Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by elly63

What is this?

the roof would be fixed, flexible, and if they need an open roof, the roof could be partially dismantled, say a week in advance.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

the roof would be fixed, flexible, and if they need an open roof, the roof could be partially dismantled, say a week in advance.

I get that, I can't think of an example, even given Marseilles and Japan.

[osmo]

Originally Posted by elly63

I get that, I can't think of an example, even given Marseilles and Japan.

I agree, there isn't one. This is the sort of thinking that gets Quebec in trouble, can't rely on untested technology like this and then not have it work. They will soon find out their expectations are not reasonable for the price.

These roofs weigh tons, you can't simply "dismantle" them in short times. The only thing I can think of is creating a "sun roof" that can pop open but then that opening becomes a weak point to ice, snow, and cold for the whole roof.

They will end up with a translucent fixed roof, if they have any sense in Quebec leadership.

Look at the mess in Atlanta bas they gambled on new technology and it doesn't work correctly as intended. This type of experimentation doomed the Big O the first time. Best to take the best proven tech you can afford.

[Franco401]

I like the Minneapolis example. One of the Big O's problems is the "cavernous" atmosphere, which might not necessarily go away with the roof raised. A transparent, fixed covering of the ovular opening or the entire roof (remove the concrete portion, keep the support beams) would work very well and even make it a viable baseball stadium.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by Franco401

I like the Minneapolis example. One of the Big O's problems is the "cavernous" atmosphere, which might not necessarily go away with the roof raised. A transparent, fixed covering of the ovular opening or the entire roof (remove the concrete portion, keep the support beams) would work very well and even make it a viable baseball stadium.

If Montreal got a MLB team again, it would only use Olympic stadium as a temporary home. They would need a real ballpark.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I think an argument could be made that the Big O was never a viable baseball stadium. As a temporary home for a future team, perhaps, but that's the extent of it.

In a related matter, some have questioned how this colossal waste of tax payer money might impact the return of the Expos.

Expos Nation, a non-profit trying to bring the team back says it’s simply a big waste of money.

“It’s like spending money on a 1984 Chevet, it just doesn’t make sense,” says Expos Nation founder and chairman Matthew Ross.

Ross says the money is best served in a new stadium.

“There’s no question about it. Revitalizing an area downtown that could benefit from a new stadium is just a no-brainer.”

Full story here at Globalnews.ca

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Berklon

If Montreal got a MLB team again, it would only use Olympic stadium as a temporary home. They would need a real ballpark.

Yup!

[Franco401]

Oh, I absolutely agree with all that. I know full well that a downtown stadium (such as on the land recently acquired by Stephen Bronfman) is essential.

I'm only musing that if a completely new, translucent roof and a full interior renovation were to happen, with baseball as the sole goal of the project, it could become a very nice, true, ballpark.

None of that is happening.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by Franco401

Oh, I absolutely agree with all that. I know full well that a downtown stadium (such as on the land recently acquired by Stephen Bronfman) is essential.

I'm only musing that if a completely new, translucent roof and a full interior renovation were to happen, with baseball as the sole goal of the project, it could become a very nice, true, ballpark.

None of that is happening.

they will redo the interior, seats, lighting and the sound once the roof finished.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

they will redo the interior, seats, lighting and the sound once the roof finished.

But with a multi-purpose venue in mind. This thing is going to work well for Football, Soccer, & other events, and as a temporary baseball solution.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by Franco401

I'm only musing that if a completely new, translucent roof and a full interior renovation were to happen, with baseball as the sole goal of the project, it could become a very nice, true, ballpark.

None of that is happening.

I don't think the MLB would go for that. They pretty much want a dedicated ball only facility now, not multipurpose stadiums. Skydome was the penultimate example of the multipurpose era.

The only way to make Olympic Stadium a ballpark that the MLB would accept would be to tear it down and start from scratch.

Like you said, not happening.

[thurmas]

I hope with the renos they can change the scoreboard display. Since the last reno in 1992 that changed the scoreboard configuration it has always looked very out of place and does mesh well with the rest of the stadium.

compare 1990 big o:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/af/d1...865cfd0654.jpg

current big o:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j1ACglnzJF4/maxresdefault.jpg

[esquire]

Originally Posted by thurmas

I hope with the renos they can change the scoreboard display. Since the last reno in 1992 that changed the scoreboard configuration it has always looked very out of place and does mesh well with the rest of the stadium.

compare 1990 big o:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/af/d1...865cfd0654.jpg

current big o:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j1ACglnzJF4/maxresdefault.jpg

That was part of the renovation which attempted to create a more intimate environment for baseball... they nipped and tucked the lower stands so that they could push the field closer to the fans and reduce some of the absurdly large foul territory that used to exist. I think the scoreboard was intended to wall off the unused temporary seating area at that end of the stadium.

FWIW the 1992 scoreboard could be improved by turning the entire thing into a TV screen instead of the small portion that currently shows displays.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by Acajack

That's not uncommon though.

Paris' newish megastadium isn't that much busier when you consider it's in much larger city in a much more populated country.

https://www.stadefrance.com/fr/billetterie

How busy is Wembley? Not that much I'd say. (Well, it's temporarily the home to Tottenham Hotspur... not sure that counts going forward.)

I think there is a municipal law that Wembley Stadium can only be used around 35 - 40 times per year for large scale events. It might have something to do with extra traffic brought to the area by these events.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

I think there is a municipal law that Wembley Stadium can only be used around 35 - 40 times per year for large scale events. It might have something to do with extra traffic brought to the area by these events.

Despite this, Wembley's turnover is £90M whereas Olympic's yearly revenue is usually $20M.

Wembley has been in use more often the past few seasons as Tottenham Hotspur have moved in during the construction of their new stadium in North London.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I don't doubt that demolishing the Big O would be expensive, but $700 MM? Really?

Bear in mind that the RIO has a huge disincentive for making the demolition of the facility seem in any way appealing as it will mean the end for them. I'm sure the RIO would have us all believe that demolishing Olympic Stadium will end up raising temperatures around the world by 12 degrees.

They did say in their report that destroying Olympic Stadium could leave a toxic dust cloud over Montreal similar to that following the destruction of the World Trade Centre.

Won't somebody think of the children!

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

They did say in their report that destroying Olympic Stadium could leave a toxic dust cloud over Montreal similar to that following the destruction of the World Trade Centre.

Won't somebody think of the children!

Thank You Mrs. Lovejoy

[blueandgoldguy]

Quite the fun job being the lucky individual who gets to count all the new tears in Olympic Stadium's roof!

[240glt]

Looks like Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton may have a date with the wrecking ball sooner rather than later.

Many stakeholders have been pushing for this and I know the mayor and councilor for the area got an earful from local residents during the last election about the prospect of it sitting there abandoned

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loca...olish-coliseum

[itom 987]

^ They want to press the 'easy' button and demolish the building instead of doing something creative. I can come up with a hundred ways to repurpose the colosseum.