Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2 - Page 389

Coldrsx · #**7761** Posted **Oct 5, 2016, 7:39 PM**

[URL="https://twitter.com/TomGazzola/status/783724547581370368"]https://twitter.com/TomGazzola/status/783724547581370368[/URL

Bigbopper299 · #**7762** Posted **Oct 5, 2016, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

As I recall, when the Eskimos had a grass surface they had a reputation for jealously guarding it and preventing other users from playing on it. Their grass was usually still decent come playoff time, so perhaps that's the only real trick to keeping it playable in the winter... minimizing use.

I worked in the building for years, and "guarding" the turf is an understatement! Nobody was allowed on it unless you were with the EE organization directly. They were anal about their grass.

esquire · #**7763** Posted **Oct 5, 2016, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbopper299

I worked in the building for years, and "guarding" the turf is an understatement! Nobody was allowed on it unless you were with the EE organization directly. They were anal about their grass.

An impressive feat considering that Commonwealth was always a city owned facility.

It's interesting to hear that you worked in Commonwealth Stadium... any tidbits you care to share with us about it?

Riise · #**7764** Posted **Oct 5, 2016, 9:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

You'd know this (I think/hope). Do the three Scandinavian leagues have a split season like Russia? There are some artificial turf fields there (Scandinavia) but most are turf for the premier league clubs correct? I would think playing conditions can get pretty difficult at the beginning and end of the seasons.

I'm only certain about the Swedish league and while they don't have a split season, it is a summer league and concludes before winter. I took a gander on Wikipedia and it looks like it is the same for the Finnish and Norwegian leagues. Not sure about the Danish league.

Steveston · #**7765** Posted **Oct 5, 2016, 9:17 PM**

Century Link Field in Seattle and BC Place in Vancouver are located in the same climate zone. BCP is indoors, but with a retractable roof, and the field is turf. The stadium is used for boat, car, home shows, the odd concert, indoor carnivals, etc. so a grass field would be extremely labour intensive (trying to get the sun evenly on the whole surface would be virtually impossible), and quite impractical.

CLink is outdoors, and used almost exclusively for sporting events (Seahawks and Sounders). Theoretically, a grass field would be possible, but yet they chose to go with turf.

Husky Stadium at the University of Washington is also outdoors, used only for football, and is also turf.

In my opinion, in these cases, the decision came down to cost, ease of maintenance, and the fact that the new turf suppliers can provide a fairly high quality product that mimics natural grass reasonably well.

Jaws · #**7766** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:43 AM**

The problem with grass surfaces is the variablitiy of the playing conditions especially during the winter. Turf provides more consistency which is a good thing.

Black Star · #**7767** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 3:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

[URL="https://twitter.com/TomGazzola/status/783724547581370368"]https://twitter.com/TomGazzola/status/783724547581370368[/URL

Why yes....I do see room for many more Championship banners

Black Star · #**7768** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 4:42 AM**

By Hillman SSP

http://www.rogersplace.com/time-lapse/[/QUOTE]

Coldrsx · #**7769** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 2:06 PM**

What a different downtown/city from 3 yrs ago... wow! I am going to my first hockey game tonight, cannot wait!

Coldrsx · #**7770** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 2:15 PM**

First hockey game last night:

-Loved how busy downtown was, felt very big city.
-Getting in and up to the seats was a breeze.
-Beer acquisition was quick and plentiful.
-Food was another story. Up on the 200 concourse it was hard to find something other than pizza 73, you had to go down to the main for really good options.
-Seats were quite a bit higher up even though we moved 5 rows down, but the view was amazing and that screen, unreal.
-Loved the variety of seating options and how open the arena felt.
-Getting out was a breeze down the SW stairwell.
-Truly amazing how different downtown feels on a Thursday night at 10pm when you have thousands of people milling about!

-------
Artist shot of Ford Hall (aka the winter garden)

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00019_zpslnlyds86.jpg

Not a bad view from the escalator!

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00021_zpseklztbld.jpg

Going up to the 200s

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00022_zpsykmjgnsq.jpg

Still going up... crazy long escalator

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00023_zpsfdgekkxe.jpg

Still going...

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00024_zpszmijduyu.jpg

Upper drink rail view from 208

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00026_zpslvmdorpr.jpg

200 concourse view of the action

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00027_zpsqpmpaxp0.jpg

Stantec

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00028_zpscca3ee8b.jpg

Behind 207 on the upper concourse.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00029_zps9wmmnpvw.jpg

Drink rail

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00031_zpsxp709wif.jpg

Our seats

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00032_zpsr15xthzy.jpg

Amazing how huge it feels in there.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00034_zpsdbiixxyx.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00037_zps585fvirt.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00038_zpsivapojtr.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00040_zpsjdyshok3.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00041_zpspbk6sqxz.jpg

Puck drop!

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00042_zps8ozagzxm.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00043_zpsqjuug2p1.jpg

Going down to find some schwag, main concourse.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00046_zpsjifdybnd.jpg

Hunter!

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/coldrsx108/DSC00047_zpslvpqhngq.jpg

esquire · #**7771** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 2:28 PM**

What is there to say about Rogers Place really... it looks like a top notch venue through and through.

