Sports in Ottawa (misc. articles/news)

[J.OT13]

It would be great to have a AA (or better yet AAA) Blue Jays affiliate. Much more attractive to watch a team associated with a Canadian major league team, as were the Lynx when they were the Expos farm team, than the unknown minor leagues we've had over the last decade or so.

I terms of a potential Lansdowne model, of course it will never be on quite the same scale. The stadium itself is much smaller and only has dates during the summer. For now, we can start by filling in the parking lot between the hotels and stadium with condo towers and ground-floor retail. Maybe have a lower scale "main street" between the stadium and new condos from the Max Keeping Bridge to Coventry lined with restaurants and bars.

With time, development could grow from the stadium heading east and St-Laurent heading west creating a community anchored by two rapid transit stations.

The City selling the parking lots for big box developments was a big mistake and will slow down the march of condos, but we can get there eventually. At that point, it MIGHT actually be bigger than Lansdowne. Just have to make sure it's a continuous community, and not just a series of "campus" type tower developments.

[MountainView]

This article says that some sort of professional Rugby team may be coming to Ottawa in 2020. In a partnership with OSEG. I would be interested if anyone cab provide more information, as my rugby knowledge is limited.

Article: Plans for overseas destination of rugby league's latest franchise club announced

[JHikka]

That's interesting. The previous rumour was to have Hemel relocate to either Hamilton or Boston.

Interested to see what this means for the Fury. Wondering if OSEG can have all three playing simultaneously through the summer. Fury's future is....up in the air at this point.

[rocketphish]

Ontario to legalize tailgate parties; amendment to be introduced in budget
Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki welcomed the plan. 'I think this new tailgating law is great,' he said. 'Hockey should be fun'

The Canadian Press
Updated: April 8, 2019

TORONTO — Sports fans in Ontario will soon be able to have a drink and tailgate before a game.

Government House Leader Todd Smith said the Progressive Conservatives will provide more details on the proposal to legalize tailgate parties — normally held in the parking lot of a sporting venue before a game — when the provincial budget is unveiled Thursday.

Smith said the changes will legalize the practice often seen at sporting events in the United States.

“We think that people in Ontario should be given the opportunity to be treated like adults and I think it would be kind of fun,” he said. “We’ve been talking about it for years and years and years and no government has ever given us the opportunity to engage in a good old fashioned tailgate.”

Tailgating parties will be made possible by amending a regulation that sets out the terms for special occasion liquor permits.

Any parking lot or venue within a reasonable distance from a major sports complex, such as Toronto’s Rogers Centre or Scotiabank Arena, would be able to apply for the permit.

Permit holders would also be able to sell alcohol on their property.

“It’s going to be up to individual teams and whether or not they want to partake in this type of festivity,” Smith said. “It’s a lot of fun. People behave responsibly. We just believe that Ontario is ready for this as well.”

Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki welcomed the plan.

“I think this new tailgating law is great,” he said. “Hockey should be fun.”

The opposition parties, however, questioned the timing of the announcement, which comes one day after thousands of teachers and supporters descended on the legislature over the weekend to protest education changes, including larger high school class sizes.

NDP deputy leader John Vanthof said the government shouldn’t be spending time changing legislation around tailgating when many other crucial files need attention.

“I don’t know if it’s a bad idea, but should they be looking at it as one of their priorities?” he said. “Are they actually looking at it as something they want to do or are they just using it as a decoy from the real issues that people in this province are actually facing?”

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said the government should be focused on health care and education right now.

“I’m not sure whether this is a tactic to divert the public’s attention away from those really important things,” he said. “It’s just interesting in advance of the budget. If the government wants to bring this forward, that’s great. It’s not a budget item.”

— with files from Lisa Wallace.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/canada/on...wcm/b2d3ba86-f304-4508-b595-a23aa15a41fc

[AuxTown]

....Borowiecki went on to say that "any team that keeps me as a top 4 D man is going to have to have fans that are REALLY drunk"

[Lakeofthewood]

Rather disappointing to see that there appear to have been no discussions on Ottawa setting up a 'Jurassic Park' viewing area for the Raptors in the NBA finals. Numerous other cities across Canada are doing it: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/canadian-c...s-to-watch-raptors-playoff-run-1.4442209

Not sure the best place for it (and maybe it was discussed internally at the city) but Lansdowne would be one that jumps out

[OTSkyline]

Sparks St comes to mind... They've shown Senators game before I believe and have had movie nights there on large screens.

Yet everyone is still scratching their heads on how to animate Sparks...

