Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[Oilkountry]

It's pretty sad that if the dome was built even 5-6 Years later we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. The dome is outdated but is it realistic to expect a new building every 35 years now? Is honda center,SAP center,Rogers arena ect going to be up for replacement talks in 5-6 year's? Since best man's arrival he has seen 29 teams move into new buildings (30 if you count QC) Calgary is his last market.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

It's pretty sad that if the dome was built even 5-6 Years later we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. The dome is outdated but is it realistic to expect a new building every 35 years now? Is honda center,SAP center,Rogers arena ect going to be up for replacement talks in 5-6 year's? Since best man's arrival he has seen 29 teams move into new buildings (30 if you count QC) Calgary is his last market.

Wellll... there's MSG too if you want to get nitpicky.

But what is the reason that the Saddledome is so sorely deficient that there is suddenly nothing more important for the people of Calgary to spend their money on? I mean, it has club seats, it has luxury boxes, it has all the bells and whistles. If there aren't enough to suit Bettman's tastes, why does that suddenly become the taxpayer's problem?

Even with Rexall there was something resembling a plausible argument that it was an old venue that had outlived its lifespan. I didn't buy it, but it was an argument that could be made. You really can't say that about the Saddledome, though.

[GernB]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

The Flames feel they need more revenue from more lower bowl seating.

The lower bowl was substantially larger before the 1990s reno which was carried out at the insistence of the Flames, and which enlarged the upper bowl at the expense of the lower.

Perhaps a major refit of the Dome, and of McMahon, with the fieldhouse being built north of the stadium (insufficient room to the south, as has been suggested) as per the original plan, would satisfy the parties without breaking the bank.

From a non-Calgarian's perspective (who rarely attends games anymore) the venues seem well situated now. Is it really worth $1B+ to lump them together and line the pockets of the Flames ownership?

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by GernB

The lower bowl was substantially larger before the 1990s reno which was carried out at the insistence of the Flames, and which enlarged the upper bowl at the expense of the lower.

Perhaps a major refit of the Dome, and of McMahon, with the fieldhouse being built north of the stadium (insufficient room to the south, as has been suggested) as per the original plan, would satisfy the parties without breaking the bank.

From an non-Calgarian's perspective (who rarely attends games anymore) the venues seem well situated now. Is it really worth $1B+ to lump them together and line the pockets of the Flames ownership?

I guess for what it would cost for a major refit of the Saddledome (what would you do about the roof?) they figure they may as well start from scratch. Same with McMahon. First of all it's owned by the university and secondly they probably figure its so old that its beyond fixing.

[GernB]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

I guess for what it would cost for a major refit of the Saddledome (what would you do about the roof?) they figure they may as well start from scratch. Same with McMahon. First of all it's owned by the university and secondly they probably figure its so old that its beyond fixing.

Forgot that the U of C owns McMahon. I suppose buying it would cost an arm and a leg. Maybe some kind of land swap could be arranged. The age of it shouldn't pose a problem though, Lambeau in Green Bay is older and has been extensively redone.

As for the Saddledome's roof, I have to wonder what OCO's thinking was. I realize they probably wanted an iconic structure, but even in the 1980s this new configuration had started to lose favour...IIRC only three others like it were built worldwide.

Is the roof really an insurmountable problem though? I've read that major concerts cannot be held there because of weight issues, but is there no cost-effective way that the roof can be strengthened? Or are there other issues with the roof that I'm not aware of?

In any case I suspect that it will be at least a decade before anything substantial is done, either at the existing sites or new ones.

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by esquire

By your logic, why should a replacement be built for the Saddledome? After all, Flames season ticket holders don't seem to mind it!

I said Stamps season ticket holders don't care about replacing McMahon. The buzz at Flames games is entirely different about replacing the Dome... from what I hear when I'm there anyway.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by Jay in Cowtown

I said Stamps season ticket holders don't care about replacing McMahon. The buzz at Flames games is entirely different about replacing the Dome... from what I hear when I'm there anyway.

I don't know about that Jay. STH for Stamps and I want it replaced and I know a lot of others who feel the same way. I don't hear as many complaints about the Dome, except when I'm in a huge lineup for the washrooms or beer or food.

