Attractions and events you'd like to see in Vancouver...a wish list

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

If the PNE folds, it's not as if the facilities will be demolished. The City / Parks Board may take over some functions

Cue a solution that involves reconciliation, inclusiveness, diversity... insert buzzword.

[supercanuck]

I wonder if this kills the Playland theme park idea? Or at least pushes it back many years?

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/playland-redevelopment-theme-park-pne

[officedweller]

or, like the aquarium, open up options for outside investors.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Agreed. If we're going to upgrade, let's get a backer that lets us upgrade all the way.

[supercanuck]

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pne-playland-financial-assistance-cultus-lake

Cultus Lake Waterpark seems to be interested but PNE says no:

“There is absolutely zero discussion or interest in selling off any PNE assets, including Playland,” said Ballance." (Laura Ballance, the spokesperson for the PNE)

[Migrant_Coconut]

The PNE has officially Darwinned itself. Victoria was fine with letting the Aquarium die, why would corndogs, Flextape vendors and/or a petting zoo get a bailout?

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The PNE has officially Darwinned itself. Victoria was fine with letting the Aquarium die, why would corndogs, Flextape vendors and/or a petting zoo get a bailout?

The aquarium made the fatal mistake of being an independent non-profit instead of a municipally owned service.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by chowhou

The aquarium made the fatal mistake of being an independent non-profit instead of a municipally owned service.

Why should a municipal gov't own an aquarium?

[mellowyellow]

Thought I'd share some "out there" ideas for Playland / PNE, though not having given it much thought or study, but thought I'd throw it out there:

• The location is not appealing. It's not scenic nor convenient.
• What's the point of having like just 2 rolleroasters?
• The amphitheatre might as well go away too
• With that Renfrew/Hastings/McGill/Hwy1 large city block, Playland is wedged in a pretty poor spot. And the rest of the block isn't a very well used parcel of land anyway. Even Confederation Park in Burnaby is better in many ways...
• Why not move Playland somewhere else in the region
• Convert the existing northeast corner to become the Vancouver-Seattle-Portland high speed rail terminus. This can also be a connector to the future Hastings skytrain line being planned, and also connect with the West Coast Express (Burnaby was floating the idea to add a station a few km east of here anyway), and a spot for 'park-n-ride' being along the Highway 1 corridor for connections up to Whistler and east to wherever
• Part of this will likely become the splitting point for Hastings line to 1) head up to north shore, and 2) go to Willingdon to turn south, as per the plans. This will become a juncture so it'll be a good hub rather than a park.
• Kill the pond and the park surrounding it. Create an over or underpass to New Brighton Park, I mean it's right there across McGill and way better.
• Develop into a shopping/commercial area that actually attracts people year-round
• Bring in whoever runs Wonderland in Toronto (or some other mid-sized thrill park operator) to come here to run a new Playland that is worth going to with actually better rides.
• Or Jimmy Pattison bring in his divisions Ripley's + Great Wolf to do someting more interesting
• Location can perhaps be somewhere down along the Fraser instead. How about on Sea Island taking over Templeton Stn area? You'll also get a lot more sun by moving from current location to down there... i.e. more operational time.

Queue the boos!

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Why should a municipal gov't own an aquarium?

I mean, you could ask the same question about the PNE. Why should a municipal government own an amusement park/fairground?

[officedweller]

Hmmm, I thought it started as an agricultural exhibition.

History of The Fair

In 1910 Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier officially opened the first annual Pacific National Exhibition, known at the time as “The Industrial Exhibition.” The Fair was seen as a showcase of British Columbia to the rest of Canada and the world, and was the second largest event of its kind in North America, behind the New York State Fair.

Since the first Fair, the annual event has become the largest annual ticketed event in the province, and continues to draw in excess of 900,000 visitors during its 15 days.

Many significant events in the history of this province occurred during the annual Fair at the PNE. Throughout the Fair’s long life numerous technological firsts debuted at the PNE, including the first rotary telephone in the Pacific Northwest, and aircraft and rocketry displays. Many of today’s largest consumer shows got their start as a part of the annual Fair including: the Vancouver Boat Show, the BC Home Show and the Pacific International Auto Show, which all began as displays at the PNE.

Over the past century+, the PNE has evolved from its role as an industry showcase into a centre for entertainment and family fun. World class and award-winning shows such as Cirque Pop, City Rhythm and Bring on the Night were all created especially, and exclusively for the PNE.

Traditional favourites such as the Superdogs Show continue to thrill over 300,000 fair-goers annually.

https://www.pne.ca/about-us/history-lega...ter,its%20kind%20in%20North%20America%2C

[supercanuck]

I wonder if a First Nations Cultural Centre (similar to the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Oahu, HI) owned and operated by First Nations groups would work? More heavier on the educational rather than touristy aspects of it. I'm not sure how this would be viewed by First Nations groups though.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by supercanuck

I wonder if a First Nations Cultural Centre (similar to the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Oahu, HI) owned and operated by First Nations groups would work? More heavier on the educational rather than touristy aspects of it. I'm not sure how this would be viewed by First Nations groups though.

MOA at UBC functions similarly to this. I think it gets (got) a lot of tourist traffic.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by chowhou

MOA at UBC functions similarly to this. I think it gets (got) a lot of tourist traffic.

Tons more once there is a Skytrain out there.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by chowhou

MOA at UBC functions similarly to this. I think it gets (got) a lot of tourist traffic.

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Tons more once there is a Skytrain out there.

We could go further, have something the First Nations own and have to themselves (right now it's a UBC facility that also houses Victorian pottery and Japanese armour) like the Italian Cultural Centre.

Regardless, this will probably be downright insulting.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

We could go further, have something the First Nations own and have to themselves (right now it's a UBC facility that also houses Victorian pottery and Japanese armour) like the Italian Cultural Centre.

Regardless, this will probably be downright insulting.

According to the wikipedia page, it's owned by the LDS, so maybe not the best example.

If the TWN or Musqueam or Tsawwassen or any FN group wants to open a cultural/convention centre somewhere by all means, but it's kind of weird to assume they want to or ought to run something like that.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Hmmm, I thought it started as an agricultural exhibition.

The PNE has been many things over the years - as Fred Herzog recorded (image in the Vancouver Sun, when he died in 2019)

[supercanuck]

Originally Posted by chowhou

MOA at UBC functions similarly to this. I think it gets (got) a lot of tourist traffic.

Thanks! Went to UBC >15 years ago and never thought to visit that museum while I was there. Will need to check it out this summer.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by supercanuck

Thanks! Went to UBC >15 years ago and never thought to visit that museum while I was there. Will need to check it out this summer.

I'd argue that it's the only, truly World Class facility in the Lower Mainland. It's getting a much-needed seismic repair and restoration so you might want to check you can see it all.

[jollyburger]

The Great Hall is closed until 2023 but they also discounted admission because of that:

https://moa.ubc.ca/2020/12/great-hall-seismic-upgrades/