[J.OT13]

The crappy Scotiabank Theatre in Gloucester will host a viewing party as part of the Cineplex/MLSE partnership. Too bad Cineplex Lansdowne wasn't included in this deal.

https://www.cineplex.com/Movie/raptors-viewing-party-warriors-at-raptors

It's too bad we couldn't do something on Sparks or the Market. Or even at one of the abandoned theaters downtown (Place de Ville or Rideau). Or even the Rideau Centre terrace with the game projected on the Convention Centre's big blank wall.

[J.OT13]

Couple Raptors viewing parties here and there this weekend. Mostly bars setting them up outside in parking lots.

Ottawa Markets was offered a screen for Byward, but they turned it down, saying "organizers want to see how the daytime activities play out before adding events in the evening." Fair enough, they don't need to attract more people to the area in the evening.

However, OSEG and the City are always complaining about losing money on Lansdowne and say they want more activities to attract people outside regularly scheduled events; well there's a lost opportunity! They could have set up a screen on the "Great" Lawn, or Horticulture or Aberdeen, they could have opened up the Civic Centre or the Stadium, project the game on the big screen just sitting there. Same goes with Sparks Street. I'm sick of hearing these people complain if they're not taking advantage of something this obvious!!

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Couple Raptors viewing parties here and there this weekend. Mostly bars setting them up outside in parking lots.

Ottawa Markets was offered a screen for Byward, but they turned it down, saying "organizers want to see how the daytime activities play out before adding events in the evening." Fair enough, they don't need to attract more people to the area in the evening.

However, OSEG and the City are always complaining about losing money on Lansdowne and say they want more activities to attract people outside regularly scheduled events; well there's a lost opportunity! They could have set up a screen on the "Great" Lawn, or Horticulture or Aberdeen, they could have opened up the Civic Centre or the Stadium, project the game on the big screen just sitting there. Same goes with Sparks Street. I'm sick of hearing these people complain if they're not taking advantage of something this obvious!!

You clearly didn't spend at time at Lansdowne over the weekend. June, July and August are when Lansdowne is actually busy, there's limited capacity to add more. Every space on site was used for something over this past weekend, and it was busiest Friday night. The arena hosted Volleyball Nations League Friday-Sunday and Aberdeen had 613 Flea Friday night and Saturday including a night market Friday evening. Horticulture Building had a fundraising concert Friday night, wedding Saturday night and pop-up market Sunday. The regular Farmer's market ran Sunday, and Red Bull held a basketball tournament Saturday on the court in the park. There was a touch football event on the stadium field Friday, as well as regular practices. On top of all of this, the restaurants were packed for the Raptors game on Friday night. Horticulture Building is booked again every day this week, and setup in Aberdeen Square for the OIFFA began last night. Volleyball teardown will take a couple of days to complete, and then there's prep for the next Fury Game, Redblacks Game and Escapade.

The demand to animate the site comes from a desire to ensure the commercial tenants remain busy and viable. When they're already busy, there's little need or desire to add more. Any "Jurassic Park" event on site risks stealing people from the restaurants, the opposite of its desired effect.

[J.OT13]

Wow, impressive. You work for OSEG?

Fridays and Saturdays are quite busy, I'm sure. But some of the games were weeknights and Sundays. Sparks and Lansdowne could be co-venues for Jurassic Park or other such events. Lansdowne is dead during the week, Sparks during the weekend. Perfect balance.

I know it's not that simple (though many other cities have done it), but still provides food for thought.

[Acajack]

I am not really a big basketball fan, but I am interested in all sports as sociological phenomenon.

I've been quite surprised that a Jurassic Park style space has not been set up in Ottawa. Given that they have them in Vancouver and Saint John NB.

[harls]

There was one, I thought. In the market, not far from where that recent shooting occurred.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by harls

There was one, I thought. In the market, not far from where that recent shooting occurred.

OK maybe? On the radio this afternoon they were saying the only outdoor viewing in the capital region was in Almonte, birthplace of James Naismith.

Of course, plenty of bars are showing the game. As are some cinemas.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

OK maybe? On the radio this afternoon they were saying the only outdoor viewing in the capital region was in Almonte, birthplace of James Naismith.

Of course, plenty of bars are showing the game. As are some cinemas.

They had an outdoor viewing area with a big screen at Beyond the Pale. It drew a couple of hundred people.

[YOWflier]

You'd have a hard time paying me enough to watch a game in a Jurassic park type of environment. No thanks.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

You'd have a hard time paying me enough to watch a game in a Jurassic park type of environment. No thanks.

