Centre Slush Puppie [500 de la Cité, Gatineau] | 4000 seat arena | Completed

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Have I mentioned on here before that I find odd that there are very large windows on an arena building's south façade (the one along Maloney)?

Yes, I think I remember you commenting on it. A large south facing window could be detrimental to the ice surfaces of the community rinks.

The plans, at least from 2017, don't seem to show that window. Doesn't show trees along the south facade either.


https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/gatin...guertin-f9e80851705c20f490ba3f7a578b9cd0

[J.OT13]

I don't know the QMJHL or CHL’s plans to restart the season, but it looks like the Olympiques need to find a new home for the coming season.

I wonder if they could move to Branchaud-Brière or even the Civic Center (the 67s or disputed their first months of existence to Robert Guertin in 1967 since the Civic only opened on December 31, 1967). It seems to me that these are the only two rinks that could meet their needs.

Robert-Guertin continuera d’accueillir les sans-abri pour un an

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/gatin...r-un-an-6488adf863a9ca7b964c10043c0b5af3

Les Olympiques de Gatineau n'ont plus de domicile

https://www.ledroit.com/sports/olympique...omicile-475799a3ecdaecc7e3a0aed816f81382

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I don't know the QMJHL or CHL’s plans to restart the season, but it looks like the Olympiques need to find a new home for the coming season.

I wonder if they could move to Branchaud-Brière or even the Civic Center (the 67s or disputed their first months of existence to Robert Guertin in 1967 since the Civic only opened on December 31, 1967). It seems to me that these are the only two rinks that could meet their needs.

Robert-Guertin continuera d’accueillir les sans-abri pour un an

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/gatin...r-un-an-6488adf863a9ca7b964c10043c0b5af3

Les Olympiques de Gatineau n'ont plus de domicile

https://www.ledroit.com/sports/olympique...omicile-475799a3ecdaecc7e3a0aed816f81382

Branchaud-Brière seems way too small even without social distancing. As a gate-driven league, I don’t see how they can start unless they find a way to get reasonable crowds in the buildings. The Civic Centre seems like the best option, but it would mean that the Olympiques would need to give up their traditional home nights most weeks.

The Sportsplex or even the CTC are options, but that means a long drive for most fans. CTC is intriguing though, as it would be possible to get 5-6k in even with distancing. I wonder if the 67s would contemplate going there again, after the disaster of a few years back?

Either way, I expect that this move by the City virtually guarantees that the team will get some amount of support due to the breach of lease.

[Horus]

Branchaud-Briere would be fine if the QMJHL will be playing their season without fans in attendance. It's a modern arena and has space and sightlines for cameras to be used to broadcast games if that's their model.

If they plan to have fans in attendance, even in a limited capacity, then it's not so good. Seating capacity at the larger Branchaud rink is still small, and parking/public access is atrocious.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Horus

Branchaud-Briere would be fine if the QMJHL will be playing their season without fans in attendance. It's a modern arena and has space and sightlines for cameras to be used to broadcast games if that's their model.

If they plan to have fans in attendance, even in a limited capacity, then it's not so good. Seating capacity at the larger Branchaud rink is still small, and parking/public access is atrocious.

I'm pretty sure that they have been consistent in saying that they can't play without fans. If they don't have at least some gate revenue, I don't know where the money is coming from.

[J.OT13]

So the Olympiques sent the City of Gatineau a "formal notice" demanding that they hand over the arena back to the team. The Mayor and MPP responsible for the Outaouais were not impressed, naturally. Pedneaud-Jobin says he's now immune to the teams empty threats.

In any case, the team and City (along with the health unit and province probably) will be negotiating a new deal over the next few weeks, possibly handing the arena back to the Olympiques by the end of December.

Brigil is offering-up it's location at 217 Montcalm to house the homeless (good location in terms of proximity to the arena, but maybe too small IMO).

https://www.fm1047.ca/nouvelles/sante/32...gil-propose-un-de-ses-edifices-au-cissso

I'm surprised the City and health unit haven't considered using the Foundry as a temporary homeless shelter instead of a former school in residential Pointe-Gatineau.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

So the Olympiques sent the City of Gatineau a "formal notice" demanding that they hand over the arena back to the team. The Mayor and MPP responsible for the Outaouais were not impressed, naturally. Pedneaud-Jobin says he's now immune to the teams empty threats.

In any case, the team and City (along with the health unit and province probably) will be negotiating a new deal over the next few weeks, possibly handing the arena back to the Olympiques by the end of December.

I expect that the notice is just a legal move, as they will want to be able to claim compensation from the City for breaking their lease. That said, I would be very surprised if the Q manages to start play in October. Provided that they can find a decent practice facility, they may not lose anything if they get back in by December.

[J.OT13]

Brigil had offered up 217 Montcalm, but he changed his mind.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/gatin...-depart-0f88fcfe88700fd7fb2c71281f641dc6

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/itine...e-face--7af9d4abc44bca23c3430e4e2a408c09

[J.OT13]

And the 217 is back as a potential temporary homeless shelter. Quite a day for this one building.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/itine...ontcalm-1e19228acf1d2fc97fe84083d69ee82e

[J.OT13]

Quick summary of what happened. In mid-August Hilles Desjarding (Brigil) offered 217 Montcalm as a possible temporary or long-term solution to the lack of homeless shelter so that Guertin could be returned to the Olympiques. The CISSSO was ready to announce that site as the best solution for the current predicament.

