The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[benvui]

I didn't mean we would get a CFL team, I meant that University Of Moncton should get a team in the CIS. I'm having the wait and see approach on the CFL. I don't think they'll get a team this far east, I'm pretty sure if they expand it'll be to Quebec city. There is a large cost to running a team out here, every away game would require a plane to get the team there. Right now in the East, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and when Ottawa gets going again all use the train and can keep costs down that way, there could be fight with the other owners about having a team out here. Just my opinion though, I would love to see a team out here, but we'll have to wait and see.

Thanks for the link on the web cams, it should be interesting when construction starts up again to see how things progress.

[brod3211]

Please people have a more positive attitude towards what stores we can get and where they will go, Nobody knows where those stores will choose to go me Im not a fan of champlain mall I only go at christmas or on occasion to walmart. Just because its a indoor mall doesnt mean that it will get all the big name stores, the new mall on the north end could end up with names like that at some point a company looks to where they could get the most money and if it involves avoiding an indoor mall then they will do it. The most traffic I find for shopping is in the north end or it seems to be so ANYTHING is possible. For the Stadium they are eyeing the area to see if they could expand yes halifax is bigger city but im sure they would have CFL games here first to see if they can draw from the surrounding areas that are within a 2 hours drive. Then If that doesn`t work im sure they would try Halifax to see what they could draw there.

[@Champlain]

CFL-Anyone who would think that of city of 60 000 people (125 000 metro area) would be able to support a CFL franchise is beyond me. Some really think that Moncton is larger than it really is...
Champlain-Again I say, regarding upscale retailers, please people... go see outside New Brunswick do your research, upscale tenants are located in INDOOR major regional shopping malls or very dense and prestigious downtown locations (Yonge Street/Yorkville-Toronto) not in value oriented big box districts.

[FireEyedBoy]

If the CFL is interested in setting up a team in the atlantic provinces, I dont think they would necessarily just go with what city has the highest population, they are defenilty going to look at what location can draw more people, and I know people have argued about this before on here, but Moncton is a closer distance to most people in the atlantic provinces than Halifax, also Halifax pulling their bid for the commonwealth games probably doesnt help them. I personally would love to see them come here. Also the point that "upscale"( sorry but I think its hilarious that AF is considered upscale) stores would not locate to the north as they only open locations in indoor malls or prestigious downtowns isnt 100% true, you only need to look at dartmouth crossing, and lots of areas in the US where they have "power centers" or "outlet centers".

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by FireEyedBoy

If the CFL is interested in setting up a team in the atlantic provinces, I dont think they would necessarily just go with what city has the highest population, they are defenilty going to look at what location can draw more people, and I know people have argued about this before on here, but Moncton is a closer distance to most people in the atlantic provinces than Halifax, also Halifax pulling their bid for the commonwealth games probably doesnt help them. I personally would love to see them come here. Also the point that "upscale"( sorry but I think its hilarious that AF is considered upscale) stores would not locate to the north as they only open locations in indoor malls or pre.stigious downtowns isnt 100% true, you only need to look at dartmouth crossing, and lots of areas in the US where they have "power centers" or "outlet centers".

A&F is considered upscale (BTW look at the list on their website they are all mostly located in MALLS or downtown), upscale doesn't necessarily mean a price point, a brand is upscale because it's high profile & the brand is well known & sought after. If you've ever been to high-end or upscale malls you will see A&F next to Pottery Barn, Zara, H&M, Apple, Banana Republic, BCBG, Williams-Sonoma, GEOX, lululemon, Coach, DKNY, Lacoste and the likes of them, anyway you get the idea. UPSCALE doesn't mean LUXURY; Burberry, Tiffany & Company, Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton, Holt Renfrew etc... BTW, Dartmouth Crossing is not an upscale shopping district, at this time the only "upscale" store at DC is Esprit and it's an outlet location not a "flagship" or FS store level. Sorry to rain on your parade.

