Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[WhipperSnapper]

York 9 can't wait. They are charging good money for the sight lines and atmosphere for a track and field built stadium.

[JHikka]

The original timeline was three years (2021/2022) IIRC for a purpose-built stadium. I think Y9 had land picked out near the 407 that they were favouring for the stadium but I could be wrong.

[mistercorporate]

Interesting. Just saw this article:

https://york9fc.canpl.ca/video/york-...019-and-beyond

With the quote:

"As we go through the next 2-3 years at York University we have our eye on building our own permanent stadium,” said Ben Zayandehroudi, York 9 FC’s VP of Ticket Sales and Fan Services.

“We’re looking to build a 12-15,000 seat stadium that will truly bring the best experience to our fans. In the meantime, we have a great accessible option at York University that’s close to transit. The future is bright for York 9 as we move towards our own soccer specific stadium.”

Loving the ambition! Hope the new franchises next year have similar plans. Ottawa of course will bring their beauty along, certainly with the higher average salaries CPL will attract players as good as anything you'll find in USL (not to mention internationals).

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Loving the ambition! Hope the new franchises next year have similar plans. Ottawa of course will bring their beauty along, certainly with the higher average salaries CPL will attract players as good as anything you'll find in USL (not to mention internationals).

I wouldn't assume Ottawa will be in CPL in 2020. It's looking more likely the league has its sights on Montreal (Laval), Quebec City, Saskatchewan, and Pickering/Durham for the next year or so.

There were rumours of an SSS facility in Sask but I don't think those have progressed much in the past few months. They just held a soccer exhibition which was well-attended so that's one step in the right direction.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...ooty-1.5121462

[elly63]

I had a quick look at York9 and hadn't heard of the owner, where is his money coming from? Even a small self financed stadium is a pretty big undertaking.

I can't remember, which stadium was using shipping containers as boxes in the ends. Was it Halifax? Great idea, I'm interested in shipping containers as housing and find it interesting.

[mistercorporate]

The Saskatoon, Quebec City and Laval teams would be incredible developments! I'd rather Mississauga than Pickering, but it's cool nonetheless.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by elly63

I had a quick look at York9 and hadn't heard of the owner, where is his money coming from? Even a small self financed stadium is a pretty big undertaking.

The York9 primary owner (Baldassarra) owns the Greenpark Group, a real estate development company.

https://www.greenparkgroup.ca/

This info is also on their website:

https://york9fc.canpl.ca/owners-profile

Originally Posted by elly63

I can't remember, which stadium was using shipping containers as boxes in the ends. Was it Halifax? Great idea, I'm interested in shipping containers as housing and find it interesting.

HFX is using shipping containers as suites at one end of the Wanderers Grounds.

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

The Saskatoon, Quebec City and Laval teams would be incredible developments! I'd rather Mississauga than Pickering, but it's cool nonetheless.

Presumably the owner and stadium are further along in Pickering than they are in Sauga. The latter has one of the more vocal supporters groups in the country, so that certainly isn't their issue.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Presumably the owner and stadium are further along in Pickering than they are in Sauga. The latter has one of the more vocal supporters groups in the country, so that certainly isn't their issue.

Yes, all of this came out of the blue for a lot of us, in due time even the 16 franchises number may even be preliminary (Argentina has 26, and the USA seems to be moving towards 30-32 teams for MLS).

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Yes, all of this came out of the blue for a lot of us, in due time even the 16 franchises number may even be preliminary (Argentina has 26, and the USA seems to be moving towards 30-32 teams for MLS).

Easy fella, rapid expansion has killed many a new league. Maybe add a team next year to get an even eight and then hold tight for a while and build up some familiarity and stability. I've been following Canadian soccer a loooong time, (so it wasn't out of the blue for me) long before the last real kick at the cat (CSL) and this league needs to succeed. Baby steps.

[Djeffery]

Was trying to find a link but couldn't, hell it might even be somewhere in this thread lol. But anyway, I recall a couple or so years ago, someone in London was talking about building a "downtown" soccer stadium, at the corner of Horton and Ridout, on the current city parking lot. Not sure if the CPL was in mind at that time, or what the guy planned to do with it. I don't recall it having a very high seating capacity, nothing like being talked about with these other new projects coming along.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by elly63

Easy fella, rapid expansion has killed many a new league. Maybe add a team next year to get an even eight and then hold tight for a while and build up some familiarity and stability. I've been following Canadian soccer a loooong time, (so it wasn't out of the blue for me) long before the last real kick at the cat (CSL) and this league needs to succeed. Baby steps.

