Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[esquire]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Taking away a valued community centre for a year or two will not go well in garnering support for another circus.

It happens from time to time. The Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg was closed for a while recently while major refurbs were taking place. I'm sure that was a headache for the swimming community, but they managed.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Taking away a valued community centre for a year or two will not go well in garnering support for another circus. Calgary's oval isn't getting younger either although I have no clue what if any impact that has on the facility. There are 100 year old arenas in operation.

For that matter, why not just fix the Calgary one up to current Olympic standards and use it instead of redoing Richmond twice. Calgary is the official training centre as it is. Nothing says all venues need to be clustered in an area. Even in China, some events are hundreds of miles away.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

For that matter, why not just fix the Calgary one up to current Olympic standards and use it instead of redoing Richmond twice. Calgary is the official training centre as it is. Nothing says all venues need to be clustered in an area. Even in China, some events are hundreds of miles away.

Calgary's needs at least $50 million in work. The entire slab needs to be jackhammered out and replaced. The building itself is doing alright. I wouldn't be surprised if to recommission Richmond they'd need to rebuild the slab.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

For that matter, why not just fix the Calgary one up to current Olympic standards and use it instead of redoing Richmond twice. Calgary is the official training centre as it is. Nothing says all venues need to be clustered in an area. Even in China, some events are hundreds of miles away.

Like I said, I don't know the impact of age on the facility in regards to deferred maintenance, end of life replacements and, amenities being up to modern standards. The potential is that a new facility would be a better move financially (probably not greener) than renovating a 50 year old facility is not out fo the question

My point was over the politics of building a new facility as part of a 2030 Vancouver games over converting the Richmond Oval Community Centre back to a long track facility. The new facility would then take over the role as Western Canada's training ground. There is no reason the new facility has to be built in Richmond. It should be in the Vancouver area.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Like I said, I don't know the impact of age on the facility in regards to deferred maintenance, end of life replacements and, amenities being up to modern standards. The potential is that a new facility would be a better move financially (probably not greener) than renovating a 50 year old facility is not out fo the question

My point was over the politics of building a new facility as part of a 2030 Vancouver games over converting the Richmond Oval Community Centre back to a long track facility. The new facility would then take over the role as Western Canada's training ground. There is no reason the new facility has to be built in Richmond. It should be in the Vancouver area.

There is a reason elevation is listed on the speed skating oval list on wikipedia: training at higher elevation is an advantage, and competing at higher elevations leads to world records.



Only if Calgary's oval becomes unserviceable will the national training centre relocate.

[WhipperSnapper]

ye-ah, Calgary becoming unserviceable is key to everything I have said on a new replacement facility coinciding with the 2030 Olympics. People care about gold medals than records being broken.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Like I said, I don't know the impact of age on the facility in regards to deferred maintenance, end of life replacements and, amenities being up to modern standards. The potential is that a new facility would be a better move financially (probably not greener) than renovating a 50 year old facility is not out fo the question

My point was over the politics of building a new facility as part of a 2030 Vancouver games over converting the Richmond Oval Community Centre back to a long track facility. The new facility would then take over the role as Western Canada's training ground. There is no reason the new facility has to be built in Richmond. It should be in the Vancouver area.

No, I get it. If I was local user, it would piss me off royally to lose that facility for that amount of time. I just don't know if there is a justification for spending somewhere north of $200million+ for another new facility in the GVA, especially if the prevailing thought would be as MalcolmTucker suggests, that Calgary would remain as Team Canada central. I mean, maybe the same result could come of it as did Richmond - conversion to a multi-use complex for an underserved region of the GVA. But it's still a pretty penny to end up with another community centre.

Another thought comes to mind though. A long track is essentially the same as a running track isn't it? Instead of the multi-millions for converting Richmond, or the hundreds of millions for new, could they put a track in BC Place? They have this stadium sitting there essentially that host opening and closing ceremonies. Could speed skating work in there? I have no idea, just blue skying here.

[esquire]

^ Not a bad idea, the logistics in terms of the ice plant couldn't be all that much different from hosting the Heritage Classic, could they?

I guess they'd need to have the track in for a long time to allow for hosting test events... so it might mean installing the ice as soon as football/soccer are done (Nov?) and having the venue out of commission. Thinking it through, that wouldn't leave a ton of time...assuming the conversion takes you into December, you basically have two months max to get it right and host test events assuming there is an Olympics start date in early February.

[JHikka]

I'm assuming that long track speed skating tracks and running tracks differ slightly in the turns and radii, although i'm not totally certain. I'm not sure if the ISU would approve a temporary speed skating venue of that manner and setup. It's not a bad idea but likely not feasible.

