Regina | New Mosaic Stadium

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The sound was terrible at the Brandt Centre, although I was in the nose bleeds.

Granted, Sask's climate requires enclosed shows most of the year, but arenas rarely do music justice - especially for those in the nosebleeds. I saw U2 at the CTC in Ottawa (Scotiabank Centre back then) and the acoustics in the bleeds were so bad that we spent the lion's share of the show with our hands on our ears. It was actually painful. I've been to loud shows before - this was a different experience, it was actual pain.

For this reason, I'm excited about the few shows that we will get at Mosaic - I have no interest in shows at Brandt or SaskTel Centre. A facility like the Centre of the Arts or TCU, is fine - they're built (in part) with acoustics in mind.
(I sound like a curmudgeon, don't I?)

[HomeInMyShoes]

^No you sound like me and if I'm a curmudgeon than so be it. Brandt Centre acoustics are terrible. Even going to Pats games is ear-splitting volume between plays. You can barely understand any of what is being played.

All of that is reasonably fixable within an arena though. Just cover some of the concrete and reflective surfaces in softer or acoustic materials and you'd improve it. Lose the over-amplification and it would sound fine. Let the fans make the noise, not the in-between-play dance party.

Okay, I'm a curmudgeon.

[Scruff Bucket]

Globe and mail Article:
Canada, U.S. and Mexico launch 2026 World Cup bid
Monday, Apr. 10, 2017

Calgary Herald:
Canada to Partner in 2026 World Cup Bid
Monday, Apr. 11, 2017

Toronto Star:
Canada, U.S. and Mexico launch World Cup bid
Mon., April 10, 2017

Toronto Sun:
Canada, U.S. and Mexico bidding for 2026 World Cup
Mon., April 10, 2017

Sorry! Multiple sources have different snippets of info!

If North America wins the bid (it appears they (we) are highly favoured for this time period), do you think any of the ten games proposed to be played in Canada (one source says there could be two to six venues selected) could be played/would be considered to play in New Mosaic Stadium (40k minimum)? By then, Regina will be bigger in population, and the turf at Mosaic (or perhaps "Regina Stadium") may be ready to change over, if not done at least once already. Does the stadium have suitable drainage/infrastructure to be outfitted with a permanent or temporary natural grass surface, like World Cup prefers? Could NMS be made a worthy venue contender and World Cup ready in 9 years (or 6 years after 2020 when it's determined if North America is awarded the event)? Or is Regina too trivial a metropolitan centre to be considered? - Because by then, other larger cities might have built new stadiums (Calgary, Halifax, QC?)

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Scruff Bucket

Globe and mail Article:
Canada, U.S. and Mexico launch 2026 World Cup bid
Monday, Apr. 10, 2017

Calgary Herald:
Canada to Partner in 2026 World Cup Bid
Monday, Apr. 11, 2017

Toronto Star:
Canada, U.S. and Mexico launch World Cup bid
Mon., April 10, 2017

Toronto Sun:
Canada, U.S. and Mexico bidding for 2026 World Cup
Mon., April 10, 2017

Sorry! Multiple sources have different snippets of info!

If North America wins the bid (it appears they (we) are highly favoured for this time period), do you think any of the ten games proposed to be played in Canada (one source says there could be two to six venues selected) could be played/would be considered to play in New Mosaic Stadium (40k minimum)? By then, Regina will be bigger in population, and the turf at Mosaic (or perhaps "Regina Stadium") may be ready to change over, if not done at least once already. Does the stadium have suitable drainage/infrastructure to be outfitted with a permanent or temporary natural grass surface, like World Cup prefers? Could NMS be made a worthy venue contender and World Cup ready in 9 years (or 6 years after 2020 when it's determined if North America is awarded the event)? Or is Regina too trivial a metropolitan centre to be considered? - Because by then, other larger cities might have built new stadiums (Calgary, Halifax, QC?)

I am told switching out to natural turf is no problem at any time. You can even replace the old turf later It is just a matter of money, which would not be an issue for the World Cup.

In my view Regina has no chance. There are dozens if not hundreds of cities that would be ahead of us in N. America. Regina has terrible air connections, is too distant from other venues and has not enough hotel rooms.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Stormer

I am told switching out to natural turf is no problem at any time. You can even replace the old turf later It is just a matter of money, which would not be an issue for the World Cup.

In my view Regina has no chance. There are dozens if not hundreds of cities that would be ahead of us in N. America. Regina has terrible air connections, is too distant from other venues and has not enough hotel rooms.

Yep. I read Canada will get 10 games so I imagine they'll only need 2 or 3 facilities for that and Mosaic won't be one.

[brithgob]

Commonwealth and BC Place seem the most likely. Maybe the big O? Would Rogers Centre work for one, or would it be too disruptive for the primary tenant there?

