Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[O-tacular]

Look we're famous!

https://www.fieldofschemes.com/2023/04/2...onths-after-saying-300m-was-their-limit/

[esquire]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Nenshi with a blistering takedown of Smith:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/naheed-n...expectations-not-in-a-good-way-1.6372060

Ouch. It is amazing that there is a market for the kind of nonsense being peddled by Smith. I guess as usual Canada is following the US in lockstep, just a few years behind.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by esquire

Ouch. It is amazing that there is a market for the kind of nonsense being peddled by Smith. I guess as usual Canada is following the US in lockstep, just a few years behind.

It's the rural areas and smaller cities and towns that are her base. The fact that the majority who live in Calgary and Edmonton can be completely dismissed by her is what's so fucked up. UCP will win my riding but could lose the rest of the city. Though Abacus just had a poll showing them with a 6% lead in Calgary before the deal was announced. Mind you 19% of respondents were still undecided. This plan is so transparent and so stupid, I fear it might work. A lot of undecided voters get swayed by stupid shit like this. Depends if it pisses enough people off or you have the diehard Flames fans who turn a blind eye to the corporate welfare and want a shiny new box.

[Djeffery]

Still chuckling at the comparison that McMahon is Fenway. Fenway has charm and character, MCMahon is just old.

[thurmas]

Mcmahon is the Wilfred Brimley of stadiums

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Mcmahon is the Wilfred Brimley of stadiums

That actually made me laugh out loud! Thanks!

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

As you alluded to, it's all about keeping the entertainment district of Lansdowne busy. The City is jumping through hoops to accommodate OSEG (owners of the sports teams and commercial portion). For sure, there are better locations for the arena, and the stadium for that matter, but they want to prop-up what's at Lansdowne today and eventually recover the costs through the "windfall" arrangement.

The idea is to build everything in stages:

1. Complete new arena;
2. Demolish Civic Centre and North Side stands;
3. Build new North Side stands, parking, retail and residential towers.

Not sure what the plan is for the one or two summers where we'll be left with a half stadium. They could add minimal temporary seating at both end-zones.

As happy as I am that the "district" does well (at least the few times I've been there for a CFL game -- are the retailers and restaurants busy on non-game-days?) the tail shouldn't wag the dog like that.

How well-used is the parkland? I'd be loathe to give that up too, but if people are mainly using the pathways and not the grassy expanses, a better plan could be realized. Hell, bury the entire arena beneath without a "berm" or mound so there's more potential for larger events at TD Place that rely temporary stands and have more impact on local spending (fully realizing that its just juggling discretionary money from one place to another, but make it worthwhile for the city at least!)

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

As happy as I am that the "district" does well (at least the few times I've been there for a CFL game -- are the retailers and restaurants busy on non-game-days?) the tail shouldn't wag the dog like that.

How well-used is the parkland? I'd be loathe to give that up too, but if people are mainly using the pathways and not the grassy expanses, a better plan could be realized. Hell, bury the entire arena beneath without a "berm" or mound so there's more potential for larger events at TD Place that rely temporary stands and have more impact on local spending (fully realizing that its just juggling discretionary money from one place to another, but make it worthwhile for the city at least!)

Sounds like a good idea. If the current arena has a stadium sitting on top if it, then they should build the new arena with ability to put a temporary structure on top. And when that isn't needed, which is most of the time, you can have useful open space.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Is it? I am not sure why folks are surprised by this or outraged given precedent in N.A. and the current pitch of 'events' centre from an economic development standpoint.

People in Alberta are outraged with Smith considering she flat out said no (as the then-leader of the Wildrose in 2012) to any Provincial funding when Edmonton's arena deal was pitched, but here she is basically throwing public dollars at the arena project. The least she could do now is promise Edmonton and the smaller Alberta cities similiar 'capital improvement dollars' for their respective downtowns.

[blueandgoldguy]

I would think there will be 1 season in which the RedBlacks will only have a max capacity of 11,000 or so as it will likely take quite a bit longer than 7 months to demolish the arena and grandstand and build the new grandstand at Lansdowne.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Still chuckling at the comparison that McMahon is Fenway. Fenway has charm and character, MCMahon is just old.

I had to re-read that a few times to make sure they actually made that comparison. And while McMahon is old, it still far younger than Fenway.

The fact that everyone wants to tear down McMahon might be an indication that no one considers it anything close to a landmark.

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Nenshi with a blistering takedown of Smith:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/naheed-n...expectations-not-in-a-good-way-1.6372060

For all the anti-Smith rhetoric I read from your posts (mostly completely valid, I agree), I’m waiting for you to rip mayor Gondek for the sweetheart deal she gave Murray Edwards now too.

