Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[MacLac]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

I'm not sure if that many shows are skipping Saskatoon. SaskScraper keeps talking about all the big shows Saskatoon gets and how it is the biggest drawing arena on the Prairies next to Edmonton so it sounds like things are fine.

On a serious note, Edmonton is actually drawing fewer concerts and smaller crowds since they moved to their new arena so it's not as simple as saying the new arena will fix all the challenges that exist here on the Prairies nor does it consider the ever-changing concert landscape. Over the past few years, smaller cities in isolated areas, have seen fewer shows as acts would rather play multiple shows in larger cities for the larger payday and added bonus of fewer expenses. A new arena in Saskatoon may attract a marginal increase in the number of concerts yearly but it can't overcome the city's small size and isolation - 2 strikes against it by the concert industry. Same thing can apply to Winnipeg and to a lesser extent, Edmonton.

A new arena in Saskatoon doesn't necessarily have to seat 15,000 to attract the big concerts it currently does either. The vast majority of concert set-ups have a 180 degree format in which the seats beside and behind the stage are tarped off. Arenas like those in London, Grand Rapids and Sioux Falls seat approximately 10,000 - 11,000 for hockey - the arena consists of a full lower seating bowl but a partial upper deck that only extends two - thirds of the way around the arena. This results in non-balanced seating arrangement for which a minimal number of seats have to be tarped off for concerts. In the end, these arenas may seat the 10,000 minimum necessary to attract those large scale events.

Perhaps building to this format would keep the costs of a new arena in Saskatoon manageable level - the proposed $170 million or so - while maintaining the city's ability to attract large scale events. It sure hasn't hurt Grand Rapids, Sioux Falls and London as the 2018 Poll Star numbers attest - all ahead of Saskatoon in concert tickets sold.

https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2018/...Venues_702.pdf

Edmonton drawing "fewer concerts and smaller crowds?" Your link only shows current numbers at Rogers.....so where are the stats comparing Rogers to Rexall? Btw, nice little "spin" on downplaying EDM's #'s - compared to YYC's - who practically get ZERO concerts....but don't mention that.....new nick name for you the "SSP SPINMASTER"