Halifax Stadium Discussion

[Jstaleness]

The roof would add significant cost. The weather thing comes up a lot. We are Maritimers, used to wet and foggy weather. Rip a hole in a garbage bag, put it on and go to the game. Same can be said for our central and west cost friends that sit outside in -20 to -30. It's just part of the experience.

[ILoveHalifax]

Now that Dexter is not giving away $155,000,000 to New Page, for a dying industry, is there any possibility he might find just a few million for a stadium?

[Empire]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Now that Dexter is not giving away $155,000,000 to New Page, for a dying industry, is there any possibility he might find just a few million for a stadium?

Hopefully he sees the light. A stadium in Halifax would be more benefit to the province than throwing millions at a dying industry. Hopefully the failing Dexter government doesn't buy anymore cut over swamp land from the forest industry. The millions already spent on land acquisition does nothing for the economy and next to nothing for the people who think they want it. I would be willing to bet not one person from the general public has set foot on any of these lands or even know where they are. Are they accessible, do they have trails, roads etc. or would that cost another 50 million? There is no threat of anyone buying the remaining land because it is essentially worthless and available for the public to use anyway. If we build a stadium now we could probably still get a piece of the women’s FIFI world cup or we could host the Boss and the E-Street band.

[scooby074]

New Page deal is back on. Actually it's been accepted by Stern.

As much as I felt for the workers, one has to wonder if this is the smartest use of money for the WHOLE of Nova Scotia, not that a stadium in Halifax would do much for the overall prosperity of the province either.

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...ighter-ends-with-new-deal-for-paper-mill

[worldlyhaligonian]

It needs to be the last time they prop it up, if things continue to fail here it might be a tough business to justify.

[cjones2451]

Here is the new renders for the Hamilton Ti-Cats / PanAm games stadium....looks exactly like what Halifax needs (22,500 - 24,000 seats) and can afford (about $120M)


www.newstadiumnewexperience.com

[cormiermax]

I should hope we get something better looking than that

It looks good in a practical sense I suppose, a little overly American for my tastes but it should provide good viewing for spectators. Overall though I hope if Halifax ever does end up building a stadium we go with something that has ascetics in mind, not just functionality.

[ILoveHalifax]

I had occasion to walk by the VG a couple of times lately.
I understand it needs to be replaced. Am I correct?
What a great location for a new stadium. So much closer to downtown and the universities.
We could dig up the gardens at the old QEH site build a new VG there and then build a stadium on the old VG site. Fenwick, would it fit?

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

I had occasion to walk by the VG a couple of times lately.
I understand it needs to be replaced. Am I correct?
What a great location for a new stadium. So much closer to downtown and the universities.
We could dig up the gardens at the old QEH site build a new VG there and then build a stadium on the old VG site. Fenwick, would it fit?

That is a huge site. I think a stadium would fit there nicely. It would be close to Robie St. for a quick entrance and exit into the stadium. Also, University Avenue is wide enough, but I think the on-street parking would have to be eliminated during games to make traffic flow more smoothly on all the adjacent streets, University, South, South Park, etc. A stadium has to be in the city proper and this is already zoned institutional, so I think a stadium could be built there. There is a lot of room to expand the new Infirmary on the former Q.E. High school site. If CBC ever leaves their site, then there will be even more room to expand.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

I had occasion to walk by the VG a couple of times lately.
I understand it needs to be replaced. Am I correct?
What a great location for a new stadium. So much closer to downtown and the universities.
We could dig up the gardens at the old QEH site build a new VG there and then build a stadium on the old VG site. Fenwick, would it fit?

I am not sure how many of the buildings will be torn down. But I downloaded a 3D Model of The Cardiff City Stadium from the Google 3D Warehouse, which was drawn by DizzyHARSH. I selected the Cardiff City Stadium since it is a relatively low cost stadium and can be used for rugby so it could also be used for Canadian Football with only slight modifications to the endzone seating (it is also regulation FIFA soccer size). Here is a Wikipedia link on the Cardiff City Stadium - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_City_Stadium. Here is an image of how the Cardiff City Stadium would fit on the VG site:



However, Waye Mason has been elected as the Councillor for that district (District 7) and anyone who follows this Skyscraperpage forum knows that he has been against a stadium.

[Keith P.]

Indeed - all of HRM peninsula with a small exception is now represented by anti-development NDP councillors in Watts and Mason. Developers will need to move away for the next 4 years.

