Halifax Stadium Discussion

[q12]

All I can say is:

[MaritimeCFLFan]

Looking good. Let's get going full speed ahead on this project.

[MaritimeCFLFan]

Originally Posted by MaritimeCFLFan

Hey all,

I created a new thread (poll) aimed at trying to gauge what type of support a CFL team would receive among the posters here at SkyscraperPage.com. I know many of you have already stated your support in this and other threads but I feel this deserves it's own thread. Make a selection at...

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=187693

If a new multi purpose stadium for Halifax becomes a reality I'm sure a CFL team will follow.

Just moving this to a current page.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Looks like there is serious interest in a stadium.
Look what's on the agenda for Tuesday!

Nice find halifaxboyns. Thanks for posting the link. It will be interesting to watch the proceedings on Tuesday, February 8. Hopefully this will be the study that results in construction of a stadium.

On page 3/12 of the pdf file (above), there is an interesting paragraph. Does anyone have access to this draft Masterplan?

1992 City of Halifax presented a draft Mainland North Common Masterplan, which identified a possible location for a stadium in its phase 2 plan. This concept was not incorporated into the final report.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by q12

All I can say is:

I second that emotion - let's hope for a successful outcome to this study (the construction of a stadium).

[Welkin]

All I am saying is give the stadium a chance

By CHRIS COCHRANE Sports Columnist
Sat, Feb 5 - 7:18 AM


Maybe I’m enjoying the enlightenment that comes with middle age.

Or perhaps I’m just tired of watching sports people make what I consider to be the same mistakes over and over again.

It can’t be that I’m guilty as charged, that I really am turning into a grumpy old man, as some readers who disagree with my points of view have suggested.

Whatever the case, plenty has been happening in local sports lately that just seems ridiculous to me. Way too often, the right path appears clear and yet remains untaken.

I’ve touched on a few of these frustrations recently, but here’s a recap:

•The stadium issue:

Come on people, give it a chance. Every time I write in support of investigating the costs and plans for a proposed new stadium for Halifax, I’m left wondering how so many people can be against something before the details are even known.

Instead of a knee-jerk, negative response to talk of a stadium, why not wait for the details to be revealed? If we aren’t at least open to discussion, then investors and entrepreneurs won’t waste much time on our province when considering where to build these projects.

Not a positive view of the stadium issue, but at least they are talking about the stadium. As they say, any press is good press. At least Cochrane is pushing the stadium.

[JustinMacD]

Originally Posted by -Harlington-

Dartmouth crossing sucks asshole for transit, i think two buses go there and you cant even use them from the bridge terminal let alone anywhere in urban HRM
its basically built in the middle of nowhere out of the rock

but if they improved transit and incorporated it more with surrounding areas which i think there gonna end up doing i guess wouldn't mind a stadium going there

Agreed, if the Stadium is in DC, they're going to have to add antoher bus route or two. The current situation is terrible.

[Halifax Privateer]

This is a very positive step ... I hope as a community we show the same sort of support and enthusiasm as we did for the skating oval.

[fenwick16]

I don't agree with Chris Cochrane's view that people might not give a stadium a chance. Polls have indicated that a stadium would be a project that would be supported by the majority of people in the HRM. Chris Cochrane undoubtedly reads the comments in the Chronicle Herald which tend to be skewed towards the naysayers. Not only do I believe that many of the comments against various projects are coming from one or a few people with multiple usernames, I also believe that people in favour usually don't take the time to post a comment stating that they support a particular project.

One way to determine if posted comments against various projects are coming from the same person would be to look for a pattern of words being repeatedly misspelling, or peculiar grammar being repeated in various different comments. I think we should take the time to carefully read the comments of the naysayers and see if there is such a pattern. Many of the usernames against various projects tend to sound very similar in theme. We all know that there are a few dedicated naysayers who will go to almost any extreme to try to block one project or another.

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

Agreed, if the Stadium is in DC, they're going to have to add antoher bus route or two. The current situation is terrible.

That needs to be done regardless... but I think what people are missing is that no matter where this stadium is built, Metro Transit would need to step up for major events, just as they do now with shuttles for concerts or tall ships or air shows.

