Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

....Her and anyone else worthwhile seeing in a stadium tour will still be around when they get this place done.

Yes, after all, if she pulls a Mick Jagger and is still performing in her 80s, we can revive this thread to discuss a new roof for the stadium that will eventually have replaced the Big O...

[northernlights9]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Jesus fucking Christ. It's not like Taylor Swift is retiring after this tour, she's in her early 30's. Enough with this obsession with her and thinking Montreal needs to fast track some band aid fix to get her to perform there. Her and anyone else worthwhile seeing in a stadium tour will still be around when they get this place done.

First off, no need to swear. It is Christmas and many are celebrating Christianity as I am, so take your profanity somewhere else. We don't need to hear you take the Lord's name in vain and certainly not during a festive season.

Taylor Swift has performed Once, I repeat Once, in Montreal thru her 6 worldwide tours.

She performed One show at the Bell Center. That's it. Just once in Montreal. Check her tour iteneraries from her tours, it's on wikipedia. She hasn't performed here in 13 years.

For your additional information, this is a Stadium tour as have been most of her previous tours. Bell Center holds 13,000 for a concert, that is 1/5 the capacity of Olympic Stadium.

She didn't perform in Montreal due to the Government's negligence and inaction on the Stadium.

There is no alternate venue to satisfy the promoters. Who's fault is that ?

This would have been a great opportunity for her to connect with her fans here as she has only performed here once. Instead we wait for Premier Lego to do more 'studies' on the stadium.

People have a right to be angry and frustrated.

And while it may not be a Farewell Tour, if she doesn't choose to return to Montreal after this fiasco, the end result will be the same, won't it ? No show is no show. Doesn't matter what the reason is.

Not everyone can afford to travel to Toronto with hotels charging upwards of $ 1000 a night. If she plays Montreal, then fans can see her here without having to be gouged by hotels.

So consider that before suggesting 'fans can travel elsewhere'. It's not quite that simple.

So just because her music doesn't turn your crank, that doesn't give you the right to swear here.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by northernlights9

Bell Center holds 13,000 for a concert

I've read ChatGPT makes silly mistakes and this sounded silly so I looked it up. Capacity at the Bell Centre is 21,105 for hockey, Google spit back 15k for concerts which was close to Commodore 64's claim but still didn't make sense. Wikipedia's number makes much more sense at 15,000-19,200 but I am surprised at seeing 15,000 so often cited.

[king10]

This poster obsessed with Taylor swift is starting to weird me out.

They arent going to fast track a multi billion dollar decades long problem that nobody has been able to solve so Taylor Swift can perform. It’s comical.

Here is an idea. If she and her fans want to perform so bad in montreal, they can put an $8,000 surcharge on the 65,000 tickets sold to help pay off the debt on a $500M roof. Im sure northern lights is in for at least 100 tickets for a cool $800k right?

EDIT: I see there are “two” northern lights posters. Hit em up for 200 tickets then.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by king10

This poster obsessed with Taylor swift is starting to weird me out.

EDIT: I see there are “two” northern lights posters.

This account(s) was sus from the first post. Posts look and are posted more like a bot than a person. Or perhaps a person using a ChatGPT like device to accumulate info to make the point of which they have no clue or context. Whatever it is, your spider sense should be tingling and ready to see more in the future.

[Innsertnamehere]

I imagine Varsity stadium where they already do their practices.. Probably not even that undersized for their average attendance, either.

[elly63]

An Ontario university tour would be interesting. York and UofT only seat around 5k while Guelph, Western and Queens all seat around 8k with pretty decent facilities.

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[Djeffery]

Very rare, but Western pulled in over 13k for Homecoming at the end of September. Not sure if that's the largest football crowd since that stadium opened but I don't recall a crowd larger than that. Of course, an Argos game would be outside the school year so you wouldn't have the thousands of students living basically beside the stadium, nor would tickets be as cheap as a Western game. But I doubt the Argos would set any attendance records at any other University in Ontario either.

[elly63]

I have to agree with C3P0, no need for taking the Lord's name in vain, especially at this time of year.

Univac Swift might be one of the all time great trolls, especially all this argy bargy over a mediocre singer. You'd think it was the second coming of Caruso.

[Berklon]

The idea that a city needs to base their budget and strategy to cater to a bunch of fans of a music act is completely laughable. How is this important?
No concert is going to move the needle of the local economy - I don't care what the act is. Even having a venue to host acts throughout the year doesn't do much (never mind that there aren't many artists who play stadiums).

