Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[EpicPonyTime]

The only event that Calgary could host that could result in a new stadium is the Winter Olympics, but we saw in 2026 that the citizen support simply was not there. I don’t think anything else is large enough to justify the cost.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

The only event that Calgary could host that could result in a new stadium is the Winter Olympics, but we saw in 2026 that the citizen support simply was not there. I don’t think anything else is large enough to justify the cost.

Commonwealth Games. The fact is regardless of event or justification, a new stadium will have to replace the old. And I'm not just using old as in age, I'm using old as in not possessing all the modern amenities that attract people to the stadium. The best of party plazas, suites, boxes WiFi, food, dressing rooms, gyms, in house video, all that stuff. I understand McMahon probably has all that but is it near the level of the newer stadiums in the CFL.

I read that one of the top infrastructure needs for the city was a new fieldhouse and that there has been a group lobbying for it. I do like the idea of a combined stadium fieldhouse just as a motivation to get things going. But when the idea was explored people lost their poop over a couple of proposed drawings that they didn't like. Mosaic in Regina looks nothing like ts proposed drawing, let's get the ball rolling first before condemning everything.

And as we've been finding out things are just becoming more expensive and the longer we wait the worse it gets. It's unlikely this will ever not be expensive. Build a jewel and keep it small, 25-28k to get ticket scarcity

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Considering how expensive even basic medium-sized stadiums would be nowadays, maybe Calgary could tear down one of the grandstands at McMahon and build a 4 or 5 level replacement similar to Hamilton but perhaps with a slightly higher capacity of 13,000. Lower deck, suite level, club level and upper deck and pressbox. Combine that with a modest refurbishment of the opposite side of the stadium and you have half a new stadium and a total capacity around 30,000.

If you don't have a canopy, perhaps you could accomplish that for $150 - $175 million as opposed to likely spending around $300 million or more just to build something like Hamilton's current stadium. Of course, even financing that smaller amount would be a challenge given the city is already putting hundreds of millions of funding into the new arena. I doubt you could count on private financing for more than a few million. Maybe naming rights could nab you a few million more over several years?

The issue of having one side fully compliant with current standards and the other side not, remains.

I think we were lucky here... built a new stadium with senior government help due to a significant sporting event being held locally, and before construction cost escalation really took hold.

The result wasn't the best, but it is much better than what we had with Ivor Wynne Stadium and the team ownership has made incremental investments over time (to maximize their revenue, no doubt, but in lasting improvements)

[elly63]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

The issue of having one side fully compliant with current standards and the other side not, remains.

I think we were lucky here... built a new stadium with senior government help due to a significant sporting event being held locally, and before construction cost escalation really took hold.

The result wasn't the best, but it is much better than what we had with Ivor Wynne Stadium and the team ownership has made incremental investments over time (to maximize their revenue, no doubt, but in lasting improvements)

The former THF in my mind has definitely punched above it's weight in terms of stadiums. With the black and gold bunting, banners etc it looks good on TV, it's rightsized, and the party areas seem popular. I remember an LDC game that sold over a thousand tickets more than capacity and I wondered why there were empty seats at the top of the stadium. The people were in the party areas.

The stadium has even had some iconic moments that people look upon fondly ie Soccer team beating the US getting them closer to qualifying for the WC.

Many people unfairly shat on the design etc and I kept saying wait until it's finished. For the $145 million the people of Hamilton got a steal.

And yes, by building one side new while leaving the other does create a have and have not. They'll be doing that in Ottawa except the have not side is fairly new in comparison.

To the folks in Calgary, it's not going to get cheaper, that's the new reality and frankly they more than anybody had multiple chances to rectify the situation, as did Montreal and the Big O. But better late than never.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by elly63

For the $145 million the people of Hamilton got a steal.

Definitely.

There are flaws, but it's nice to not have to pee in a trough.

People seem to like to wax poetic about Ivor Wynne, but in reality it wasn't a good venue for fans. Probably so since the mid-1980s!

[elly63]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

People seem to like to wax poetic about Ivor Wynne, but in reality it wasn't a good venue for fans. Probably so since the mid-1980s!

People used to wax poetic about the old Winnipeg Stadium too, until they got the new one. I believe they had an infamous trough.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

The only event that Calgary could host that could result in a new stadium is the Winter Olympics, but we saw in 2026 that the citizen support simply was not there. I don’t think anything else is large enough to justify the cost.

Calgary 2026 was planning on using McMahon Field as it currently is with minor cosmetic upgrades. I have serious doubts that any future Olympic bid would be any different.

I don’t realistically see McMahon getting replaced until there is no choice (i.e., reaches end of life and starts to become unsafe) and if such a situation would threaten the loss of the Stampeders.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

I don’t realistically see McMahon getting replaced until there is no choice (i.e., reaches end of life and starts to become unsafe) and if such a situation would threaten the loss of the Stampeders.

That's what I'm saying and the day is getting nearer. The problem is if you leave it too late you'll run into having to make possibly bad decisions under a time constraint.

I would be curious to see what the last engineering report said about the structure. Things can deteriorate quickly.

When the North stands of Ottawa were refurbished, the reports said IIRC that the structure was fine, not many years later it became not so fine and now they are scheduled to be replaced.

Just to reiterate something, hopefully, to look forward to, the final approval vote for Ottawa will occur following the culmination of the planning phase on October 22, 2025.

The north stand of TD Place Stadium will be demolished following the 2027 season. It is expected to take two years for the stands to be rebuilt with improved seating and amenities, in addition to the retail podium and extended parking behind it.

