Halifax Stadium Discussion

[q12]

Originally Posted by Empire

This could be the largest stadium in Nova Scotia:

Riverside Speedway in Antigonish:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Riverside+S...133243&cbp=12,0,,0,0&photoid=po-15252899

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Riverside+S...HKL8auadu97fav5oSA&cbp=12,170.22,,2,4.41

Definitely the largest outdoor stadium. The Metro Centre would be the largest stadium/arena.

Page 200!!!pepper:

[Empire]

Originally Posted by q12

Definitely the largest outdoor stadium. The Metro Centre would be the largest stadium/arena.

Page 200!!!pepper:

Yes............ seating capacity approx. 10,000

http://www.riversidespeedway.ca/riverside_test_2011_005.htm

[fenwick16]

I drove down to Cleveland today to see the Cleveland Browns Stadium (they were playing St Louis). I have to say that watching a football game at the Cleveland Browns Stadium is immeasurably more enjoyable than watching a football game at the Rogers Centre (whether it is the CFL or NFL since I have seen both at the Rogers Centre). The Cleveland Browns Stadium is a real outdoor stadium and it feels like being outdoors (invigorating). I realize that there will be some cold days each year when people will prefer to be in a warm enclosed stadium such as the Rogers Centre, but is it worthwhile to be stuck indoors even on all the terrific weather days each summer and fall? Personally, I can say that it isn't. I think that people in Halifax will really enjoy a stadium that has plenty of open-air areas (Haligonians enjoy watching concerts at the Garrison Grounds, so it would be good to have that open-air feeling in a stadium but with a few basic amenities such as seats and washrooms).

The Cleveland Browns Stadium is a top of the line NFL stadium, however there are a few concepts that might be useful for a low-cost type stadium. As impressive as the Cleveland Browns Stadium was to me, it wasn't any more enjoyable than being at Akron's InfoCision Stadium - both were fantastic stadiums to be in.

This is a zoom shot from the parking garage where I parked.


This is from outside the stadium:


This is after entering the southwest gate


This is the lowest concourse level of the west endzone section.


This shows the two endzone concourse levels:


I had a sideline seat at the very top row of the 500 level, which is at the highest seating row in the stadium - even so it had a good view of the action (I could have picked a seat lower down but I wanted to be under the roof). I was in section 504, row 32, seat 30.


Here is another view from my seat. It shows the roof, which only covers about the top 12 rows of seats, and also the inexpensive green mesh windbreak material, which is also used at the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY outside Buffalo. Although it appears to be an inexpensive material, it is very effective in blocking the strong wind gusts while still allowing a refreshing breeze to enter. Although it was a windy day, the stadium seating area was sheltered from the wind since it is almost a complete bowl.


The concourse for the 500 level was open, although it was somewhat protected by the concession stands. There were some areas where the wind could blow into the 500 level concourse but I preferred the breeze over the enclosed confines of the Rogers Centre. I really think that open-air concourses are the most enjoyable for outdoor stadiums (however, shelter from the rain is important as is the case at the Cleveland Browns Stadium - the 500 level concourse is under the stands.

[CraigMoore]

Hi everyone,

My name is Craig Moore. I was digging around online to find out who also was talking about the Halifax stadium as I am part of the public engagement team helping to run these sessions. As a disclosure, the group I am with are only the facilitators for the sessions (but we are not the decision makers about the Stadium). But part of our role is to make sure the right voice(s) are heard at these sessions to give well rounded points of view from the public to HRM.

I didn't want it this to feel like spam but It seems that you have a killer group here who knows tons about stadiums and specifically the Halifax one.

So, I wanted to let you know about the upcoming sessions this week and that we also will be livestreaming and taking comments from online into the room discussion. There is also a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/halifaxstadium) and comments function on the sessions website (http://hrmstadium.ca).

This week, there are two sessions that your input would be great to hear. The livestreaming will start at 7PM AST this Wed (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hrm-stadium-pub-consultation-3) and Thurs (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hrm-stadium-pub-consultation-4). The livestream page has a chatroom where we will be moderating as well.

If you are in Halifax, please come in-person the session info is here (http://www.hrmstadium.ca/?page_id=10).