In a few years the hype for Swift will die down and she'll stick to playing only arenas again anyway. This is not sustainable. In the meantime, if you're dumb enough to pay the extremely high price for Swift tickets - then you'll probably cave in and pay more to see her in another city. A crap-ton of people around the world do that today.

[J.OT13]

Small update in the Sens LeBreton/Downtown Arena. At this time, they are still negotiating with the NCC and have until Fall 2024, but the Sens hope to have a deal done sooner. They've received many offers for alternate sites from other land owners, but none of those sites have been officially divulged.

Sens expect to stay in Kanata for at least another 4 years. In the meantime, they are planning major upgrades. The one upgrade not on the list is a new scoreboard.

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hoc...flats-continue

[northernlights99]

while we are discussing Cost versus Benefit, the BC Government thinks its worth it to splurge $ 200 million to keep FIFA happy so they can host 5 soccer games in Vancouver ( likely some games involving Canada who nobody is excited to watch lose and none to be important playoff games ) though I see they are keeping cost details secret pending a decision on a Freedom of Information request :

https://biv.com/article/2023/12/worl...novations-2011

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by northernlights99

while we are discussing Cost versus Benefit, the BC Government thinks its worth it to splurge $ 200 million to keep FIFA happy so they can host 5 soccer games in Vancouver ( likely some games involving Canada who nobody is excited to watch lose and none to be important playoff games ) though I see they are keeping cost details secret pending a decision on a Freedom of Information request :

https://biv.com/article/2023/12/worl...novations-2011

Depends on ticket prices potential hotel and restaurant revenue generated by the 5 games. Maybe it breaks even?

[northernlights99]

Who is breaking even ? The BC Government ? Since when are they getting a cut of hotel and restaurant revenue ?

So if the Marriott hotel charges $ 2000 per night during a game at the adjacent stadium, they share this revenue with the BC Government ?

The bars and restaurants along Robson and Granville will give the Government a cut of their revenue ? Who says ?

This is what I can't fathom. I get attacked on here for standing behind Taylor Swift saying that her concerts would be an economic boom for the Montreal area under a revamped Olympic stadium, roof or not.

But somehow it's justified that the BC Government spends $ 200 million to bribe FIFA for 5 soccer games ?

Different rules for Vancouver and Montreal ?

Double standard. If there is economic benefit for the 5 soccer games in Vancouver, then there is equivalent benefits for 3 Swift shows in Montreal.

Be consistent in your arguments.

Quebec government has to come clean with the truths, they gotta stop this crapp that it was just the Eras Tour that bypassed Olympic Stadium.

That is just part of the story. Each of Swift's stadium tours have played at either Rogers Center, BC Place, even IG Field in Winnipeg.

Each tour bypassed Olympic Stadium.

So she plays Winnipeg in 2015 and not Olympic Stadium ? The stadium has been bypassed the better part of the last decade, why does the Quebec Government not fess up ?

The Government has had numerous opportunities to do this work, each time they kick the can down the street.

Here are her tour itenaries for last 4 stadium tours, each time she purposely avoided Olympic Stadium.

So Lego's team had better come prepared for this upcoming presser on the future of Olympic stadium and start coming clean with the truth and stop avoiding admitting the facts. This has been a royal screw up till now.

Tours have been avoiding the stadium for over a decade, not just this current tour.

For the Red Tour in '13 to '14 she did Rogers Center two shows, BC Place, even Investors Group field in Winnipeg but avoided Montreal completely, read the schedules here :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eras_Tour

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reputation_Stadium_Tour

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_1989_World_Tour

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Tour

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by northernlights99

....Taylor Swift....Swift....Eras Tour....Swift's stadium tours....tour itenaries....Red Tour....

Could you maybe, possibly, please post something about anything other than Taylor Swift?

[northernlights99]

Ok we will set aside Swift for now, let's take the Sports angle since the majority of events in a revamped stadium will be Sports.

As I see it, in order to justify the expense of these renovations, there has to be a tie in with at least two of these three.

1. the Alouettes

2. the Impact

3. the 2026 World Cup

1. The Als. Their lease with Molson / Mcgill Stadium is until 2029, possibly there is an opt out clause that may allow them to leave sooner. Many leases have an option to back out before.

Mcgill Stadium is old. The benches are not appealing. It's not the best stadium in cold damp weather. Some seats are near some cold gas pipes with a Warning sign that the pipes could blast cold air at any time, not very appealing.

The Als could use a revamped Olympic Stadium as leverage to get renovations done for Mcgill.

But I question whether its worth it to upgrade Mcgill stadium. It is old looking. This is a tough one.

The location however is appealing, it's beautiful, with bars near by. I've been to several games in the fall and the scenery is amazing.

