[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed

[jonny golden]

owner apparently wants an exorbitant amount of money for the land

I hope in the long run we'll see a significant addition to the entertainment district on the land next to the Avenir Center. There have been some excellent ideas brought forth in the forums before.

The old telegraph building is a real eyesore sitting on a prime piece of potential development land, and sooner or later it has to go. It would make a huge difference in the scope of what could be possible if it were to be consolidated with that vacant city owned land.

Eventually, a good quality pedway across the tracks from the Lafford zone would tie things together nicely. There'll be ~ 830 units when the Three Sisters & the Gateway are finished. That's a lot of people just a 5 minute walk away!

[MonctonRad]

It would be interesting to know what sort of conversations that may (or may not) have been held between the city, Crombie, and whoever owns the Telegraph Building regarding any possible redevelopment of the land between the Avenir Centre and the Terminal Plaza complex.

Regardless, the owner of the Telegraph Building is apparently intransigent, and, Parcel "A" is large enough on it's own to do something interesting with.

It's time for the city to explore development options for this land.

[MonctonRad]

Pro basketball teams in works for Moncton and Bathurst
President of pro hoops league says he's confident franchises will be announced within the next month, joining Saint John

Author of the article:Randy O'Donnell
Published Sep 19, 2024 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/pro-basketball-teams-in-works-for-moncton-and-bathurst (paywall)

David Magley, president of The Basketball League, said an ownership group and a venue have been secured in Moncton and an official announcement could come within eight to 10 days.

According to Magley, depending on how many Atlantic province franchises are ready to play in 2025, existing eastern TBL teams in the U.S. will fill out the rest of an eastern division.

Those franchises could include the Rhode Island Kraken, the Connecticut Crusaders and the Albany Patrons. A franchise in Bangor, Maine, is set to join the TBL in 2026.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It would be interesting to know what sort of conversations that may (or may not) have been held between the city, Crombie, and whoever owns the Telegraph Building regarding any possible redevelopment of the land between the Avenir Centre and the Terminal Plaza complex.

Regardless, the owner of the Telegraph Building is apparently intransigent, and, Parcel "A" is large enough on it's own to do something interesting with.

It's time for the city to explore development options for this land.

That's the thing, we never know what talks could be happening behind closed doors. 1222 Main Street and the land between it and Avenir, is screaming for development. And Crombie is very capable of doing something significant with this obvious opportunity. You'd have to think that they are aware that the office building ship has sailed. Can you imagine the buzz it would create if finally a development announcement were to be made.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Pro basketball teams in works for Moncton and Bathurst
President of pro hoops league says he's confident franchises will be announced within the next month, joining Saint John

Author of the article:Randy O'Donnell
Published Sep 19, 2024 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/pro-basketball-teams-in-works-for-moncton-and-bathurst (paywall)

As someone who really wants pro basketball to work here. There's gonna be a lot of hesitation for people to buy season tickets given what happened with the last league (looked like a ponzi scheme).

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by lirette

As someone who really wants pro basketball to work here. There's gonna be a lot of hesitation for people to buy season tickets given what happened with the last league (looked like a ponzi scheme).

Agreed, but, TBL is a much more legitimate organization.

I just hope the franchisee has deep enough pockets to keep the team going for the first year or two until things get established.

[SevenSquared]

As exciting as it is to potentially join the ranks of a league that includes the.... uh... Frederick Flying Cows....

I wonder why there's been such hesitancy to expand the CEBL out east. It's been around for a while now, it's solidified its reputation as a serious, credible Canadian pro league with brand recognition, coverage on TSN, they already have teams in smaller cities....

I know St. John's briefly had a CEBL team during the pandemic playing out of a tiny fieldhouse at MUN, but would love to see the league expand eastward in a meaningful way someday.

[MonctonRad]

Some people think Canada ends just east of the Champlain Bridge in Montreal.........

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

As exciting as it is to potentially join the ranks of a league that includes the.... uh... Frederick Flying Cows....

I wonder why there's been such hesitancy to expand the CEBL out east. It's been around for a while now, it's solidified its reputation as a serious, credible Canadian pro league with brand recognition, coverage on TSN, they already have teams in smaller cities....

I know St. John's briefly had a CEBL team during the pandemic playing out of a tiny fieldhouse at MUN, but would love to see the league expand eastward in a meaningful way someday.

They no longer have teams in small cities, the smallest city that they are in is St. Catherine's/Niagara, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Pro basketball teams in works for Moncton and Bathurst
President of pro hoops league says he's confident franchises will be announced within the next month, joining Saint John

Author of the article:Randy O'Donnell
Published Sep 19, 2024 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/pro-basketball-teams-in-works-for-moncton-and-bathurst (paywall)

I wonder if the venue will be Avenir? I think a team would be wise to open in a smaller venue until it builds a fanbase. The Avenir seems cavernous when there are only 500-1000 fans in it. I hope pro basketball will thrive again as the Moncton Magic were just gaining steam before the pandemic snuffed it out.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by jnaygull

I wonder if the venue will be Avenir? I think a team would be wise to open in a smaller venue until it builds a fanbase. The Avenir seems cavernous when there are only 500-1000 fans in it. I hope pro basketball will thrive again as the Moncton Magic were just gaining steam before the pandemic snuffed it out.