Paying for it is the issue in general. It's tough to find a space that wants to foot the bill, and if government did it, there would be cries that they were stealing customers from nearby restaurants.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Catenary

Paying for it is the issue in general. It's tough to find a space that wants to foot the bill, and if government did it, there would be cries that they were stealing customers from nearby restaurants.

In most places in Canada it appears to be the cities footing the bill for the local Jurassic Park set-ups.

Though the one in Montreal last night was made possible by the Grand Prix du Canada organization which agreed to leave their "stuff" out and available for an extra day.

And the City of Montreal agreed to allow the street closure for an extra evening as well.

[rocketphish]

City mulls closing aging urban rinks
Single-pad arenas could be on chopping block as ice rentals plummet

Matthew Kupfer · CBC News
Posted: Oct 02, 2019 11:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 10 hours ago

The City of Ottawa is considering closing or repurposing some single-pad rinks — mostly aging arenas in the urban core — because of a drastic drop in ice rental.

Single-pad arenas built in the 1950s and 1960s have outdated change rooms and other facilities, and are more costly to maintain because they require staff and equipment that could be put to better use at newer, multi-pad arenas, the city said.

"We ... need to look at closing single-pad arenas or repurposing them and moving to a multi-pad configuration so when we build new, we will be building double-pad or four-pad arenas," Dan Chenier, general manager of the city's recreation, cultural and facility services department, told an advisory committee Tuesday evening.

He said single-pad rinks in the urban core are more likely to be targets for closure because rinks in rural areas also tend to be community hubs, and are often the only city facility in the area.

From 2014 to 2018, arena rentals at the city's 44 ice pads fell by 10,000 hours, Chenier said.

"We need to address that, that we have a declining demand and a supply that has continued to increase. We need to adjust that to meet what we need," he said.

Linda Tremblay, director of community programs, said staff haven't yet arrived at a number of rinks to be closed, or decided which ones might be on the chopping block.

She said the city is waiting to consult residents to figure out why the decline is happening.

"We want to hear what happened," Tremblay said. "We do have some proof that we have some older adult leagues, some men's leagues, that will pay more at the private ice because it's at a better time now."

As well as competition from private and university rinks, changing demographics and a general drop in hockey enrollment may be contributing factors, she said.

When the time comes to close arenas, Tremblay said staff will weigh each one against the five nearest facilities, and will ask the community for feedback on other possible uses for the buildings.

The city's community and protective services committee will receive the staff proposal next month.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-city-arenas-rental-decline-1.5305361

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

City mulls closing aging urban rinks
Single-pad arenas could be on chopping block as ice rentals plummet

Matthew Kupfer · CBC News
Posted: Oct 02, 2019 11:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 10 hours ago

The City of Ottawa is considering closing or repurposing some single-pad rinks — mostly aging arenas in the urban core — because of a drastic drop in ice rental.

Single-pad arenas built in the 1950s and 1960s have outdated change rooms and other facilities, and are more costly to maintain because they require staff and equipment that could be put to better use at newer, multi-pad arenas, the city said.

"We ... need to look at closing single-pad arenas or repurposing them and moving to a multi-pad configuration so when we build new, we will be building double-pad or four-pad arenas," Dan Chenier, general manager of the city's recreation, cultural and facility services department, told an advisory committee Tuesday evening.

He said single-pad rinks in the urban core are more likely to be targets for closure because rinks in rural areas also tend to be community hubs, and are often the only city facility in the area.

From 2014 to 2018, arena rentals at the city's 44 ice pads fell by 10,000 hours, Chenier said.

"We need to address that, that we have a declining demand and a supply that has continued to increase. We need to adjust that to meet what we need," he said.

Linda Tremblay, director of community programs, said staff haven't yet arrived at a number of rinks to be closed, or decided which ones might be on the chopping block.

She said the city is waiting to consult residents to figure out why the decline is happening.

"We want to hear what happened," Tremblay said. "We do have some proof that we have some older adult leagues, some men's leagues, that will pay more at the private ice because it's at a better time now."

As well as competition from private and university rinks, changing demographics and a general drop in hockey enrollment may be contributing factors, she said.

When the time comes to close arenas, Tremblay said staff will weigh each one against the five nearest facilities, and will ask the community for feedback on other possible uses for the buildings.

The city's community and protective services committee will receive the staff proposal next month.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-city-arenas-rental-decline-1.5305361

Closing single pad arenas!! It is likely then that the old Sandy Hill Arena is on the chopping block. That makes it more likely that uOttawa will get that piece of land to build their new major athletic facility. The uni has been negotiating to get it for some time.