I hope that this has not been too much of an intrusion to your forum, it just seemed that if anyone had something to say on this issue, it def was your group.

thanks for your time

Craig

[beyeas]

Thanks for the info Craig.
I am sure a number of people from here plan to attend, and I know that there are many on here that watch the sessions on the web.

[CraigMoore]

great. it's good to know we can reach out to hear from everyone we can.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Empire

Yes............ seating capacity approx. 10,000

http://www.riversidespeedway.ca/riverside_test_2011_005.htm

They should be informed that this is unreasonable for a small town. Hopefully they will recognize their error and demolish it immediately. Maybe they could build something more acceptable in its place, like half a dozen or so park benches (only wood, not those over-the-top metal ones). In 5-10 years if things go well they could look at adding a cost-effective vinyl faux-Victorian gazebo or maybe some new shrubs. In 20-30 years they could build a small interpretive centre for the gazebo.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I drove down to Cleveland today to see the Cleveland Browns Stadium (they were playing St Louis). I have to say that watching a football game at the Cleveland Browns Stadium is immeasurably more enjoyable than watching a football game at the Rogers Centre (whether it is the CFL or NFL since I have seen both at the Rogers Centre). The Cleveland Browns Stadium is a real outdoor stadium and it feels like being outdoors (invigorating). I realize that there will be some cold days each year when people will prefer to be in a warm enclosed stadium such as the Rogers Centre, but is it worthwhile to be stuck indoors even on all the terrific weather days each summer and fall? Personally, I can say that it isn't. I think that people in Halifax will really enjoy a stadium that has plenty of open-air areas (Haligonians enjoy watching concerts at the Garrison Grounds, so it would be good to have that open-air feeling in a stadium but with a few basic amenities such as seats and washrooms).

The Cleveland Browns Stadium is a top of the line NFL stadium, however there are a few concepts that might be useful for a low-cost type stadium. As impressive as the Cleveland Browns Stadium was to me, it wasn't any more enjoyable than being at Akron's InfoCision Stadium - both were fantastic stadiums to be in.

This is a zoom shot from the parking garage where I parked.


This is from outside the stadium:


This is after entering the southwest gate


This is the lowest concourse level of the west endzone section.


This shows the two endzone concourse levels:


I had a sideline seat at the very top row of the 500 level, which is at the highest seating row in the stadium - even so it had a good view of the action (I could have picked a seat lower down but I wanted to be under the roof). I was in section 504, row 32, seat 30.


Here is another view from my seat. It shows the roof, which only covers about the top 12 rows of seats, and also the inexpensive green mesh windbreak material, which is also used at the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY outside Buffalo. Although it appears to be an inexpensive material, it is very effective in blocking the strong wind gusts while still allowing a refreshing breeze to enter. Although it was a windy day, the stadium seating area was sheltered from the wind since it is almost a complete bowl.


The concourse for the 500 level was open, although it was somewhat protected by the concession stands. There were some areas where the wind could blow into the 500 level concourse but I preferred the breeze over the enclosed confines of the Rogers Centre. I really think that open-air concourses are the most enjoyable for outdoor stadiums (however, shelter from the rain is important as is the case at the Cleveland Browns Stadium - the 500 level concourse is under the stands.

Brownies stadium looks fantastic. I think we could survive with open concources and a location that is windy like Shannon Park. I hope that the call is heard to design a stadium that is expandable and avoid Moncton's mistake.

[Antigonish]

Originally Posted by Empire

This could be the largest stadium in Nova Scotia:

Riverside Speedway in Antigonish:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Riverside+S...133243&cbp=12,0,,0,0&photoid=po-15252899

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Riverside+S...HKL8auadu97fav5oSA&cbp=12,170.22,,2,4.41

Yup. The new Riverside was completed in 2006 and originally seated 11,000 fans. They renovated it in 2008 and built another 1,500 or so seats around the back turn, plus the press boxes we're looking at a 13,000 seat stadium roughly.
I tell ya Antigonish is the town that DOES. The 7-story condo/retail "tower" on main street is on the closing stages of approval. These developements are encouraged by town council. We have 2 turf fields aswell. For a town of 4,200 and another 3.5k in the suburbs/exurbs thats pretty damn impressive. Proud to be from there!