[esquire]

Just eyeballing it, it looks like you would need about 600 feet, or 200 yards to accommodate a long track rink. The CFL field at BC Place is 150 yards, and there is probably at least another 10 yards of buffer space that brings you up to around 160. So I guess each end would have to retract at least 20 yards back to bring you up to 200. It looks like BC Place's end zone seats retract to at least some extent. Width is not an issue. So size-wise it would be a tight fit but I think it would work with little if any alteration to the seating bowl. I suppose the mechanical side of things would be the bigger issue.

[Denscity]

Looks like BC Place has new turf.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Looks like BC Place has new turf.

That's good. I'm starting to get a little jealous of the stadiums getting new turf, IG Field's is getting long in the tooth as it was laid down in late 2012 IIRC.

[elly63]

Thought this was posted already, guess not.

FieldTurf Coming to BC Place, One of Canada's Most Renowned Stadiums
fieldturf.com December 16 2021

B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) officials have announced that the existing surface at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will undertake a major revitalization and be replaced by a new FieldTurf system. The project is scheduled to take place during the months of December 2021 and January 2022.

“BC Place is a one of only a few world class stadiums in North America to host such a diverse range of activities on a busy calendar of events.” said Ken Cretney, President & CEO of PavCo. “From hosting international sporting championships to community-based activities, this revitalized playing surface will help ensure BC Place is set to play a major part in B.C.’s Restart plan, and the growth of our business over the coming years.”

The new artificial turf field at BC Place will feature FieldTurf’s leading Vertex CORE system with EcoMax infill. Vertex CORE was designed to deliver the perfect combination of performance and beauty. Equipped with two legendary FieldTurf fibers, the Classic HD slit-film fiber and the CORE monofilament superfiber, the system delivers leading agility, durability and aesthetics. Vertex CORE is a demonstration of FieldTurf’s unwavering dedication to quality and strive to Change The Game.



“This one is special.” said Eric Daliere, President – Tarkett North America & Tarkett Sports. “To be selected by the B.C. Pavilion Corporation for BC Place is a tremendous validation of our efforts and desire to offer an improved solution for our customers. Our entire team is excited to start on the project and deliver a truly premier system.”

Designed to embody the key characteristics of a pristine natural surface, FieldTurf has developed ideal systems for soccer by ensuring proper ball performance and energy return for players.

For BC Place, FieldTurf is offering a unique system composed of many Canadian-based solutions:

The Company: FieldTurf was founded by two Montrealers over 25 years ago, and since has grown into a global leader featuring over 25,000 installation worldwide. The company still operates out of Montreal with numerous manufacturing and operation locations across the world. FieldTurf is now a part of Tarkett Sports, a world leader in athletic surfacing.

The Installation Team: The project will be led by Beyond The Turf, our elite local partners based out of British Columbia.

The Underlayment: The shock pad, installed under the field, is manufactured by ThermaGreen, also a Tarkett Sports company, and based in Toronto.

The Infill: Extruded in Quebec, the high quality EcoMax infill granules offer leading durability and performance.

The Sand: Thousands of pounds of silica sand, used in the artificial turf system as a component of the infill, is to be sourced from Alberta.

The Base Leveling Layer: Prep work on the base leveling layer is being done by New Brunswick based Playteck Enterprises, the exclusive Canadian distributor for Tarkett Sports’ Beynon running tracks.

FieldTurf has long been recognized as a Canadian leader in artificial turf:

In the CFL, FieldTurf is now the trusted choice for 6 of the 9 teams. The Lions join the Stampeders, Alouettes, Redblacks, Roughriders and Blue Bombers who all play on FieldTurf.

In the MLS, FieldTurf will be the trusted surface of all 6 clubs in the league playing on artificial turf at their stadium, after the completion of the project at BC Place. The Charlotte FC, Revolution, Sounders, United and Timbers both play and practice on FieldTurf while Austin FC, DC United, Los Angeles FC, Inter Miami CF, CF Montreal, Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union currently train on FieldTurf.

In U Sports & NCAA: Over 1500 programs trust FieldTurf of which includes powerhouse Canadian football programs Montreal, Queen’s, Manitoba and U.S. based Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan to name a few.

FieldTurf is a part of Tarkett Sports, a world leader in athletic surfacing, offering a comprehensive portfolio of sports flooring solutions through its brands: FieldTurf, FieldTurf Landscape, Beynon Sports, Renner Sports, GrassMaster and Tarkett Sports Indoor. With a wide range of products including artificial, hybrid and residential turf, running tracks, tennis courts and indoor athletic surfaces, the Tarkett Sports family offers the ultimate surface experience.

[elly63]

Revitalized artificial turf playing surface coming to BC Place Stadium
bcplace.com December 15th, 2021
PavCo donates used BC Place turf to the Abbotsford Cardinals, helping rebuild the community baseball facility devastated by flooding in the Fraser Valley

The revitalization of the playing surface will include substantial upgrades to the sub-structure of the stadium floor prior to the installation of the artificial turf. Work to complete the revitalization is scheduled to take place during the months of December 2021 and January 2022.