That is why I think bringing the Ottawa Fury on board is a no-brainer. Stable ownership and established fan base, good stadium, etc.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by Acajack

That is why I think bringing the Ottawa Fury on board is a no-brainer. Stable ownership and established fan base, good stadium, etc.

I agree!!

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Acajack

That is why I think bringing the Ottawa Fury on board is a no-brainer. Stable ownership and established fan base, good stadium, etc.

The only downside with this is that Fury essentially told CPL no for 2019 and subsequently Julian de Guzman was running around telling people how awful CPL was and how it was going to fail. CPL weren't impressed and the bridge between CPL and Fury hasn't been mended yet. This is beside the fact that Victor Montagliani used to be involved with Canada Soccer and is now high up in CONCACAF and was a big proponent of CPL when it was just beginning...so there was the whole CONCACAF sanctioning of Fury angle, too.

CPL seems to be a more financially sure thing than it was at this time last year but if the rumoured expansion fee increases are accurate (somewhere between $3M and $8M) then it's Fury who are going to be losing out more than they otherwise should have.

I think Fury to CPL gets done eventually but not sure for 2020. There were also rumours of another group in Ottawa interested in a CPL team. I think other markets are priority at this stage.

[esquire]

I suppose I can understand if Ottawa takes a wait and see attitude with the CPL, after all it isn't uncommon for new leagues to crash and burn. But if the CPL can get a few successful seasons under its belt I wonder if they might change their minds?

Or alternatively, what if the CPL sets up its own team around there ("Lokomotiv Gatineau") and attempts to go to war with the Fury?

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

I suppose I can understand if Ottawa takes a wait and see attitude with the CPL, after all it isn't uncommon for new leagues to crash and burn. But if the CPL can get a few successful seasons under its belt I wonder if they might change their minds?

Essentially Fury knew what they had with USL in terms of profit/loss and it was a safer bet. CPL was, of course, more risky. It's very early days but it's looking like CPL would be a better fit for Fury than USL in the long run.

Originally Posted by esquire

Or alternatively, what if the CPL sets up its own team around there ("Lokomotiv Gatineau") and attempts to go to war with the Fury?

Also possible. There have been rumours that if Fury are forced out of USL via sanctioning that they would sooner fold than join CPL.

[mistercorporate]

I dont think there's any need for drastic movements, Ottawa can be seduced with success.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Also possible. There have been rumours that if Fury are forced out of USL via sanctioning that they would sooner fold than join CPL.

That seems silly (and frankly unlikely) given that it would open the door for someone else to swoop down and basically take the Ottawa soccer market without any compensation.

As I said, I can't fault the Ottawa owners for playing it safe... but Ottawa would definitely be the odd man out if you had Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver in MLS, pretty well everyone else in CPL, and then Ottawa being the only Canadian entry lingering in the USL.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

That seems silly (and frankly unlikely) given that it would open the door for someone else to swoop down and basically take the Ottawa soccer market without any compensation.

As I said, I can't fault the Ottawa owners for playing it safe... but Ottawa would definitely be the odd man out if you had Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver in MLS, pretty well everyone else in CPL, and then Ottawa being the only Canadian entry lingering in the USL.

My guess is that they will move to the CPL eventually. Maybe not in 2020 though.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

That seems silly (and frankly unlikely) given that it would open the door for someone else to swoop down and basically take the Ottawa soccer market without any compensation.

I agree.

Originally Posted by esquire

As I said, I can't fault the Ottawa owners for playing it safe... but Ottawa would definitely be the odd man out if you had Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver in MLS, pretty well everyone else in CPL, and then Ottawa being the only Canadian entry lingering in the USL.

Also agreed. It'll be interesting to see how CONCACAF and the CSA handle their sanctioning in the fall once again. Even with CPL having just started it seems a big ask to get people out to USL matches in Ottawa when they're playing Atlanta United 2 or Loudoun....CPL games just seem to have much more edge and energy to them.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I agree.



Also agreed. It'll be interesting to see how CONCACAF and the CSA handle their sanctioning in the fall once again. Even with CPL having just started it seems a big ask to get people out to USL matches in Ottawa when they're playing Atlanta United 2 or Loudoun....CPL games just seem to have much more edge and energy to them.

I dunno. Atlanta and Loudoun are in the U.S. so that's "big time". And you know Canadians...