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by CraigMoore

Hi everyone,

My name is Craig Moore. I was digging around online to find out who also was talking about the Halifax stadium as I am part of the public engagement team helping to run these sessions. As a disclosure, the group I am with are only the facilitators for the sessions (but we are not the decision makers about the Stadium). But part of our role is to make sure the right voice(s) are heard at these sessions to give well rounded points of view from the public to HRM.

I didn't want it this to feel like spam but It seems that you have a killer group here who knows tons about stadiums and specifically the Halifax one.

So, I wanted to let you know about the upcoming sessions this week and that we also will be livestreaming and taking comments from online into the room discussion. There is also a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/halifaxstadium) and comments function on the sessions website (http://hrmstadium.ca).

This week, there are two sessions that your input would be great to hear. The livestreaming will start at 7PM AST this Wed (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hrm-stadium-pub-consultation-3) and Thurs (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hrm-stadium-pub-consultation-4). The livestream page has a chatroom where we will be moderating as well.

If you are in Halifax, please come in-person the session info is here (http://www.hrmstadium.ca/?page_id=10).

I hope that this has not been too much of an intrusion to your forum, it just seemed that if anyone had something to say on this issue, it def was your group.

thanks for your time

Craig

The live-streaming of the session should be starting in a few minutes.

[Jstaleness]

I'm not able to chat this time. Anyone else?

[halifaxboyns]

Isn't the 14000 seat stadium design your diagram Fenwick?

[resetcbu1]

I'm in a hotel in Cold Lake and they limit our broadband width so I can't stream . stupid best western

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Isn't the 14000 seat stadium design your diagram Fenwick?

No. My designs are just based on ideas that I have seen on the internet and in person. So I can't claim to have drawn anything original.

[RyeJay]

Well now... Public meeting. At least there is some voice now as to the desire for a larger, more appropriate, stadium.

[ILoveHalifax]

I was at the meeting tonite.
Our table had a chance to talk to one of the arthitects and asked how we get from 14,000 to 25,000 for CFL and 40,000 for Grey Cup.
He indicated that it will be suitable for expansion to that size.
At the end off the meeting they asked us to stand against a wall to indicate
On Ice (cold towards a stadium), questions, or On Fire (bigger and better).
There were very few at the cold end on the wall some in the middle and a crowd at the hot for a stadium end of the wall.
There seemed to be an acknowledgement that 10,000 plus 10,000 is too small and more likely 14,000 plus 10,000. After tonite's meeting I would think they will consider even bigger.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

I was at the meeting tonite.
Our table had a chance to talk to one of the arthitects and asked how we get from 14,000 to 25,000 for CFL and 40,000 for Grey Cup.
He indicated that it will be suitable for expansion to that size.
At the end off the meeting they asked us to stand against a wall to indicate
On Ice (cold towards a stadium), questions, or On Fire (bigger and better).
There were very few at the cold end on the wall some in the middle and a crowd at the hot for a stadium end of the wall.
There seemed to be an acknowledgement that 10,000 plus 10,000 is too small and more likely 14,000 plus 10,000. After tonite's meeting I would think they will consider even bigger.

That is great to hear. Thanks for posting this information.

PS: I see that the November 16th session was recorded and is at the hrmstadium.ca website - http://www.hrmstadium.ca/ . Various stadium concepts are presented by the stadium architect starting at about 36:00 minutes. It is good to see that they are now thinking of more than 10K of permanent seats.

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

I was at the meeting tonite.
Our table had a chance to talk to one of the arthitects and asked how we get from 14,000 to 25,000 for CFL and 40,000 for Grey Cup.
He indicated that it will be suitable for expansion to that size.
At the end off the meeting they asked us to stand against a wall to indicate
On Ice (cold towards a stadium), questions, or On Fire (bigger and better).
There were very few at the cold end on the wall some in the middle and a crowd at the hot for a stadium end of the wall.
There seemed to be an acknowledgement that 10,000 plus 10,000 is too small and more likely 14,000 plus 10,000. After tonite's meeting I would think they will consider even bigger.

Great! There needed be something to start giving councillors and this committee the push it needs to consider more than the bare minimum.

How was the overall turnout? I had hoped to make it but had something come up.

[ILoveHalifax]

There were lots of empty seats, a few empty tables.
Less than a hundred.

[RyeJay]

There were over 80 people just in the online chat section, while watching the live video feed. There were more idly watching, I would expect.