The previous artificial turf at BC Place was installed in early 2015 and no longer meets the certifications required for top level international sport. PavCo has donated a portion of the used artificial turf to the Abbotsford Cardinals baseball team located in the Fraser Valley, whose facilities and turf were lost to the recent flooding that severely impacted many communities across British Columbia. Partners FieldTurf, Beyond The Turf and Binnie have generously donated their labour and expertise to ensure the artificial turf is professionally installed for the Cardinals at no cost to the baseball community.

Key facts: Turf revitalization for BC Place Stadium

BC Place is a world class multipurpose stadium like no other venue in North America, hosting a year-round calendar of major events and community activities.

The turf revitalization project was tendered through a fair and transparent procurement process with BC Bid. Three compliant proposals were received in response to PavCo’s detailed Request for Proposals (RFP).

Following a detailed evaluation process, FieldTurf was selected to complete the turf revitalization, which will include the removal of the used artificial turf system, upgrades to the sub-structure, as well as the installation of FieldTurf’s leading Vertex CORE system with EcoMax infill, for the total cost of $2,776,000 +GST.

The FieldTurf proposal was selected in part for its international certifications for world class sport, playability and performance, player safety and health, safety and environmental standards, as well as overall value.

Once the new surface is installed, FieldTurf will provide maintenance and operational support through their local B.C.-based team Beyond The Turf, as well as an industry-leading warranty.

The new FieldTurf Vertex CORE playing surface is designed to meet the highest international certifications for sporting competition on artificial turf, as installed on the unique sub-structure at BC Place - for a minimum of five years from installation.

The new FieldTurf surface will also serve as ‘home turf’ for Team Canada at the annual Canada Sevens, the BC Lions of the CFL, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of MLS, as well as other international, professional and community sporting events at BC Place.

Key facts: BC Place turf donation to Abbotsford Cardinals baseball facility

PavCo is donating a portion of the used artificial turf from BC Place to completely replace the flood damaged turf surface at the Abbotsford Cardinals baseball facility.

Re-using the turf at a community baseball facility is not only a win for the environment, but a win for a B.C. community that has been devastated by recent flooding.


...

[elly63]

Newest to oldest artificial turf installations

January 2022 Vancouver - FieldTurf Vertex CORE with EcoMax infill, total cost $2,776,000 +GST.
July 2021 Hamilton - TBA Not FieldTurf (Old) FieldTurf Revolution 1US (FIFA Approved)
July 2016 Regina - FieldTurf Revolution 360
May 2015 Edmonton - Shaw Sports Turf PowerBlade Elite 2.5 system with HydroChill (FIFA Approved)
July 2014 Montreal (Olympic Stadium) - Act Global Xtreme Turf DX45 TPE/S20 (FIFA Approved)
June 2014 Ottawa - FieldTurf Revolution 1US (FIFA Approved)
May 2014 Moncton - FieldTurf Revolution 1US (FIFA Approved)
April 2014 Calgary - FieldTurf Revolution
May 2013 Montreal (Percival Molson) - FieldTurf Revolution
October 2012 Winnipeg - FieldTurf Revolution 1US (installed previous to opening in 2013) (FIFA Approved)

[craner]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Looks like BC Place has new turf.

So if they host WC games do they install a natural grass field over the new turf ?

[Denscity]

I'm guessing the new turf at BC Place is FIFA and everyone else approved?

[craner]

^ For qualifiers yes. But I believe for WC games FIFA insists on a natural grass surface.
Perhaps the soccer experts can chime in.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

^For qualifiers yes. But I believe for WC games FIFA insists on a natural grass surface.

Yes, but to be FIFA approved the surface must be tested at its actual installation site (FIFA money grab). Generally these high end models ie FieldTurf Vertex Core or FieldTurf Revolution are made to pass muster, the approval is a formality if installed correctly.

The WWC in Canada was played on all artificial turf surfaces, the men's games will be played on turf which will create some interesting issues to come in Edmonton or if Vancouver is able to get back in the race (which apparently is coming from FIFA)

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

So if they host WC games do they install a natural grass field over the new turf ?

That's a good question which nobody seems to be talking about. If they emulate the Pontiac Silverdome in (1994) they can use turf embedded in hexagonal trays, not a great solution after a couple of days, there were some complaints there.

Otherwise they will have to dig up the floor (which they just did) to create a turf surface. We have no idea how the grass will live even with a retractable roof, they are not going to want to do all that for just a couple of games, they would have to get at least a season out of it and also pay the extra maintenance costs. Also is the building suited for turf with all the excess moisture emitted into the air, and there would likely be mold issues as well. Lots to think about.