Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 117

SkahHigh · #**2321** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 3:24 PM**

Apparently the Xcel Energy Center is one of the best designed arenas in the league. And it looks good from the outside.

http://www.levyrestaurants.com/images/xcel-energy-center/xcel_header.jpg

One thing I hate about the Bell Centre is it's street presence. Not talking about the Avenue des Canadiens/RioTinto Plaza side but the Saint-Antoine Street side. No windows, nothing but doors and a garage entrance. Not very welcoming for pedestrians... Luckily with all the future condo projects south of the Bell Centre this view will be hidden but the street presence will remain:

https://stadiumsandarenas.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/17.jpg

HomeInMyShoes · #**2322** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 3:56 PM**

I like Kansas City's Sprint Center for outside aesthetics. Too bad it isn't in the big leagues for sports yet. It seems like many years have passed since there was any serious interest in that market. Best hockey/basketball stadium in North America not holding a team for the NBA or NHL. They only have an AFL team at the moment.

Source: 10bestmedia

SkahHigh · #**2323** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 4:02 PM**

^I just don't see any hockey interest from Kansas City. There is a venue but there are no potential owners, the opposite of Quebec and Seattle...

HomeInMyShoes · #**2324** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 4:05 PM**

^Exactly. There was some interest in relocation when Pittsburgh and Nashville were having issues, but that is all. Kansas City will not be expansion franchise, but they will probably be in the list of potentials next time relocation is talked about.

esquire · #**2325** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 4:23 PM**

^ There are a few really nice new arenas without major (NHL/NFL or big-time NCAA program) tenants... Videotron, Sprint and BOK are at the top of that list.

I find BOK the most puzzling one since Tulsa is not really in the running for a NHL/NBA team, yet they went all in on a spectacular, top-notch venue that would be among the very best in either of those leagues... it's better than Sprint Center in my view, although that's just going by photos as I've never been in either one. I guess American governments love spending obscene amounts of money on new arenas so much that they won't even let the lack of a team stop them from doing it.

HomeInMyShoes · #**2326** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 4:41 PM**

^Yeah, BOK is a great looking arena too. They have three minor league teams. Sprint has an AFL team. BOK has WNBA, AFL and ECHL. It was also an absolute steal to build at only 178 million. Sprint cost 276 million and Videotron cost 370 million. Granted that was 2008 dollars and Videotron had to do it in Canada's construction costs, but Sprint was 2007 dollars. Those two give a good lesson in you can build something pretty good for less than what some do.

Acajack · #**2327** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

^Yeah, BOK is a great looking arena too. They have three minor league teams. Sprint has an AFL team. BOK has WNBA, AFL and ECHL. It was also an absolute steal to build at only 178 million. Sprint cost 276 million and Videotron cost 370 million. Granted that was 2008 dollars and Videotron had to do it in Canada's construction costs, but Sprint was 2007 dollars. Those two give a good lesson in you can build something pretty good for less than what some do.

There is also way more stuff going on in the US that draws arena-sized crowds. Touring stuff like music shows of course but also religious conventions, monster trucks, circus, rodeo... you name it. We get some of that in Canada too but not nearly as much as there is in the US.

Plus you can have local stuff like, say, the state high school basketball championships. In Canada stuff like that draws your mom and your little sister, but in the US it's often a different story and they might get 5,000-10,000 out for something like that...

TorontoDrew · #**2328** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

The ACC seems well suited to the Raptors, but you would expect a little more from what is one of the flagship teams in the NHL. Look at the Bell Centre... that's a bit more along the lines of what Toronto should have pulled off.

Dear God no. Maybe after they do the renos but the Bell Centre is an ugly beast. It looks like a department store right now, an old run down possibly, Simpson's, Eaton's or Sears Canada department store.

TorontoDrew · #**2329** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 5:05 PM**

Double post.

HomeInMyShoes · #**2330** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

There is also way more stuff going on in the US that draws arena-sized crowds. Touring stuff like music shows of course but also religious conventions, monster trucks, circus, rodeo... you name it. We get some of that in Canada too but not nearly as much as there is in the US.

Plus you can have local stuff like, say, the state high school basketball championships. In Canada stuff like that draws your mom and your little sister, but in the US it's often a different story and they might get 5,000-10,000 out for something like that...