However with a revamped Olympic Stadium, that could be an attractive option for the Als.

Plus the 2026 Grey Cup ? 2025 goes to Winnipeg. Will Montreal bid for '26 in an open air stadium, possibly with grass ?

2. The Impact. They seem happy in their stadium but a revamped Olympic Stadium could open the door to more early season games and Playoff games, not to mention more International level matches which have drawn impressive crowds in the past.

3. The 2026 World Cup.

this is the kicker why I believe Olympic Stadium should get the massive renovations and a rebuilt technical ring however remove the Center part and be left as Open air for two years till end of '26 then cover the opening for '27.

Montreal pulled out of the World Cup bid due to cost. I assume much of that cost to do with renovating Olympic Stadium.

Assuming those renovation plans go ahead with an announcement next month, would Montreal not re bid for some World Cup games ?

Can a bid be re opened ? Why is it too late ?

I mean they say they will spend a whole lot of money rebuilding Olympic stadium but this money issue was the reason why Montreal pulled out of the WC bid in 2021 or at least the main reason.

Install a grass field for 2026 much like Vancouver is doing. Olympic Stadium was an Open air stadium for many years, granted it was a long time ago in the Expos days.

Many concerts were played in Olympic before a roof was installed.

The technical ring must be rebuilt and the stadium will need massive renovations, granted.

But the center part where the blue roof is, that can be removed for a couple of years and would be inviting to many different types of events that do well in outdoor conditions.

Doesn't the World Cup bid require outdoor conditions ? BMO Field meets that and BC Place is roof retractable.

Leave Olympic as Open air till 2027. Make this project a Multi phase.

There is a lot of interior work that can be completed during 2024. Why does this have to be rushed ?

Having Olympic as Open air for two years would also open the door to an Outdoor hockey game but the novelty of those rinks in outdoor stadiums is wearing off.

And Olympic will never be truly a full outdoor stadium. You cannot remove the arched roof over the seating area as that is an integral part of the structure.

But the center part can be removed. The floor has a drainage system of course (every structure needs that) but that will have to be upgraded.

It is complicated. This renovation will be far more extensive than BC Place.

This will be interesting what the Government decides to do but I believe there has to be some sort of tie in with at least 2 of the 3 outlined above to make it worthwhile.

[thurmas]

I still think there's a possibility Peledeau teams up with Saputo to renovate Stade Saputo for both cfl and mls as the scale of Big O is just too big even curtained off upper deck. Its only useful during cfl playoffs or special mls games when like messi comes to town. I know I have been knocked on here for this idea before but I think it has store merit as cf montreal has tons of years left on their lease and needs stade saputo to have more dates booked every year as its under utilialized.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by thurmas

I still think there's a possibility Peledeau teams up with Saputo to renovate Stade Saputo for both cfl and mls as the scale of Big O is just too big even curtained off upper deck. Its only useful during cfl playoffs or special mls games when like messi comes to town. I know I have been knocked on here for this idea before but I think it has store merit as cf montreal has tons of years left on their lease and needs stade saputo to have more dates booked every year as its under utilialized.

Not sure why you would be knocked as it is a realistic scenario but the question has to be asked what's in it for the Als.

What would have to be done to Saputo, aside from being winterized (one of CFM's main concerns) is for all the modern stadium revenue creating models to be upgraded/added. Party decks, corporate boxes, box seats need to be emphasized over increased seating. Unless this happens in a big way there isn't a really a good reason for the Als to leave the great location they already have.

What gets me more than anything is what little investigative reporting has gone into this and if the CFL has a new owner in Halifax. It's not rocket surgery for a reporter to ask a few questions.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by elly63

Not sure why you would be knocked as it is a realistic scenario but the question has to be asked what's in it for the Als.

What would have to be done to Saputo, aside from being winterized (one of CFM's main concerns) is for all the modern stadium revenue creating models to be upgraded/added. Party decks, corporate boxes, box seats need to be emphasized over increased seating. Unless this happens in a big way there isn't a really a good reason for the Als to leave the great location they already have.

What gets me more than anything is what little investigative reporting has gone into this and if the CFL has a new owner in Halifax. It's not rocket surgery for a reporter to ask a few questions.

Sadly with corporatized media and the skeletal state journalism is in Canada today I expect very little as its mostly kids straight out of creative communications coming out and just doing what they are told and not to rock the boat.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by elly63

What gets me more than anything is what little investigative reporting has gone into this and if the CFL has a new owner in Halifax. It's not rocket surgery for a reporter to ask a few questions.

I think the only investigative sports reporter in the country focuses on all that is wrong with the NHL and its various sexual abuse scandals.