Yesterday, he sold the building to Multivesco. His reasoning was that CISSSO wasn't fast enough to come up with a preliminary understanding to rent the building. He also stated that the neighborhoods didn't support the relocation of the homeless shelter to the building and it would be a challenge to re-locate existing tenants. Furthermore, the CISSSO's decision to pull out of an agreement with another developer in Pointe-Gatineau (55, rue Marengère in a residential neighborhood) made him rethink his offer. All things he should have known before offering the building.

So anyway, this morning Multivesco pulled their offer to buy the building now seeing how important it was to the health system.

Now, Desjardins is saying that helping the community is more important than a real estate transaction.

There is some speculation that Multivesco, who's headquarters is across the street, wanted to buy 217 Montcalm to prevent the homeless population from moving in. IMO, this whole ordeal makes both companies look bad.

[Acajack]

It was announced today that the new arena will be called the Centre Slush Puppie!

Naming rights were sold for close to 1.5 million over 10 years.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It was announced today that the new arena will be called the Centre Slush Puppie!

Naming rights were sold for close to 1.5 million over 10 years.

Awesome name!! Financial deal, not so much...

TD Stadium and Arena brings in around $1.2 million per year.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/la...Place,FC%20and%20the%20Ottawa%2067's.

Obviously, Lansdowne naming rights are far more valuable, but I would have expected 300,000 to 400,000 for the new Guertin.

With that said, I hope the City can honour Robert Guertin somehow now that his namesake will be demolished and the replacement will have a corporate name. Frank Clair has a statue at TD Place Stadium. Maybe they could include a park and statue on the old arena lands.

EDIT: wait, your post on the Canada Arena and Stadium thread provides a different figure. Am I missing something?

Originally Posted by Acajack

The arena under construction that is to be the new home of the Gatineau Olympiques will be called the Centre Slush Puppie for the first 10 years of its existence.

Naming rights were sold for just under 10 million dollars.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Awesome name!! Financial deal, not so much...

TD Stadium and Arena brings in around $1.2 million per year.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/la...Place,FC%20and%20the%20Ottawa%2067's.

Obviously, Lansdowne naming rights are far more valuable, but I would have expected 300,000 to 400,000 for the new Guertin.

With that said, I hope the City can honour Robert Guertin somehow now that his namesake will be demolished and the replacement will have a corporate name. Frank Clair has a statue at TD Place Stadium. Maybe they could include a park and statue on the old arena lands.

They could name the existing square (with fountains and concert stage) adjacent to the new building "Place Robert-Guertin". It's now called Place de la Cité - a very banal name.

Or they could name the main street (I assume there will be a street in the middle) of the redevelopment of the old arena site after him.

[Acajack]

Sorry, it's something like 1.385 million dollars for 10 years.

[J.OT13]

Beautiful! Naming the arena after a drink (an icy drink to boot) is awesome, but also naming the arena after a local brand. I long for the days of the Corel Centre. Local company, amazing hockey team. Those were the days.




https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1734867/olympiques-gatineau-arena-slush-puppie

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Beautiful! Naming the arena after a drink (an icy drink to boot) is awesome, but also naming the arena after a local brand. I long for the days of the Corel Centre. Local company, amazing hockey team. Those were the days.




https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1734867/olympiques-gatineau-arena-slush-puppie

I agree, great name!

Should have always been the " 'Insert sponsor here' Palladium "

[J.OT13]

Official complaint has been submitted to the City of Gatineau for the name, courtesy of an Impératif Français supporter (no surprise).

I don't think there's any ground to officially complain on the basis of language (corporate name, "Slush" being commonly used in French and "Puppie" being miss-spelt).

Originally Posted by harls

Jean-Paul Perreault must be losing his 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

Peut-être pas notre buddy Jean-Paul, mais proche:

Gatineau nomme son nouvel aréna « Slush Puppies »!!!
Pourtant surtout financé par les contribuables gatinois via leurs taxes foncières
25 septembre 2020

Ceci est pour vous signaler que je viens de déposer une plainte officielle contre la Ville de Gatineau et son partenaire VSMO dans le choix du nom du nouvel aréna des Olympiques, soit celui de « Slush Puppies »!

Comme il s’agit d’une entreprise de la ville, elle aurait pu choisir mieux, même d’y aller avec le nom d’un ex-entraîneur-chef, le regretté Pat Burns, ou faire référence à ces milliers d’hommes qui ont vécu la période de la drave… pourquoi pas l’aréna des Draveurs ou encore un nom purement algonquin en référence ici aussi à cette Première Nation dont c’est le territoire.

Mais, encore une fois c’est l’appât du gain financier qui a guidé ce choix… et disons que 140 000 $ par an sur une période de dix années, ce n’est pas le pactole non plus, compte tenu de tout ce que paieront en plus les contribuables gatinois via leurs taxes foncières.

Voilà, j’espère que votre organisme fera une sortie bien sentie là-dessus et remettra les pendules à l’heure (…)

Adresse utile : [email protected]

Marco Jetté

https://www.imperatif-francais.org/a-vou...au-nomme-son-nouvel-arena-slush-puppies/

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Peut-être pas notre buddy Jean-Paul, mais proche:


https://www.imperatif-francais.org/a-vou...au-nomme-son-nouvel-arena-slush-puppies/

Clearly somebody who knows very little about hockey. The name he suggests was the name of the Trois-Rivieres team for a couple of decades. Seems unlikely.

[kwoldtimer]

Sloosh Poopeee has a certain ring to it ...

[J.OT13]

Progress on Le Centre Slush Puppie. The 4,000 seat arena for the Olympiques should be ready for the 2021-2022 season, while the community rinks should open by January 2021.




https://twitter.com/A_Sanscartier/status/1309595097009459203