[yveseluj]

Big O and the SkyDome wouldn't be able to host any games without significant upgrades - they wouldn't meet FIFA standards. IMO the only cities/venues that will host games in Canada are Vancouver w/ BC Place, Montreal w/ Saputo Stadium (they'll need to expand seating), and Toronto w/ BMO Field (they'll need to expand too). Only other city with an outside chance is Edmonton, but Canada is only getting 10 games, and I can't imagine them wanting to expand Canada's footprint beyond 3 cities.


For the record, number of games in the bid breaks down as follows:

Canada - 10 games (Group Stages & nothing QFs and beyond)
USA - 60 games (Group Stages & everything QFs and beyond)
Mexico - 10 games (Group Stages & nothing QFs and beyond)

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by brithgob

Commonwealth and BC Place seem the most likely. Maybe the big O? Would Rogers Centre work for one, or would it be too disruptive for the primary tenant there?

BMO field in Toronto would be my guess. 30,000 capacity for soccer, expandable to 40,000 (according to Wikipedia).

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by yveseluj

Big O and the SkyDome wouldn't be able to host any games without significant upgrades - they wouldn't meet FIFA standards. IMO the only cities/venues that will host games in Canada are Vancouver w/ BC Place, Montreal w/ Saputo Stadium (they'll need to expand seating), and Toronto w/ BMO Field (they'll need to expand too). Only other city with an outside chance is Edmonton, but Canada is only getting 10 games, and I can't imagine them wanting to expand Canada's footprint beyond 3 cities.


For the record, number of games in the bid breaks down as follows:

Canada - 10 games (Group Stages & nothing QFs and beyond)
USA - 60 games (Group Stages & everything QFs and beyond)
Mexico - 10 games (Group Stages & nothing QFs and beyond)

I think since Canada and Mexico are bit players in this any games will be focussed in the larger centres like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Edmonton possibly could get one given their history of soccer events and a larger stadium. Most if not all of the important games will be held in the US. However, maybe Mosiac could get some pre tournament friendlies, who knows. There have been similar sized cities host games in either the World Cup or European cup, so city size and venue is not the problem, the amount of competition from other cities would be a bigger hinderance in my opinion.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by Stormer

In my view Regina has no chance. There are dozens if not hundreds of cities that would be ahead of us in N. America. Regina has terrible air connections, is too distant from other venues and has not enough hotel rooms.

This last argument used to be spouted every time we thought we should try to have a Grey Cup here. Three Grey Cups later, it's been proven to not be a big problem.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by brithgob

Commonwealth and BC Place seem the most likely. Maybe the big O? Would Rogers Centre work for one, or would it be too disruptive for the primary tenant there?

Rogers Centre is not available. There is a permanent baseball infield there now. Without major expenditure it cannot be used for any sport but baseball now.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

This last argument used to be spouted every time we thought we should try to have a Grey Cup here. Three Grey Cups later, it's been proven to not be a big problem.

There are 9 cities in the running for a Grey Cup. There are hundreds in N. America for a World Cup. Also there are thousands of international travellers who come to see their teams play. Regina will not even be considered.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

Rogers Centre is not available. There is a permanent baseball infield there now. Without major expenditure it cannot be used for any sport but baseball now.

I don't think something as big-budget as the World Cup would really be deterred by that expense.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by esquire

I don't think something as big-budget as the World Cup would really be deterred by that expense.

Agreed. It is more about the Jays not wanting to be bumped and Rogers just being a pretty crappy venue for soccer. Renos/expansion to BMO seems more likely.

[VANRIDERFAN]

The covering around the fountain in Confederation park was taken down the other day. I'll take a picture on my way home tonight.

They still have to build the pond around it and I don't know if they are going to paint it.

They are also starting to work on the area to the NE which will be some sort of art feature (I think).

Cannot wait for this all to end and get seeing games in there.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Not much time left really. First pre-season game is only 59 days away and I would expect a lot of activities around the stadium on Saturday June 10th.

[Doug123]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

The covering around the fountain in Confederation park was taken down the other day. I'll take a picture on my way home tonight.

They still have to build the pond around it and I don't know if they are going to paint it.

They are also starting to work on the area to the NE which will be some sort of art feature (I think).

Cannot wait for this all to end and get seeing games in there.

Those will be the fan walls, with the names of fans/companies engraved in stone blocks. I believe that there will also be a statue of some kind in the middle.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Doug123

Those will be the fan walls, with the names of fans/companies engraved in stone blocks. I believe that there will also be a statue of some kind in the middle.

Source: riderville.com

[Davidson]

Originally Posted by Stormer

There are 9 cities in the running for a Grey Cup. There are hundreds in N. America for a World Cup. Also there are thousands of international travellers who come to see their teams play. Regina will not even be considered.

Well technically Regina would only be competing with other Canadian cities for the apparently 10 games Canada is hosting. However I don't like those odds. BC Place, BMO, Commonwealth and perhaps even the Big O would be obvious first choices. If Canada was hosting 20-25 games, then perhaps Regina could be considered. At this point I am hoping new Mosaic might be considered for a pre-tournament friendly, which will be Canada's warmup....I'm assuming they will get an automatic berth as a host country.

[VANRIDERFAN]

A picture of the refurbished fountain.