Originally Posted by J.OT13
Great video for sure. Provides some excellent examples of how to integrate an arena within a mixed-use urban fabric quite nicely. It's interesting how he dislikes plazas though; I understand that they can sometimes be desolate wind-swept places however, they also serve an important purpose for crowd control and celebrations.
Some comments on his top ten:
Barclays
I find they did a great job integrating the arena on an odd shaped lot however, it's architecture is quite jarring. I would probably not want something that flashy at LeBreton.
Chase
Chase is another one that announces itself as an arena however, being behind a few buildings, it's not quite as bad. I also like how the plaza is protected by buildings on all four sides; probably not a necessity in San Fran, but that would be very appreciated in Ottawa's cold and windy winters.
Nationwide
A little plain for my taste, but well woven into the urban fabric. Wouldn't even know it's an arena.
Note, it's interesting that the street is named for Nationwide Insurance as well. Wonder if the City gets paid for the naming rights.
Madison Square Garden
No obvious parking, but I think that it's overrated on this list. Other than it's location and transit access, it doesn't really have any redeeming features. Worse when you remember what it replaced.
Little Caesars
They did a fantastic job making the facades look like a a series of individual buildings, creating a more interesting street front. Again, can't really tell it's an arena.
Molson Centre
It always looked like a building more than an arena, if maybe a bit on the plain side, but certainly having the new towers all around it has improved it's surroundings quite a bit.
American Airlines Centre
More of a traditional look, but not a huge fan. Seems to be in an awkward spot. Ground level seems quite dead.
MTS Centre
It's Portage Avenue is well done. Height matches some of the surrounding buildings, The architecture is nice, but not overstated. It has active usage on the street (though Moxies is set to close, or is closed). However, the other three faces are quite dead and desolate.
TD Garden
When it was built, the south face was a blank wall and that area once occupied by the old Boston Garden was a parking lot however, it was filled by new towers within the last decade, which hides the blank wall and the arena. Only an entrance between the two towers is now visible. For sure my favourite integration.
Capital One Arena
It fits well within a city block, it has two relatively active fronts. Architecture does suggest an arena, but not overly so. Pretty decent.
Ottawa made the list of dishonorable mentions, along with Calgary.
He mentioned Toronto and Vancouver in passing (something along the lines of, next is a Canadian arena, but certainly not...) but I find both deserve more respect. More than MSG and American Airlines at least. Vancouver is in an awkward spot between two highway ramps (for a highway that was never built) and has quite a bit of parking around it however, they did add a tower on the corner and across the viaduct, and it well served by transit.
ACC I quite like, with the Bay Street façade integrating an old Canada Post sorting plant (though no active use) and the Raptors Way face being obviously an arena, but not overbearing. Maple Leaf Square seems like a relatively interment public space. Having it between the tracks and the highway was well planned considering arenas usually have at least one blank/dead façade anyway.
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