Completely agree. That is a function of both culture and population. Sprint is by no means an unused facility and they ranked 8th in US for Entertainment revenue for stadiums (excluding sports) so they are no doubt busy with concerts and other events. Kansas City is tiny within the United States (29th ranking metro by population according to Wikipedia), but much larger than everything outside the big three in Canada.

I'm not sure what Videotron will do if NHL hockey does not return because that is going to be a rather large white elephant if hockey doesn't return.

Acajack · #**2331** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Completely agree. That is a function of both culture and population. Sprint is by no means an unused facility and they ranked 8th in US for Entertainment revenue for stadiums (excluding sports) so they are no doubt busy with concerts and other events. Kansas City is tiny within the United States (29th ranking metro by population according to Wikipedia), but much larger than everything outside the big three in Canada.

I'm not sure what Videotron will do if NHL hockey does not return because that is going to be a rather large white elephant if hockey doesn't return.

They've said that Vidéotron will be profitable even without an NHL team.

But then again, *they* always say that, don't they?

king10 · #**2332** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Completely agree. That is a function of both culture and population. Sprint is by no means an unused facility and they ranked 8th in US for Entertainment revenue for stadiums (excluding sports) so they are no doubt busy with concerts and other events. Kansas City is tiny within the United States (29th ranking metro by population according to Wikipedia), but much larger than everything outside the big three in Canada.

I'm not sure what Videotron will do if NHL hockey does not return because that is going to be a rather large white elephant if hockey doesn't return.

Same thing Hamilton did. Make due with the current QMJHL team or an AHL team.

And perhaps bid on the 2026 winter olympics

Franco401 · #**2333** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by king10

And perhaps bid on the 2026 winter olympics

Yes, please. In my lifetime Canada and the USA have held Olympics, but nothing would make me any happier than a Games within reasonable driving range of NB. I would cry tears of joy if Boston won in 2024 and Quebec in 2026.

Similarly, I see from Wikipedia that Lake Placid is a potential bid, which wouldn't be bad either.

Oilkountry · #**2334** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 9:07 PM**

wow Rogers place is going to be the pinnacle of NHL buildings for a long time to come the black seats are going to be insane I am very surprised about the portals. I thought the new craze was concourse access?

Worth the watch
http://www.rogersplace.com/oilers-entertainment-group-unveils-rogers-place-presentation-centre/

Black Star · #**2335** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 9:33 PM**

Delete.

Black Star · #**2336** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

wow Rogers place is going to be the pinnacle of NHL buildings for a long time to come the black seats are going to be insane

Worth the watch
http://www.rogersplace.com/oilers-entertainment-group-unveils-rogers-place-presentation-centre/

But where in the wide world of sports are the cup holders for the seats!!

And where are the T.V monitors for the club table seating. Mmmmm!

tomthumb2 · #**2337** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 10:27 PM**

Goddamn, that's nice. Love the black seats and the cool concourse. Pretty much everything about it is slick and well thought out. So jealous, especially here in Calgary where it's probably never gonna happen for us, given the dying economy. No one's gonna feel sorry for them but the Flames owners have to be bleeding millions and the gov't certainly isn't gonna help them. City or provincial.

Oilkountry · #**2338** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Goddamn, that's nice. Love the black seats and the cool concourse. Pretty much everything about it is slick and well thought out. So jealous, especially here in Calgary where it's probably never gonna happen for us, given the dying economy. No one's gonna feel sorry for them but the Flames owners have to be bleeding millions and the gov't certainly isn't gonna help them. City or provincial.

I would say Quebec and pitsburg are having rink envy. Honestly Rogers place is going to make every rink In canada (iether than quebecs) look like a dump

tomthumb2 · #**2339** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 11:20 PM**

Good point Oil. There's absolutely nothing out there that even comes close to this. Makes all Canadian arenas, and especially Cgy look very weak.

And if Calgary ever does get its act together they'll probably build something with a goofy western theme. No way they're gonna spend 600 mil for a palace like Edmonton's, that's for sure. It will def be scaled back.

Matrix19 · #**2340** Posted **Jul 23, 2015, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

wow Rogers place is going to be the pinnacle of NHL buildings for a long time to come the black seats are going to be insane I am very surprised about the portals. I thought the new craze was concourse access?

Worth the watch
http://www.rogersplace.com/oilers-entertainment-group-unveils-rogers-place-presentation-centre/

wow I like it