[gm_scott]

Dartmouth Crossing would never have Anf, Hollister, Aero. They are teen brands. These stores are either in malls or have big locations in NYC. I'm not sure whats really so upscale in DC, but if a store is truly upscale like banana republic, it will try and locate downtown or settle for a mall.

[MonctonRad]

Re: the CFL

There is a window of opportunity here for Moncton to pursue this dream.

Halifax dropped the ball by withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games. They have no stadium and no plans to build one. Their civic leadership is apathetic at best to the idea of a regional CFL team.

Moncton on the other hand will have a stadium (albeit way too small for the CFL), but the stadium is expandable and the city is on the CFL radar. Our civic administration and the provincial government seem supportive. Regular season CFL games are on the way, probably for at least a period of three years This is a very important trial balloon and a golden opportunity to prove ourselves.

If we are at all serious about pursuing this venture, we have to approach it in a positive manner and see what comes of it. There is no question that Moncton would be an extremely small market for a CFL team but we do have a central location and a large regional population to draw from. Remember Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is a city not much larger than Moncton and it has an NFL team. It can happen!

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by gm_scott

Dartmouth Crossing would never have Anf, Hollister, Aero. They are teen brands. These stores are either in malls or have big locations in NYC. I'm not sure whats really so upscale in DC, but if a store is truly upscale like banana republic, it will try and locate downtown or settle for a mall.

I agree Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Birks (which are all higher-end tenants) are located at the Halifax Shopping Centre. H&M is going to Champlain & Micmac, not at those value oriented "bigbox" locations.

[MonctonRad]

I agree with most of what you say @Champlain, but why is it that Abercrombie is considered so upscale that there are only five stores in all of Canada, yet there is an A&F at the Bangor Mall?

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Remember Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is a city not much larger than Moncton and it has an NFL team. It can happen!

MonctonRad, I really like reading your comments & posts on the board, but Green Bay is over 100K in population and the metro area is a quarter million people. Wisconsin is almost a synonym for football... I love football and would love to see some football action here since I'm not really into hockey, but most people here are not into football much, some get excited for the Superbowl & Grey Cup but that's it. Atlantic Canada is a hockey place. Football is strong out West, Ontario and Quebec.

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I agree with most of what you say @Champlain, but why is it that Abercrombie is considered so upscale that there are only five stores in all of Canada, yet there is an A&F at the Bangor Mall?

Other than with General Motors, the Americans are usually good at making money and buillding a brand. The A&F brand has been growing and growing for years and now that they are in every major mall in the US, they are expanding in Canada and Europe carefully, growing slowly enough to keep some momentum. They want to open in key world markets; Paris, London, Tokyo, Milan, Copenhagen, not exactly Moncton is it... Regarding its locations in Canada, it was said that the location that opened at the Toronto Eaton Centre was making more money per square foot than any other A&F store in the US. Next year A&F is opening a store in the Ginza district in Tokyo Japan, which is on par with the likes of Fifth Avenue, the Champs Elysee, etc... In the retail world A&F is considered an upscale. I hope this helps.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by @Champlain

MonctonRad, I really like reading you comments & posts on the board, but Green Bay is over 100K in population and the metro area is a quarter million people.

I understand, but think about this.....

Green Bay (metro pop. 250k) = NFL
Moncton (metro pop. 126k) = CFL

I think we are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I understand, but think about this.....

Green Bay (metro pop. 250k) = NFL
Moncton (metro pop. 126k) = CFL

I think we are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

Yeah, I see your point, the letter "N" is worth at least twice the letter "C" in this case!
If "n" equals 250 what is "c" worth? Oh no, we're going back to 11th grade algebra now, no, let's stay with football!

[StormShadow]

RE: CFL

Moncton can handle a CFL team, it's only 9 home dates a year in the summer/fall and on weekends. It's not too much to ask 25,000 within a 2 hour drive to come watch a game while the girls are at the mall on Sunday afternoon. At the end of the day, it's about having a stadium and an ownership group that is solvent.


