Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[MalcolmTucker]

The Saddledome to keep going indefinitely needs a major structural renewal of the roof and the roof support ‘compression ring’. Worth it for a someday in the event it is replaced as the everyday arena? Not really imo.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by canucklehead2

Keep the Saddledome as a secondary venue with less but upgraded seating so that they compliment but don't directly compete. Like the old Long Island Coliseum... Still there but with less but more luxurious seats.

How exactly would keeping the Saddledome compliment but, not compete with the new arena? I can't see it being more economical used as a 7 to 10,000 seat stadium versus building a new one over a longer term.

Long Island is also part of a metro of 20 million people.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

The Saddledome to keep going indefinitely needs a major structural renewal of the roof and the roof support ‘compression ring’. Worth it for a someday in the event it is replaced as the everyday arena? Not really imo.

Are there really structural issues? Or are they just the bogus ones that somehow appear whenever a team owner wants to make a case for public subsidies for a new venue?

If it's the former then fair enough, there's no point in sinking big dollars into keeping it going. But I wouldn't be surprised if the latter was the case.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by esquire

Are there really structural issues? Or are they just the bogus ones that somehow appear whenever a team owner wants to make a case for public subsidies for a new venue?

If it's the former then fair enough, there's no point in sinking big dollars into keeping it going. But I wouldn't be surprised if the latter was the case.

While the structure was able to be repaired after the flooding in 2013, floods still greatly affect the lifespan of buildings even after repairs are made. It is not clear how in-depth the repairs were after the flooding, but it wouldn't surprise me if signs of structural issues were beginning to emerge with the larger structural elements that couldn't be removed/replaced during the initial repairs. There's also something to be said about future flooding risk for the Saddledome.

It would likely be much easier and cheaper to build a new arena somewhere else (regarding later uses post-Flames occupancy) than it would be to both renovate and flood-proof the Saddledome to allow for its usage for an additional 30 or so years.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by esquire

Are there really structural issues? Or are they just the bogus ones that somehow appear whenever a team owner wants to make a case for public subsidies for a new venue?

If it's the former then fair enough, there's no point in sinking big dollars into keeping it going. But I wouldn't be surprised if the latter was the case.

The last report focused on keeping it going until the end of the decade and foresaw ~$50 million of work. Bigger issue is the post tension cables which have been monitored but not replaced as they broke. Question is can that be done without relieving the load from the roof (the ring supports a grid of cables which supports the roof).

[Airboy]

A couple of years back I did an energy audit on the Stampede ground buildings. The Saddle dome did not get badly damaged during the floods but the structural issues were noted in another audit. Minor but if not looked after would see continual degradation to the point of failure. We were told the arena had about 10-15 years of life left that was 4 years ago.

One of the building was surrounded by sand bags. the flood waters did not reach it but the backed up sewage was trapped inside the sandbags.

[thurmas]

A mix of 7500 condo units and social housing will go where the proposed new ballpark was planned by the Bronfman group for the shared Tampa Montreal mlb idea that fell through this winter. With that said I don't know what montreal is going to do stadium wise as the province is not renovating the big o. Molson stadium is on prime real estate but needs serious upgrades for the Alouettes and stade saputo continues to be a bad location for cf montreal as they are only averaging 13000 fans with a winning team.

[The S'toon Goon]

https://northerntribune.ca/canadian-premier-league-saskatoon-stadium/

An update on the stadium that would house a potential CPL team. Still a few hurdles to overcome it would seem

[elly63]

• Video Link

[MalcolmTucker]

It is sad. It will never be built. The financing plan is unrealistic-it counts on federal funds for a pro-sports facility.

[EpicPonyTime]

Prairieland giving up its agricultural lands tax exemption should be Condition One for the City to even consider putting money towards this project.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

It is sad. It will never be built. The financing plan is unrealistic-it counts on federal funds for a pro-sports facility.

If it's unrealistic, I wonder if there is any merit to the CPL proponents collaborating with U of S to bring Griffiths Stadium up to spec for pro soccer?

