Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[Hawrylyshyn]

Would the Als and Impact move and start playing here?

[blueandgoldguy]

Damn, $870 million just for the ring and roof. No renovations to the concourses, locker rooms, seat replacements/realignment, etc. Who knows how much more that would cost?

I'm sure they would like to draw many more concerts, trade shows and other events annually than they did 10 - 15 years ago when the roof wasn't a major issue. I have my doubts they actually will. Back when IG Field opened in Winnipeg, bold claims of attracting 3 - 4 concerts per year were made. Well, the stadium never has never hosted more than 2 concerts in 1 year, and there has been 1 concert in the past 9 years. There also has not been a a major soccer game at the stadium in something like 5-7 years. Oh yeah, I forgot about that disastrous NFL exhibition game 5 years ago that drew "20,000 people."

I think similar claims were made for Mosaic Stadium in Regina. They hoped to draw a few concerts and possibly some other sporting events each and every year following the opening of the new stadium in 2017. I don't think they have hosted a concert since 2019 or a major sporting event since that very same year.

Granted, Montreal is a much bigger city and the stadium is much larger, but again, I doubt they will attract significantly more events.

[drew]

^ big stadium music tours are pretty rare these days. And the Bell Centre is a massive indoor facility in it's own right (close to 20k for concerts)

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by drew

^ big stadium music tours are pretty rare these days. And the Bell Centre is a massive indoor facility in it's own right (close to 20k for concerts)

I don't know. In just country music, this past year has seen Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Garth Brooks on stadium tours. Looking at Ford Field in Detroit for 2024, they have Zach Bryan, Kenny Chesney and George Straight. Last year in other genres, and just off the top of my head since I can't find a past schedule, they had Metallica and, ahem, Taylor Swift.

Montreal isn't exactly out of the way, I can see them, with a revamped stadium, pulling in many of these big tours again. Promoters would be idiots to overlook a market with that many millions of people within a couple hours drive.

[drew]

^ I think the border along with CAD/USD is the biggest hurdle to attracting the big tours (within Canada)

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by drew

^ I think the border along with CAD/USD is the biggest hurdle to attracting the big tours (within Canada)

And yet, Metallica was in Montreal last year, Luke Combs and Garth Brooks each played in Edmonton the last couple years, Swift is in Toronto and Vancouver this coming year. Rogers Centre actually has several shows in August. Metallica likely would have come to Toronto in November before or after Detroit if the dome wasn't under renovation. The exchange rate isn't hurting arena shows in smaller towns as the list this year for London as one example is showing, I think the same would be true in larger cities with suitable stadiums.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by drew

^ I think the border along with CAD/USD is the biggest hurdle to attracting the big tours (within Canada)

I don't think that hurt the girl who should not be named here

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Would the Als and Impact move and start playing here?

Not until they can get the seats closer to the field and reduce capacity for ticket scarcity. It was earlier discussed if there could be a stadium within a stadium, ie temp seats like Empire Stadium.

Despite the crazy cost, and I have wavered on this, I think it is a good idea. This is an iconic structure, it is to Montreal what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. I think from what little I have learned so far that the design is right. I think the four years of anticipation will create a goodwill and the former sense of failure will be replace by a pride in the structure. BC did it and they did it right, no reason why Montreal can't. This is also a part of revitalizing that section of town not just the stadium. I think it will work.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Would the Als and Impact move and start playing here?

Most likely yes. Given that the video with the new renderings showed soccer and football being played, it looks like getting them in there is the intention. Video also showed some concept renderings of a modernized bowl, as well as curtains to cover the upper levels of seats when not in use. I can’t tell if interior renovations are part of the costed estimate, or will be part of another phase of work to be done later.

[Alexcaban]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

$2 billion to demolish? LMAO.

Is there a better definition of a white elephant when the cost to demolish inflated so much as to make a billion dollar reno for an untenanted stadium seem the reasonable choice for the ignorant masses.

With a metro station right underneath the stadium cant just be imploded with explosives, it needs to be taken apart piece by piece. If left to rot, it will eventually collapse, into the metro station below.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Here is some images and video clip from lapresse. The video clip appears to show the lower bowl reconfigured to a new football and soccer orientation yet there doesn't seem to be any mention of budgeting for renovating the lower bowl so not sure if it will actually happen or not?

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/g...0-millions.php

The province of Quebec tripling down on the biggest mistake in North American sports stadium history.

Everyone: "The Calgary arena deal is probably one of the worst in professional sports."

Quebec: "Hold my poutine..."

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I don't know. In just country music, this past year has seen Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Garth Brooks on stadium tours. Looking at Ford Field in Detroit for 2024, they have Zach Bryan, Kenny Chesney and George Straight. Last year in other genres, and just off the top of my head since I can't find a past schedule, they had Metallica and, ahem, Taylor Swift.