One thing I find about newer venues in general is that there is so much premium seating the upper decks are now really, really high. I wonder if the limits have been reached yet, because if the upper decks get much higher I'd imagine some fans will balk at paying steep prices to sit the equivalent of 9 storeys above the ice.

Coldrsx · #**7772** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 2:30 PM**

Really is.

Yup, i'd say maxed out in this format.

Steveston · #**7773** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 9:18 PM**

The comment about the "buzz" downtown during an event night is one of the reasons why I have always always argued that every new stadium/arena should be built downtown.

This is the missed opportunity of Investors Group Field, in my opinion.

esquire · #**7774** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 9:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveston

The comment about the "buzz" downtown during an event night is one of the reasons why I have always always argued that every new stadium/arena should be built downtown.

This is the missed opportunity of Investors Group Field, in my opinion.

Where in downtown Winnipeg would you have put something the size of IGF? Assembling land would have cost enough to upset the economics of the whole thing... this wasn't like BC Place/Skydome in the 80s where there was a large amount of abandoned brownfield that could be put to use.

That said, outdoor football stadiums tend to be lightly used and don't really belong downtown. In an average year at IGF there might be 10 football games, and maybe three or four other events that draw capacity or near capacity crowds. That's a hell of a lot downtime for the remaining days of the year.

FrankieFlowerpot · #**7775** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 9:40 PM**

I was driving past earlier and noticed the temporary seats for the Grey Cup and Winter Classic are going up at BMO Field

thurmas · #**7776** Posted **Oct 8, 2016, 9:02 PM**

The problem with IGF in Winnipeg is the not the stadium or even that it is in the South End of the city next to the UofM. This stadium just highlighted the 40 years of neglect of not building a rapid transit system in this city in time. All the while the Calgary's, Edmonton's and Ottawa's that were similar sized as Winnipeg in the late 70's early 80's built those systems when they were much more affordable and easier to do. The area around the UofM and IGF will eventually develop with the Rapid Transit line nearing completion and new development of apartments, pubs, restaurants and student housing in the area but it will take a good 10 years to see this fully realized. Very similar to when old Winnipeg Stadium was built in 1953 but the area around it did not develop until later in the 50's early 60's when Polo Park and the ol arena was built and ST James grew larger around it.

MonctonRad · #**7777** Posted **Oct 9, 2016, 4:13 PM**

A recent aerial photo of the new events centre in Moncton (taken last week).

They plan to have it enclosed before the winter sets in.

Also, city council has made the decision to increase seat width to 20', which will decrease seating capacity to 8,500 from 9,000. This is somewhat controversial, as the RFP for this project gave bonus points to proponents for increasing the seating capacity as much as possible (within cost constraints).

The arena will have:
20' seats - general admission
22' seats - club seating

The existing Moncton Coliseum has:
18' seats - upper bowl
19' seats - lower bowl.

One of the major complaints about the current coliseum has been the cramped nature of the seating, so this is certainly being addressed in the new facility.

Finally, they hope to have the naming rights tied up within the next six months. They are looking at both national and regional companies to compete for this. Apparently there has already been some interest expressed.

Looking just at Moncton for companies that might be competing for naming rights:

- The Irving Group of companies. There are several branches of the Irving empire based in Moncton. Of these, I think the potential candidates would be Majesta/Royale Tissues (a favourite of mine), Kent Building Supplies and Cavendish Farms.
- Molson/Coors. They would be a strong contender as Molson operates a brewery in Moncton. On the downside, the performance centre at Casino New Brunswick in Moncton is already called the Molson Canadian Centre. Having a second Molson Centre in the city might be confusing.
- Various insurance or financial companies. Medavie Blue Cross is based in Moncton, as is Assumption Life Insurance. Moncton is the Atlantic HQ for the National Bank, and both RBC and Tangerine Bank have major operations in the city.
- Rogers Communications is also a possibility, as they employ about 1,000 people in the city between a call centre and the HQ of their NB operations.

My personal favourites would be Majesta/Royale, Cavendish, Molson, RBC and Rogers

It will be interesting to see who the winner will be.

EpicPonyTime · #**7778** Posted **Oct 10, 2016, 12:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

- Rogers Communications is also a possibility, as they employ about 1,000 people in the city between a call centre and the HQ of their NB operations.

We already have a Rogers arena, centre, and place in this country. I'd be interested in seeing what else Rogers could come up with.

elly63 · #**7779** Posted **Oct 10, 2016, 12:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

We already have a Rogers arena, centre, and place in this country. I'd be interested in seeing what else Rogers could come up with.

Stade Rogers Stadium, in memory of the old Moncton Stadium.

Pictured old Moncton Stadium after roof collapse (Christmas morning 1970)

Just kidding, Rogers would never honour anything that had nothing to do with them.

Oilkountry · #**7780** Posted **Oct 10, 2016, 7:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

We already have a Rogers arena, centre, and place in this country. I'd be interested in seeing what else Rogers could come up with.

Rogers gardens or Coliseum would work fine. Both roll off the tongue well