It seems ill-advised for Saskatoon to build a third small stadium on top of the existing two small stadiums (Griffiths and SMF Field) in that city. Why not pool resources into improving one of the facilities rather than basically duplicating what currently exists?

[EpicPonyTime]

Griffiths should be the location for a new or revamped stadium, 100%. I recall the University and/or City announcing a proposal to redevelop Cumberland into a higher density, pedestrian friendly street; a soccer stadium could fit in well with that plan.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Prairieland giving up its agricultural lands tax exemption should be Condition One for the City to even consider putting money towards this project.

The land is owned by the city, and the park is operated under a lease for purposes that the city undertakes. I am not sure what you think collecting tax would accomplish.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Griffiths should be the location for a new or revamped stadium, 100%. I recall the University and/or City announcing a proposal to redevelop Cumberland into a higher density, pedestrian friendly street; a soccer stadium could fit in well with that plan.

Griffiths is university owned so not sure how that would work. I always thought Griffiths should have been left as a track stadium and a proper larger stadium built behind the Field house.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

Griffiths is university owned so not sure how that would work. I always thought Griffiths should have been left as a track stadium and a proper larger stadium built behind the Field house.

It could certainly work. I mean, IG Field is partly university owned. There would be something in it for the university if it gets facility upgrades out of the deal.

If the west stands were demolished and replaced with something bigger that included premium seating, a pro soccer clubhouse and media facilities, you could basically get a mostly new, very suitable stadium that benefits the university for less than the cost of a totally new facility. And of course the CPL proponents could share the cost with the U of S.

[JustForTheHalibut]

IGF in Winnipeg hosts both the Bombers, Bisons and Valore, you'd would think that Saskatoon could share facilities.

So I had to look and that proposed soccer stadium wouldn't even be the largest stadium in that exhibition complex area only, there's another outdoor grandstand that hosts concerts etc.

https://prairielandpark.com/plan-an-event/live-entertainment/

Plus I looked up that there's a NASCAR race track in the city that seats more than the proposed soccer stadium too.

You'd think that they could just use one of those for a couple years to find out if sports like soccer would go over well there, but like, who am I kidding, they seem to monopolize ever sport they got in that province to begin with. Not many SSP posters from that city seem to be posting about the proposed stadium but I'd be interested to hear what someone from that actual city like The_Saskatoon_Goon poster what he'd think about those other options.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

It could certainly work. I mean, IG Field is partly university owned. There would be something in it for the university if it gets facility upgrades out of the deal.

I don't know how it works now but when the Feds got out of the stadium funding game there were two exceptions: you could get funding for a large scale international games or educational infrastructure ie a stadium affiliated with a university.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by elly63

I don't know how it works now but when the Feds got out of the stadium funding game there were two exceptions: you could get funding for a large scale international games or educational infrastructure ie a stadium affiliated with a university.

IIRC IG Field did get some federal funding but it was extremely limited, I think basically for the U of M specific components. I'm not sure exactly what that means, maybe just the Bisons' facilities, which would have been a trifling part of the overall budget.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by JustForTheHalibut

IGF in Winnipeg hosts both the Bombers, Bisons and Valore, you'd would think that Saskatoon could share facilities.

So I had to look and that proposed soccer stadium wouldn't even be the largest stadium in that exhibition complex area only, there's another outdoor grandstand that hosts concerts etc.

https://prairielandpark.com/plan-an-event/live-entertainment/

Plus I looked up that there's a NASCAR race track in the city that seats more than the proposed soccer stadium too.

You'd think that they could just use one of those for a couple years to find out if sports like soccer would go over well there, but like, who am I kidding, they seem to monopolize ever sport they got in that province to begin with. Not many SSP posters from that city seem to be posting about the proposed stadium but I'd be interested to hear what someone from that actual city like The_Saskatoon_Goon poster what he'd think about those other options.

The outdoor grandstand is smallish. I agree, it would make sense to use it as part of the stadium. Certainly the current proposal seems like a reach for the moon type deal.



The 10,000 seated--that is indoors at the convention centre type space.