Montreal isn't exactly out of the way, I can see them, with a revamped stadium, pulling in many of these big tours again. Promoters would be idiots to overlook a market with that many millions of people within a couple hours drive.

Most of these are country acts, though.

Not sure they could fill a 60,000 seat stadium un Montréal.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

Most likely yes. Given that the video with the new renderings showed soccer and football being played, it looks like getting them in there is the intention. Video also showed some concept renderings of a modernized bowl, as well as curtains to cover the upper levels of seats when not in use. I can’t tell if interior renovations are part of the costed estimate, or will be part of another phase of work to be done later.

Unlikely CFM will move permanently from turf to artificial turf. As I said they have to make that place smaller internally. There is no other reason, for either team to leave where they are except for late and early season games.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Most of these are country acts, though.

Not sure they could fill a 60,000 seat stadium un Montréal.

I did qualify it by saying "in just country music". Not to say they are the only stadium acts. There are tons of pop/rock stadium tours. In a span of a couple weeks this summer, Rogers Centre has Green Day, Def Leppard/Journey, Blink 182 and Pink. And Montreal did have Metallica last summer. It was a response to the claim that the big tours avoid Canada because of the border and exchange rates, which is obviously not true.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

100% on board for a new roof, mostly cause I don't have to pay for it.

Well, if you live in Canada and pay federal taxes, chances are you're going to pay for it !

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Damn, $870 million just for the ring and roof. No renovations to the concourses, locker rooms, seat replacements/realignment, etc. Who knows how much more that would cost?

I'm sure they would like to draw many more concerts, trade shows and other events annually than they did 10 - 15 years ago when the roof wasn't a major issue. I have my doubts they actually will. Back when IG Field opened in Winnipeg, bold claims of attracting 3 - 4 concerts per year were made. Well, the stadium never has never hosted more than 2 concerts in 1 year, and there has been 1 concert in the past 9 years. There also has not been a a major soccer game at the stadium in something like 5-7 years. Oh yeah, I forgot about that disastrous NFL exhibition game 5 years ago that drew "20,000 people."

I think similar claims were made for Mosaic Stadium in Regina. They hoped to draw a few concerts and possibly some other sporting events each and every year following the opening of the new stadium in 2017. I don't think they have hosted a concert since 2019 or a major sporting event since that very same year.

Granted, Montreal is a much bigger city and the stadium is much larger, but again, I doubt they will attract significantly more events.

The stadium replaced the 60 year old Winnipeg Stadium, which needed replacing. Price tag? $200 million. So we get a CFL team, University teams, the occasional heritage NHL game, and a few special events. They also host the Valour FC. The stadium also was host to the Grey Cup game once, and they plan on doing it again in 2025.

I'm not sure you are thinking this clear, since Olympic Stadium has been full of structural problems, and costs probably close $2.7 billion when the roof is completed, as opposed to $210 million at IG Field. Not to mention they only play host to an MLS Soccer team, as well as the occasional CFL playoff game in Montreal.

Not sure where you get the idea the stadium was going to attract 3-4 concerts per year, but just like the old stadium, it hosting one or two per year. We also hosted the Women's FIFA tourney in 2015.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by elly63

From these pictures the lower bowl redesign looks similar to mosaic stadium lower bowl in Regina. I did see on en direct with patrice roy on RDI yesterday they had construction equipment in the lower bowl and had started removing blue paint from the lower bowl and saw some construction materials on the floor.

[thenoflyzone]

Yet again, no long term vision in this god forsaken province. (I've said it multiple times on the airport forum.)

The fact is, the government's numbers to justify the renovation of the roof can't be trusted. The economic benefit numbers can't be trusted. The demolition cost can't be trusted either. It seems excessive.

I think this is the wrong decision as well. They should have demolished the bowl, kept the tower (since it's recently renovated, looks nice, plus it's a way to preserve the historical significance of the stadium), and then built a brand new, state of the art, 60,000 seater stadium next to it. That would have been the right decision.

Instead, Montreal will be stuck with that decrepit building for the next half a century. Too bad.

[shreddog]

Originally Posted by elly63

In all honesty, it doesn't look that different from 2008
The lower bowl that is ....

[thurmas]

In this interview from yesterday in french on rdi with the quebec tourism minister and head of the olympic park they intend to try and attract pro teams as tenants of the big o once the renovation is complete. I know the Alouettes lease ends in 2027 at McGill they may need to move back to the big O if it can provide suite revenue and has the lower bowl renovation and use it like the Lions do at BC place so they can compete with Hamilton and Ottawa revenue wise as Molson is so bare bones.

Here is the interview:

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/vid...inistre-proulx