The proposed north-side stands reduce current seating capacity from 14,000 to 11,000/11,200 but includes standing room for an additional 900. There is a mention to possibly work with OSEG to consider options for including a roof over the new north side stands that are estimated to cost $139 million (2023)





So Calgary, you're looking at one stand for at least $ 200 million should you choose to go the traditional two stand route.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

There are flaws, but it's nice to not have to pee in a trough.

IWS had troughs? Mind you, the last time I stepped foot in IWS was around '86 or '87, but I don't remember that.

The first and only time I went to a Bills game in 1993 (which happened to be the coldest game in Bills history at the time... it's the 2nd coldest now) - it was the first time I saw/used a trough. It was one of the most disgusting washroom experiences I ever had. I would've remembered seeing that at IWS.

[craner]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Speaking of embarrassing. Calgary’s stadium is embarrassing. You’re a big, rich city. Be better Calgary.

This is what has always surprised me - surely there are a few wealthy citizens in Calgary that are football fans. But none have come forward to fund a new stadium since the McMahon brothers in 1960.

As much as I have fond memories of McMahon I would love a new stadium for Calgary.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

This is what has always surprised me - surely there are a few wealthy citizens in Calgary that are football fans. But none have come forward to fund a new stadium since the McMahon brothers in 1960.

As much as I have fond memories of McMahon I would love a new stadium for Calgary.

But the teams don't own the stadiums, they are usually multi-use and community owned so it's not like a rich guy is going to come forward and build a stadium. It's up to one form of government or another.

It's the last piece of large Alberta sporting infrastructure. Talks will begin to happen once the arena is well on its way.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by elly63

That's what I'm saying and the day is getting nearer. The problem is if you leave it too late you'll run into having to make possibly bad decisions under a time constraint.

I would be curious to see what the last engineering report said about the structure. Things can deteriorate quickly.

When the North stands of Ottawa were refurbished, the reports said IIRC that the structure was fine, not many years later it became not so fine and now they are scheduled to be replaced.

Just to reiterate something, hopefully, to look forward to, the final approval vote for Ottawa will occur following the culmination of the planning phase on October 22, 2025.

The north stand of TD Place Stadium will be demolished following the 2027 season. It is expected to take two years for the stands to be rebuilt with improved seating and amenities, in addition to the retail podium and extended parking behind it.

The proposed north-side stands reduce current seating capacity from 14,000 to 11,000/11,200 but includes standing room for an additional 900. There is a mention to possibly work with OSEG to consider options for including a roof over the new north side stands that are estimated to cost $139 million (2023)





So Calgary, you're looking at one stand for at least $ 200 million should you choose to go the traditional two stand route.

I'm not convinced Ottawa needs to replace the North side and the Civic Centre. Seems like OSEG is just pushing this because they don't want to pay to maintain the current structure. We could probably renovate the entire complex for half the price ($300 million instead of $600 million), similar to what Hamilton is doing

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by Berklon

IWS had troughs? Mind you, the last time I stepped foot in IWS was around '86 or '87, but I don't remember that.

The first and only time I went to a Bills game in 1993 (which happened to be the coldest game in Bills history at the time... it's the 2nd coldest now) - it was the first time I saw/used a trough. It was one of the most disgusting washroom experiences I ever had. I would've remembered seeing that at IWS.

Yep, and the troughs were even in the centre of the men's washroom, so it was always awkward peeing with a circle of guys. There was even a duty where every 30 or so minutes, a person would have to refill the troughs with fresh ice.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yep, and the troughs were even in the centre of the men's washroom, so it was always awkward peeing with a circle of guys. There was even a duty where every 30 or so minutes, a person would have to refill the troughs with fresh ice.

Yeah, no with the circle thing. I had major bladder shyness the first time I went to Tiger Stadium as a teen and had to pee in a straight trough, no way would I, even now in my 50's, pee in a trough facing another guy lol.

[TimB09]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm not convinced Ottawa needs to replace the North side and the Civic Centre. Seems like OSEG is just pushing this because they don't want to pay to maintain the current structure. We could probably renovate the entire complex for half the price ($300 million instead of $600 million), similar to what Hamilton is doing

But do you keep kicking that can down the road until it can't be kicked anymore? Isn't the Civic Centre very old? You can only do so many upgrades on an old building until it's not worth it anymore.

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Speaking of embarrassing. Calgary’s stadium is embarrassing. You’re a big, rich city. Be better Calgary.

Calgary is currently building a state of the art hockey stadium.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yep, and the troughs were even in the centre of the men's washroom, so it was always awkward peeing with a circle of guys. There was even a duty where every 30 or so minutes, a person would have to refill the troughs with fresh ice.

Jesus... a circle trough... even worse than the one at Rich Stadium.

I guess it's possible I never had to use the washrooms at IWS? Either that or I used them and the traumatic experience made me suppress that memory.

[WhipperSnapper]

There's very little justification to subsidise the rich behind the new Flames Arena. There's even less for a stadium anchored by the CFL.

Would it be nice? Sure. There's a long list of things that are practical over a superficial expensive stadium build.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

There's very little justification to subsidise the rich behind the new Flames Arena. There's even less for a stadium anchored by the CFL.

Would it be nice? Sure. There's a long list of things that are practical over a superficial expensive stadium build.

Most of the stadiums in the CFL are used by multiple teams and the community. Why is it people from Toronto don't want others to have things? They were happy when Edmonton's bid for World Cup soccer games failed so they could get a few more. That's icky.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by craner

This is what has always surprised me - surely there are a few wealthy citizens in Calgary that are football fans. But none have come forward to fund a new stadium since the McMahon brothers in 1960.

As much as I have fond memories of McMahon I would love a new stadium for Calgary.

As long as the bastard owners continue to get public subsidies from their employees in the UCP that will never happen.