Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by People_talking

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

Yeah I saw it but nothing has happened with it it appears like a dead project to me

[blueandgoldguy]

McMahon Stadium is like Lambeau Field in Green Bay...minus the billion or so dollars in expansion and renovations that have occurred over the past 30-40 years.

[thurmas]

My gut feeling is they will likely do a renovation eventually probably around 150 million for new seats improved concessions and washrooms and maybe renovated suites so the facility can host a grey cup again.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

Football is meant to be played outdoors.

I don't think that is necessarily true but there are far better solutions than, as you said, warehouses like Fargodome.

Canada really does need another all weather year round stadium. We have three and only one is capable of being used to it's full utility (BC Place). Montreal has its roof issues and SkyDome is basically baseball only. We can do better than that situation without having to go to NFL price levels.

I still say the combo fieldhouse/stadium is the way to go for Calgary, each has a need to be filled. People got all caught up in some early concept drawings, they didn't like. They should look at the early idea for Mosaic Stadium, not too similar to the final result.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by thurmas

My gut feeling is they will likely do a renovation eventually probably around 150 million for new seats improved concessions and washrooms and maybe renovated suites so the facility can host a grey cup again.

Waste of money. It would be interesting to find out how good and up to code the structure is (are some things grandfathered) Ivor Wynne was falling apart and it was recommended to be replaced IIRC. We were told before the refurb that the North end stands in Ottawa were ok and now we're being told they aren't. So how good is Calgary?

[People_talking]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Yeah I saw it but nothing has happened with it it appears like a dead project to me

It's split into phases, the city is securing funding for the field house first of which I believe they have ~$113 million. I wouldn't consider it dead it rather say its years out. Id imagine that they are waiting for things like Crowchild trail to be upgraded to a freeway and other improvements in the area

[elly63]

Golden Hawks rejoice: Wilfrid Laurier approves major upgrades to University Stadium
3Down Staff April 26, 2023

Wilfrid Laurier University’s board of governors has voted in favour of major upgrades to University Stadium, the home of the Golden Hawks football team.

The facility’s bleachers have already been removed to make way for improvements that will come following the 2023 season. These upgrades will include a new field surface, scoreboard, and lighting.

Pending further approval from the board, University Stadium will also receive winterized dome infrastructure, reconstructed bleachers, and a new indoor facility housing a double gymnasium, high-performance athletic training area, and multi-use student spaces.

University Stadium was opened in 1958 and most recently underwent renovations in 2007. The venue has a capacity of 6,000.

Last week, Wilfrid Laurier re-opened Alumni Stadium on the east side of campus with a “soft launch” in celebration of some of the upgrades that have already been completed to the venue. When the full renovation is done, the facility will feature new turf, seating, scoreboard, and press box.

The cost of the renovations to Alumni Stadium were covered by donors with “significant gifts” coming from the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association, the Students’ Union, and the Graduate Students’ Association.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by elly63

I don't think that is necessarily true but there are far better solutions than, as you said, warehouses like Fargodome.

Canada really does need another all weather year round stadium. We have three and only one is capable of being used to it's full utility (BC Place). Montreal has its roof issues and SkyDome is basically baseball only. We can do better than that situation without having to go to NFL price levels.

I still say the combo fieldhouse/stadium is the way to go for Calgary, each has a need to be filled. People got all caught up in some early concept drawings, they didn't like. They should look at the early idea for Mosaic Stadium, not too similar to the final result.

What is the real point of a domed stadium, though? The CFL and MLS seasons end before it gets truly too cold to be outside. The one MLB team here has a dome, so that's fine. I guess the NFL needs a dome if it's going to play in Canada right through January, but that is not on the horizon at all.

If Calgary gets a domed stadium, what will it use it for from November to June? You can hold track and field events in a much more modest fieldhouse without spending hundreds of millions on a roof for a stadium. The other stuff like car shows and home shows can just be held at a convention centre.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

If Calgary gets a domed stadium, what will it use it for from November to June?

Year round public use and rental.

[EpicPonyTime]

Notley had a press conference yesterday where she said she's received evidence that there's a confidential aspect to the Calgary arena deal which leaves the province exposed for further contribution. I'm waiting for concrete evidence, but I would not be surprised at all given how much the current government loves unaccountability.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by elly63

Year round public use and rental.

You don't need a domed pro sports stadium costing the better part of a billion dollars to host U13 soccer in January.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Notley had a press conference yesterday where she said she's received evidence that there's a confidential aspect to the Calgary arena deal which leaves the province exposed for further contribution. I'm waiting for concrete evidence, but I would not be surprised at all given how much the current government loves unaccountability.

Welfare for poor people = bad
Welfare for billionaires = good

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

You don't need a domed pro sports stadium costing the better part of a billion dollars to host U13 soccer in January.

A billion dollars? How about half of that.

[craner]

Originally Posted by elly63

A couple of "different" Olympic Stadium videos

• Video Link

• Video Link

Thanks for posting those Big-O videos, very nostalgic for myself. Montreal’s decade in the sun (1967 - 1976) was my first decade on earth.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by elly63

A billion dollars? How about half of that.

Maybe unless it's a Fargodome-style hangar of a building, there's no way that a domed stadium is coming in at less than two thirds of a billion.

[craner]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Yeah I saw it but nothing has happened with it it appears like a dead project to me

The Calgary Fieldhouse is far from a dead project, in fact there has been things happening over the last few months, the main thing being the City confirming it’s financial commitment.
Here is a recent article:

http://https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-multisport-fieldhouse-preliminary-mix

The replacement or renovation of McMahon Stadium is a different story - it’s been crickets forever on that one.
I hope now that the new arena (sorry, event centre) has been finalized (hopefully) we can push to deal with the McMahon situation. It’s the single biggest reason for declining attendance for the Stampeders. Not to mention other events Calgary gets passed over for (i.e. Womens WC, WC qualifying matches, large outdoor concerts etc.). It’s 63 freakin’ years old now - it’s time to do something about it Calgary!

[Hackslack]

I can’t imagine anymore public funds will be put towards anything CSEC owns. I can’t imagine CSEC investing any money of their own into upgrading McMahon either. Unless the university wants to put money towards it, then McMahon will be as is for the foreseeable future, in my opinion…. Or, perhaps the commonwealth games will be the ticket to improving McMahon.

[thurmas]

Okotoksdome has a certain ring to it.

[O-tacular]

I hope Smith's blatant pandering smacks her in the face come election time:

https://globalnews.ca/news/9655801/f...cial-election/

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

Maybe unless it's a Fargodome-style hangar of a building, there's no way that a domed stadium is coming in at less than two thirds of a billion.

But even a Fargodome style stadium on the cheap can be vastly improved, translucent EEFE panels for instance would make a world of difference.

Mosaic Stadium at 33.3k seats came in at $310 million IIRC, original budget was 278 million. They had originally wanted a structure similar to the Tele2Arena in Stockholm. They figured the retractable roof would cost $100 million so it was taken off the table.

We know now that in the reality we are presently living in both Mosaic Stadium and IGF were overbuilt (each around 33k) Any new structure should fall in the 25-30k range.

Canadian facilities have always been utilitarian over American extravagance and size, obviously we are not looking at a 65k, one billion dollar building.

With that and even factoring in inflation I think you could bring in a retractable roof under 600 million, with a fixed roof of EEFE panels possibly less.