[MonctonRad]

I fail to understand this love affair HRM has with the NDP, especially the peninsula. Too many university types and entitled civil servants I guess. Having said this, Waye has been a member of this forum and I wish him well.

Regarding using the VG site for a new stadium, this is an intriguing idea that I haven't thought of. It certainly has merit, with the site close to the universities and downtown, and this location probably would not generate the same sort of controversy as other downtown locations such as Gorsebrook or the Commons. The synergies of having a stadium located here with the entertainment district on Spring Garden Road closeby would be fantastic!

The VG Hospital needs to be decommisioned. It was ancient even when I was a medical student, intern and resident there in the 1980's.

I am pretty sure the long term plans are to demolish the VG and in turn double the size of the infirmary by building on the former Queen Elizabeth High School site. I am not sure however if the McKenzie laboratory building would be part of this plan. Without the lab included, there probably wouldn't be room for a stadium, but I suppose this could be negotiable.

To expand the Infirmary, replace the lab, tear down the VG and build a stadium would likely be nearly a $800M project (maybe even closer to a billion dollars), but as a "big fix" project, this might have merit.

I like the idea.

[Keith P.]

While the VG buildings absolutely require replacement, I doubt you will see the site become available. As MonctonRad stated, the labs and the Dickson center clinics are still in good shape and absolutely necessary. In addition, you have the IWK and Rehab Center in close proximity and they are not going anywhere. I think it is unlikely that a stadium would gain support with those facilities demanding peace and quiet. Besides, with Mason now representing the area, you can forget about building a stadium or most anything else in the south end for a while unless it is a performing arts center.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I am pretty sure the long term plans are to demolish the VG and in turn double the size of the infirmary by building on the former Queen Elizabeth High School site. I am not sure however if the McKenzie laboratory building would be part of this plan. Without the lab included, there probably wouldn't be room for a stadium, but I suppose this could be negotiable.

I don't think the MacKenzie Laboratory building would have to be demolished (here is the VG site layout - http://www.qe2foundation.com/site-qe2/media/Parent/VG_Terra_BG.jpg). There is a notion of demolishing the VG hospital - http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/...ing-be-demolished-under-new-upgrade-plan.

A stadium could be built in a north-south direction by reducing the endzone seating and increasing the sideline seating. Here is an image of how a stadium would fit in a north-south direction:


I think this is an excellent location for a stadium, although I don't think there is the political will to do it. (certainly not from the current provincial government). Regarding the noise, the Cardiff Stadium would be a good design for containing the noise.

[halifaxboyns]

I really can't see capital health giving up such a prime location for a stadium. Given plans to increase density, I suspect they will likely hold onto the property for the near future and create an additional facility of some kind (over flow if you will) from the QE2.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

I really can't see capital health giving up such a prime location for a stadium. Given plans to increase density, I suspect they will likely hold onto the property for the near future and create an additional facility of some kind (over flow if you will) from the QE2.

I don't think that Capital Health would necessarily be interested in the old VG site in the long run. In fact, there is a lot of merit in consolidating all adult tertiary care in a single facility in the core. There is enough room at the Infirmary site for a second tower that could replace the majority of the beds at the VGH. If Capital Health needed additional beds in the future, I could see them building a second suburban hospital (like Dartmouth General) in the Bedford/Sackville area rather than a second facility in the core.

If all adult tertiary services were consolidated at the Infirmary, I could see both the Dickson Centre and the Mackenzie Laboratory moved there as well. Additional lands could be made available if the CBC could be persuaded to move their television production facilities elsewhere.

This would free up oodles of space at the old VG site and there would be more than enough room for a stadium without the area feeling too cramped. I personally would prefer an east/west axis for the stadium rather than a north/south axis. I think it would feel more natural in that location.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Additional lands could be made available if the CBC could be persuaded to move their television production facilities elsewhere.

This is taking place. CBC is planning to sell the TV production facilities and combine the TV and radio facilities at the renovated "The Bay" department store - http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/101687-cbc-informs-staff-of-plan-to-move-to-west-end-halifax

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I think this is an excellent location for a stadium, although I don't think there is the political will to do it.

It could almost be considered a stadium on the campus of Dalhousie University. Would be nice to resurrect the Dal football team there.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I fail to understand this love affair HRM has with the NDP, especially the peninsula. Too many university types and entitled civil servants I guess. Having said this, Waye has been a member of this forum and I wish him well.

You don't understand because you don't have a university education, according to your logic.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by isaidso

It could almost be considered a stadium on the campus of Dalhousie University. Would be nice to resurrect the Dal football team there.

Agreed