a newer rink downtown. Time will tell if going huge for an extra $20-30M was justified, or if it was another case of thinking a little too big.

I agree that a newer (and preferably downtown) arena was desperately needed. The Coliseum had a number of issues and location was certainly one of them.

In terms of size, here's a comparison of similar size CMAs and similar size arenas:

Population is most recent census CMA/CA listing, with arena and capacity:

London (494K) Budweiser Gardens (9,100)
Halifax (403K) Metro Centre (11,093)
Victoria (368K) Save-On-Foods (7,006/9,000 for concerts)
Windsor (345K) WFCU Centre (6,500)
Saskatoon (295K) SaskTel Centre (15,100)
Regina (237K) Brandt Centre (~6,500)
St. John's (206K) Mile One (7,000)
Barrie (197K) Molson Centre (4,195)
Kingston (161K) K-ROCK Centre (5,614)
Guelph (152K) Sleeman Centre (5,100)
Moncton (144K) Events Centre (~9,000)
Saint John (126K) Harbour Station (6,308)
Peterborough (122K) Memorial Centre (3,729)

So similar to Victoria/London's arenas at a fraction of the population base. If you extend the Events Centre's geographic reach to Southeast NB for concerts and events you're looking at a capture-area population of 200K+, which would make it slightly larger than St. John's building.

I don't mind Moncton going a little big with its building. It's a growing community and one that sees itself on a more prevalent stage in the future. It's ambitious but potentially better than being hemmed in by a smaller building in ~20 years. SaskTel in Saskatoon is a good example of a building slowly expanding to suit its needs for events (originally built sub-10K, IIRC).

[theshark]

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

Good to see that Keith Urban tickets sold out quickly (20 minutes?). Can't think of anything I'd want to see less than a country act, and even I tried to buy tickets just for the sheer novelty factor of seeing the first event.

True test will be once the novelty wears off, if the region can support big acts at $150 a pop on a long-term basis.

I just checked, looks like only some higher price tickets are left.

Can’t wait to hear about the other events, hopefully something more on the rock/metal side

[HanSoloCup]

I've heard a rumour that there was such a demand for boxes that they are converting some of the press box area into boxes also.

[HanSoloCup]

Maybe there is something to my rumour, the interior webcam as been conveniently covered (has been for several days) on the side that the construction would be taking place (if there was any construction)?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by theshark

Can’t wait to hear about the other events, hopefully something more on the rock/metal side

Well, Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure is now booked for November 1st.

Not quite metal, but not country either........

[felip_ars]

Will be a good way to gauge if Kids shows will work in the new Centre (Disney on Ice).

Although it sucks that it have to be a Thursday, Im sure the Moncton area will be able to get a good crowd (maybe schools will buy tickets in bunch for school trip).

Plus it will be a good way to see how the fees will be for medium sized shows (tickets are between 17-70$).

The VIP tickets (145$) are already on sale, and for some reasons have a new "Order Processing fees"

$11.55 (Service Fee) x 1
$3.50 (Facility Charge) x 1
$4.25 Order Processing Fee

[PEI highway guy]

Originally Posted by felip_ars

Will be a good way to gauge if Kids shows will work in the new Centre (Disney on Ice).

Although it sucks that it have to be a Thursday, Im sure the Moncton area will be able to get a good crowd (maybe schools will buy tickets in bunch for school trip).

Plus it will be a good way to see how the fees will be for medium sized shows (tickets are between 17-70$).

The VIP tickets (145$) are already on sale, and for some reasons have a new "Order Processing fees"

$11.55 (Service Fee) x 1
$3.50 (Facility Charge) x 1
$4.25 Order Processing Fee

the service fee/Ordering fee may be how the facility recoups the 3-4% Visa/ MC/American Express charges on credit card transactions.

[theshark]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Well, Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure is now booked for November 1st.

Not quite metal, but not country either........

[MonctonRad]

from the City of Moncton website:

Installation of new bus shelters at 1111 and 1110 Main

May 3, 2018

MONCTON – Codiac Transpo would like to advise its customers that new shelters will be installed at 1111 and 1110 Main beginning on Monday, May 7 until Friday, May 11, weather permitting.

Routes will not be affected by the construction, however customers are asked to be watchful when transferring in the area.

The new shelters will be eco-friendly and will be equipped LED lighting, which will be solar powered. The new shelters will also feature lots of seating and will have USB ports to charge mobile devices.

For more information, visit codiactranspo.ca or call Codiac Transpo at 857-2008 or email at [email protected].

These bus shelters will be in front of the events centre at Codiac Transpo's downtown terminal. They should like they will be pretty high tech.......

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

from the City of Moncton website:



These bus shelters will be in front of the events centre at Codiac Transpo's downtown terminal. They should like they will be pretty high tech.......

Sick idea to have USB ports to charge your phone. I was recently in Halifax and used their wonderful transit and wished I could have been able to charge my phone more.

[L'homard]

Nice amenities indeed. HOpe they are vandal=proof. I f not then I give the solar panels two weeks, tops, before the huns trash them.