The thing is that the Stamps are second class citizens when it comes to sports here, so if it comes to sacrificing that part of the plan it probably won't cause a lot of grief.

[Welkin]

Originally Posted by Brizzy82

Winnipeg stadium/arena tour


Portage Avenue at Donald Street / MTS Centre by Greg Gallinger, on Flickr


19 Years in the Making... by Salvador Maniquiz, on Flickr



MTS Centre by Matt Duboff, on Flickr


Shaw Park by Kokulan Vivekananthan, on Flickr


Shaw Park Baseball Field by Garry9600, on Flickr

Shaw Park Winnipeg by NILO MANALO, on Flickr


Investors Group Field, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by jgawaziuk, on Flickr


Investors Group Field Panorama by froesei, on Flickr


Investors Group Field (panorama) by Paul Peters, on Flickr

Great photos of Winnipeg's excellent facilities.

[Coldrsx]

Indeed, top notch.

[craner]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

I don't know about that Jay. STH for Stamps and I want it replaced and I know a lot of others who feel the same way. I don't hear as many complaints about the Dome, except when I'm in a huge lineup for the washrooms or beer or food.

The thing is that the Stamps are second class citizens when it comes to sports here, so if it comes to sacrificing that part of the plan it probably won't cause a lot of grief.

Yeah, I have to agree with TT here - much more need / sentiment that McMahon is in much more dire need of replacement than the Saddledome, but the Flames are higher on the pecking order.

[Oilkountry]

Just to add to winnipeg. I know It's not a major sports faciltity but It desearves recognition.



(Winnipeg free press arena 1 of 4 rinks in the facility)


(In proccess)

[Oilkountry]

so la is now getting 2 NFL teams ahah? raiders are still looking for a home. Brace yourselves for the Toronto "discussions"

[esquire]

^ I have to admit, I wish that one of the rinks at the Iceplex was a proper spectator venue with around 3,000 individual seats wrapping the ice, along the lines of the Selkirk Rec Complex. It's a nice facility but unfortunately has no rinks that distinguish themselves from the average local community arena.

[Migs]

An interesting FYI.

HKSinc, the architectural design company that designed new Mosaic Stadium is also the chief architectural firm for the new NFL stadium in Los Angeles.

Pic from this morning.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I have to admit, I wish that one of the rinks at the Iceplex was a proper spectator venue with around 3,000 individual seats wrapping the ice, along the lines of the Selkirk Rec Complex. It's a nice facility but unfortunately has no rinks that distinguish themselves from the average local community arena.

I couldn't agree more. I also don't understand why they don't use the WFP arena for jets practices instead of the small 300 seater and this will be solidified with the new addition of the Jets/Moose training facility. Our new 1800 seat arena came in at a pricetag of 28 Million and either than individual seats and a small center hung there is nothing special about it. I can only imagine a 3000 seat arena would have doubled the cost of the iceplex. And at the time wouldn't have filled a huge need in the city, Even Now I don't know if it would. True north has the burton cummings theatre for the smaller events that the MTS is too big or busy to host.

[Oilkountry]

I can't begin to explain how much I don't like the upper decks on new mosiac.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I can't begin to explain how much I don't like the upper decks on new mosiac.

It's a bit like the new upper deck at TD Place... you kind of wonder why they even bothered. A few more rows on the lower deck would have obviated the need for an upper deck in the first place.

The curve is kind of pleasing to the eye, though.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I can't begin to explain how much I don't like the upper decks on new mosiac.

That photo is not super clear, what's wrong with the upper decks?

[esquire]

Sounds like Bettman really charmed Calgarians by flying in to do his bad cop routine

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgarynext-twitter-gary-bettman-1.3400230

CSEG is botching their PR campaign at every turn. I guess they were expecting Calgary to be a pushover?

[tomthumb2]

After the last two days it would appear that most Calgarians are very negative about anything being built: http://www.sportsnet.ca/960/

It's not even worth discussing anymore until the Flames come up with a new plan and given how long the first one took we may as well forget about it for the next five years at least.