[thurmas]

Calgary should just build a 30000 seat alerus center like und has in grand forks or fargodome as mcmahon always has terrible weather for playoffs and too cold to get fans then.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Hackslack

For all the anti-Smith rhetoric I read from your posts (mostly completely valid, I agree), I’m waiting for you to rip mayor Gondek for the sweetheart deal she gave Murray Edwards now too.

I’m not happy with Gondek or City Council either. See my post:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Worth mentioning that 3 municipal elections had this issue looming in the background and CSEC even tried to prop up a fake candidate to get the deal done and lost to Nenshi each time. Gondek was viewed as his successor, but I think she got spooked after CSEC pulled the plug on the deal right after she got into office. Idiots blamed her. Still no excuse for this pile of dogshit though. No wonder they were so insistent on closed door negotiations. The public would be up in arms over this fleecing.

Also hilarious that Smith openly opposed provincial money going to Edmonton’s arena. She’s not even hiding the vote buying. Literally made this a ballot issue.

I think CSEC and Edwards bullied them and Nenshi never would have stood for such crap. Hell even Jeremy Farkas is calling this out as electioneering. He also stated that his campaign polling during the municipal election showed the majority of Calgarians opposed such a handout. I think our mayor can’t say much because it’s free money from the province. I’m very upset about the closed door meetings where our politicians seemingly got raped by CSEC. I cannot fathom how they are defending this model where a business is getting 70% of its operations covered by taxpayers. Elongated Musk should be aghast!

[craner]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Engage Ottawa has survey on Lansdowne 2.0, and floor and site plans for the new OHL arena, CFL/CPL stadium north stands and the retail podium of the future condo/apartment towers.

Engage Ottawa: https://engage.ottawa.ca/lansdowne-2-0
Arena: https://engage.ottawa.ca/25667/widgets/125073/documents/103885
Stadium: https://engage.ottawa.ca/25667/widgets/125073/documents/103788
Retail Podium: https://engage.ottawa.ca/25667/widgets/125073/documents/103789

Looks good. I hope the new north stands improve the field lighting.

[esquire]

On this McMahon Stadium thing, I think Calgary will replace it soon. Either that or spend a similar amount on renovations. But with this massive arena project on the go, I think it's fair to say that Calgary's major sports venue dance card is going to be full for a while. The Stamps can check back in maybe in another 10 years.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by esquire

On this McMahon Stadium thing, I think Calgary will replace it soon. Either that or spend a similar amount on renovations. But with this massive arena project on the go, I think it's fair to say that Calgary's major sports venue dance card is going to be full for a while. The Stamps can check back in maybe in another 10 years.

A domed stadium would be great for calgary for winter rodeo shows boat shows monster truck rallies ect... its a market better suited for a dome being the corporate hub for western Canada of so many large companies

[esquire]

Originally Posted by thurmas

A domed stadium would be great for calgary for winter rodeo shows boat shows monster truck rallies ect... its a market better suited for a dome being the corporate hub for western Canada of so many large companies

I'm not sold on it. It would probably cost at least 50% more for a dome, and guaranteed within three years of the place opening people will be complaining about the poor atmosphere in a dome, 'why are you making me sit in a warehouse on a warm summer evening', etc. There is nothing about Alerus Center/Fargodome that seem appealing as a model for Calgary... They look like aircraft hangars with grandstands.

Football is meant to be played outdoors.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm not sold on it. It would probably cost at least 50% more for a dome, and guaranteed within three years of the place opening people will be complaining about the poor atmosphere in a dome, 'why are you making me sit in a warehouse on a warm summer evening', etc. There is nothing about Alerus Center/Fargodome that seem appealing as a model for Calgary... They look like aircraft hangars with grandstands.

Football is meant to be played outdoors.

I am not a fan of fargodome but I like the alerts center. For building canadian stadiums always have to try and squeeze as much usability as you can out of it to try and secure funding

[People_talking]

Originally Posted by esquire

On this McMahon Stadium thing, I think Calgary will replace it soon. Either that or spend a similar amount on renovations. But with this massive arena project on the go, I think it's fair to say that Calgary's major sports venue dance card is going to be full for a while. The Stamps can check back in maybe in another 10 years.

Theres a concept plan thats already in place to redevelop the entire Foothills Athletic Park and renovate McMahon. Its a few years out but it starts with the demolition of the baseball stadium, replacing it with a new indoor multipart field house. The field house is supposed to be a catalyst to driver further development.

https://engage.calgary.ca/foothills-mcmahon