RE: A&F

My favorite store, a little bit more $ than American Eagle. But I shop in Detroit and Buffalo. Prices are much better and because there are only 2 stores in Toronto, Eaton Center is always picked over and a mess. They can be found in most malls in the USA, but because it is new to Canada, I guess it could be considered higher end.

I absolutely hate shopping in Toronto, I got stuck once and had to pay $115 for a pair of Pumas. A month later, I find them in Detroit at the Puma Store for $55.
Here is what a high end mall looks like and has: http://www.thesomersetcollection.com/ Take the virtual tour.

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by StormShadow

RE: CFL

Moncton can handle a CFL team, it's only 9 home dates a year in the summer/fall and on weekends. It's not too much to ask 25,000 within a 2 hour drive to come watch a game while the girls are at the mall on Sunday afternoon. At the end of the day, it's about having a stadium and an ownership group that is solvent.


RE: A&F

My favorite store, a little bit more $ than American Eagle. But I shop in Detroit and Buffalo. Prices are much better and because there are only 2 stores in Toronto, Eaton Center is always picked over and a mess. They can be found in most malls in the USA, but because it is new to Canada, I guess it could be considered higher end.

I absolutely hate shopping in Toronto, I got stuck once and had to pay $115 for a pair of Pumas. A month later, I find them in Detroit at the Puma Store for $55.
Here is what a high end mall looks like and has: http://www.thesomersetcollection.com/ Take the virtual tour.

Good point, if anyone's interested in this retail & real estate stuff; there is alot of online information & research to be found regarding, retail growth, commercial developments, brands, mall real estate and so on.

[stephan.richard]

Originally Posted by @Champlain

Time will tell regarding Lids & Aero, A&F is considered upscale and there is only 3 stores in Canada; 1 in Edmonton and 2 stores in Toronto. Hollister has 5 stores in Canada. Moncton is probably NOT next on the list...Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, probably. I would expect Halifax to get Abercrombie & Fitch before Moncton, they already have more upscale stores than us; Birks, Talbots, Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Esprit, Lush, just to name a few. Don't expect those brands to go to Trinity either, upscale retailers don't do bigbox/strip malls, they locate primarily in large, upscale malls. Some rumors were saying that A&F, Aero, Hollister, etc... were going to the new mall [sic]... strip mall next to the Costco, they are not.

How is it that a city like Bangor ME support these such stores in their malls.. Bangor has the same population as Moncton and we can't get these in Moncton we need these these stores to make Moncton the exclusive shopping destination.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by @Champlain

Yeah, I see your point, the letter "N" is worth at least twice the letter "C" in this case!
If "n" equals 250 what is "c" worth? Oh no, we're going back to 11th grade algebra now, no, let's stay with football!

Personally, I think:

C=N/4
therefore if N=$$$$
then C will = $
therefore C is much more affordable than N
Moncton should be able to handle it. Now, all we need is an ownership group.

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by stephan.richard

How is it that a city like Bangor ME support these such stores in their malls.. Bangor has the same population as Moncton and we can't get these in Moncton we need these these stores to make Moncton the exclusive shopping destination.

People from NS, NB, PEI drive to Bangor to shop. How many Americans come to Moncton to shop...?
Also, read my previous posts regarding A&F's growth and where they're going next. We can't compete with Ginza...

[@Champlain]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Personally, I think:

C=N/4
therefore if N=$$$$
then C will = only $
This therefore should be eminently affordable for Moncton. Now, all we need is an ownership group.

I have a few bucks, but not enough I'm sure...
Would be cool though!

[MonctonRad]

Hey @Champlain, there was a rumour on this thread about 40 pages back that The Sony Store at Champlain Place was going to move to Mapleton Park. Do you know anything about this?