[wespidel]

There is a huge support from the public for a stadium in Halifax, 78 % which is much higher than the World Convention Centre! I can guarantee you that Halifax are very serious about building a stadium and I believe Halifax will build the right stadium and I believe it will be built and construction will start the spring of 2012 and be completed in the spring of 2014 for the Women`s FIFA U 20 World Cup, as a test for the Women`s FIFA World Cup of Soccer in
2015.

This time it will happen and Mayor Kelly will make it happy and it will be a better stadium than the original Events NS design and others. I believe it will be more like the Hamilton newest designed 154 million two tier twined sided 25,000 permanent seat stadium with open endzones so Halifax will have the option to expand to double their capacity for a Grey Cup game and for other major events. This has become something more than a 50 to 70 million dollar stadium because it will be the only major stadium in Atlantic Canada and be built to accomodate the region and will be built for CFL football and soccer, but there will be a private partner, as well as the provincal govt. and the Feds, involved to make this a reality. It will all unfold in three phases and you will know then but expect a major stadium between a 100 to a 125 million. Wait and you will see and Halifax will have a CFL franchise in 2014 and will make the CFL coast to coast, Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean and Halifax will stage the first never Grey Cup in Atlantic Canada.

[fenwick16]

I believe that wespidel knows what he is talking about. This time I believe that a stadium will be built.

PS: I wonder if any new stadium renderings will be released at the HRM council meeting this coming Tuesday (Feb 8)?

[wespidel]

CTV news, Moncton will annouce next week Touchdown Atlantic II, Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Calgary Stampeders and plus the Ticats will play their entire 2012 season on the road and will play their home games at three different locations, one being Moncton for three home games in 2012!


This is why Halifax is on the move in a big way and will surprise you in the next 12 months!

[thurmas]

I bet 3 games moncton, 3 halifax and maybe 3 in either toronto or quebec city.

[fenwick16]

I agree with Moncton and Toronto as possible sites, thurmas. But Saint Mary's University Stadium in Halifax needs some repairs in order to a be suitable site and that might not be done before 2012. (Even with repairs and temporary seats, it could only accommodate 11,000). Possibly London, Ontario could be a site.


On another topic, does anyone know approximately what time the stadium will be discussed before council on Feb 8. According to the agenda, there appears to be an in-camera session (not televised) to discuss the budget first along with other matters. I wonder if the stadium issue will be discussed in the afternoon or evening? (I assume that it will be on haligonia.ca)

[wespidel]

Fenwick normally you can watch it live on the net which they have had now for a couple of months and then they repeat it on eastlink channel ten at 6 pm.

[c-way-dude]

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1226158.html

[c-way-dude]

Originally Posted by thurmas

I bet 3 games moncton, 3 halifax and maybe 3 in either toronto or quebec city.

I can't see the Ti-Cats going that far from their fanbase for a whole season. I predict they will play 2 games in Moncton, 2 in London at a temporarily expanded TD Waterhouse Stadium, and the rest in Toronto.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by c-way-dude

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1226158.html

It seems like most people posting comments on the Herald story want to forget the consultations and just start construction. I am somewhere in the middle - take the time to plan an economical 25,000 seat stadium in a good location. (but I would like to see construction start in 2012, or before). The rate of population growth in the HRM has increased in each of the past 5 years (reference - http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-214-x/2009000/t014-eng.htm ). Let's keep that momentum by building public facilities like the new Central Library and Stadium to retain and attract people to the HRM. Add the Nova Centre to that mix and the HRM will be booming for the next few years

PS: The rate of population growth in the HRM has been similar to Winnipeg's rate of growth over the past few years. The population growth in both the Halifax area and Winnipeg area seemed to have stagnated a few years ago but both municipalities have now turned the corner and are now enjoying strong growth. So much for doom and gloom predictions!

[c-way-dude]

Just like before with the city council's decision to bid to become a host site for the FIFA tournament, I think it is of utmost importance for supporters on council to push to ignore staff recommendations and push for a stadium to be done as quickly as possible.
Any federal assistance with a stadium more than likely rests on it's connection to an international event (the FIFA tournament). Time constraints don't really allow for a long consulting process. With support of all levels of government and private investors, I suspect the end result will be closer to a permanent version of B.C.'s temporary stadium than what is happening in Ottawa, Winnipeg, or Hamilton. Without federal investment, all that we can realistically hope for, IMO, is a permanent stadium like B.C.'s temporary stadium.