It wouldnt be so bad if they could just get a curtain system in avenir to block out both ends of the venue. If you look across this league though on their website there is many teams playing out of what appears to be high school gymnasiums.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jnaygull

I wonder if the venue will be Avenir? I think a team would be wise to open in a smaller venue until it builds a fanbase. The Avenir seems cavernous when there are only 500-1000 fans in it. I hope pro basketball will thrive again as the Moncton Magic were just gaining steam before the pandemic snuffed it out.

Hard to imagine it being anyplace other than the Avenir Centre. They have all the flooring other equipment for the operation already on site. The old Coliseum is only a shell of it's former self. The rink is still operational, but, mostly for beer leagues. I suppose they could use the gymnasium at Crandall University, or even the CEPS at UdeM, but, neither would really be optimal.

[SevenSquared]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

They no longer have teams in small cities, the smallest city that they are in is St. Catherine's/Niagara, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.

I could be wrong, but I highly doubt a team located in St Catharines draws anywhere near as heavily from cities like Niagara Falls and Welland 25 km away as they do from the St Catherines area itself.

But yeah, technically you're right, if one includes Niagara Falls and Welland into the mix, then its overall CMA population is much bigger than what Statcan considers part of our CMA.

Still though, we've seen enough basketball support in Moncton, Halifax and St John's to suggest they could draw at least the league average of 3000, if they had franchises in an actual credible and recognized national league with TSN coverage.

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Hard to imagine it being anyplace other than the Avenir Centre. They have all the flooring other equipment for the operation already on site. The old Coliseum is only a shell of it's former self. The rink is still operational, but, mostly for beer leagues. I suppose they could use the gymnasium at Crandall University, or even the CEPS at UdeM, but, neither would really be optimal.

The Saint John team is (somehow) going to play out of the LBR - still not sure how that is going to work as they don't have their own basketball floor (or a place to store it)

Would the main 4-Plex arena have capabilities to switch over to basketball?

From what I read, the bulk of the season is after hockey.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by gtsoc

The Saint John team is (somehow) going to play out of the LBR - still not sure how that is going to work as they don't have their own basketball floor (or a place to store it)

Would the main 4-Plex arena have capabilities to switch over to basketball?

From what I read, the bulk of the season is after hockey.

That might be possible, but, like the LBR, I don't think they have any basketball flooring or equipment on site. They tend to play lacrosse there in the summertime, with one rink maintained for summer hockey schools.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by gtsoc

The Saint John team is (somehow) going to play out of the LBR - still not sure how that is going to work as they don't have their own basketball floor (or a place to store it)

Would the main 4-Plex arena have capabilities to switch over to basketball?

From what I read, the bulk of the season is after hockey.

I'm pretty sure the 4plex is occupied with spring hockey April and May now. Honestly hockey is getting closer to a 12 month sport at the younger levels (insane to me but anyways) and ice surfaces are already limited.

There is a dedicated group locally that wants to make basketball work here and that includes the mayor, so I'd fully expect they will attempt Avenir Centre one more time. I understand why some places go the smaller gym route, but there is a a feeling to me that the product lacks legitimacy if I'm attending it at a high school gym. I likely wouldn't attend any games if they were playing at Crandall.

The issue though for the season starting in 2025, is that the Wildcats are very likely to go on a long playoff run and one where they could have home ice advantage the entire playoffs. This means this new basketball team will be dealing with early and midweek games for most of its inaugural season. Not ideal for them.

[habs33]

The Basketball League is hosting a special media event Saturday September 28, 11:30 AM

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/y6FeSvxYAiJ64UXS/

The event will announce:
• Team Market Owners
• Team staff
• Team business opportunities

David Magley TBL President will be in attendance to discuss the long term strategy for Atlantic Canada and the league as a whole.

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by habs33

The Basketball League is hosting a special media event Saturday September 28, 11:30 AM

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/y6FeSvxYAiJ64UXS/

Hmm, them having this announcement at St Louis Bar tells me that this team won't be playing out of the Avenir. However, the Wildcats home opener is that day, so perhaps there is no room.

Seems to me that I heard that any new pro basketball team in Moncton may not play out of Avenir until it grows bigger etc. Avenir is rather cavernous when there is under 1000 fans in it, plus I can imagine it would be costly leasing that building.

That being said, I am excited to see pro basketball back in Moncton. I was a huge Magic supporter until COVID blew that rising team up.

[lirette]

2 months out from Atlantic Slam in Moncton and we have no teams announced. Anyone else concerned something has fallen through? Most of the schedules are already out for NCAA teams. Women's teams in PEI were announced months ago.

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by lirette

2 months out from Atlantic Slam in Moncton and we have no teams announced. Anyone else concerned something has fallen through? Most of the schedules are already out for NCAA teams. Women's teams in PEI were announced months ago.

No teams have been announced or tickets have been sold (I don't see the event on Ticketmaster). Plus, there is seemingly no hype about this event and we are only a month and a half away.

My guess it is on the verge of falling through.