Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[Harrison]

The Ottawa Senators' future home rink:

'The Bell Rink at Rogers Dome presented by Scotiabank'

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Harrison

The Ottawa Senators' future home rink:

'The Bell Rink at Rogers Dome presented by Scotiabank'

With a TD home bench and a BMO visitor's bench, maybe an Air Canada Concourse. And named dressing rooms.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by craner

A Sportsnet article on the Sens LeBreton land purchase for a new arena in Ottawa:

Yeah I will beleive it when I see it. Its been 10 years of "agreements" that have fallen apart or gone nowhere. I understand its new ownership but were on year 3 and they just now have an agreement to purchase the land maybe probably sorta. Queue 10+ years of negotiations with 2 levels of government. And in 2035 they will announce an agreement to build a 17,000 seat arena at the low cost of 2.4 Billion.

At some point its not gonna be feasible to build arenas anymore. Remember when rogers place at 400M was unthinkably expensive? Now it looks like a bargain. Its wild to imagine winnipeg has a 20 year old venue hosting an NHL team that cost less than the flames training facility will in 2025.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

Yeah I will beleive it when I see it. Its been 10 years of "agreements" that have fallen apart or gone nowhere. I understand its new ownership but were on year 3 and they just now have an agreement to purchase the land maybe probably sorta. Queue 10+ years of negotiations with 2 levels of government. And in 2035 they will announce an agreement to build a 17,000 seat arena at the low cost of 2.4 Billion.

At some point its not gonna be feasible to build arenas anymore. Remember when rogers place at 400M was unthinkably expensive? Now it looks like a bargain. Its wild to imagine winnipeg has a 20 year old venue hosting an NHL team that cost less than the flames training facility will in 2025.

Good ole MTS - I mean BellMTS - I mean CanadaLife Centre. I shudder at the thought of having to build a new arena in Winnipeg one day.

[SteelTown]

Update


Source: vistaway @ https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread....32788/page-39

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Update


Source: vistaway @ https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread....32788/page-39

Oh wow they....put up an orange tarp? This has got to be one of the most underwhelming renovations in the history of renovations. New seats, Concourse refresh and a paint job. Why bother?

[craner]

I think it's a pretty substantial renovation of Copps - no ?
I say "definitely go to the bother".

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

Oh wow they....put up an orange tarp? This has got to be one of the most underwhelming renovations in the history of renovations. New seats, Concourse refresh and a paint job. Why bother?

I'd be underwhelmed too if I thought that's all they were doing. Fortunately, it's more than just that.

[elly63]

It looks like Phase II (removal of the technical ring) of the Olympic Stadium is well on its way. I don't have any photos more recent than July (half the sections were removed) but judging by their progress most of the sections of the technical ring should now be removed.

What is the purpose of the technical ring?

The technical ring contains the electrical and mechanical systems of the Olympic Stadium. It will be replaced by a lighter technical ring made of steel.

How is the dismantling carried out?

The technical ring is the imposing cylinder that surrounds the opening of the Olympic Stadium: it consists of 38 concrete segments. During the operation, each 120-ton segment is cut and supported by the custom-designed mobile crew for the Stadium. It is then lifted by a crane, which places it on the ground in an area intended for the destruction of the concrete pieces.

This phase of the project — expected to take all of 2025 — will involve dismantling the concrete “technical ring” around the stadium’s opening, which holds ventilation systems including heat and air conditioning as well as lighting.



It will be replaced by a steel structure six times lighter and that meets the current building code.

During phase three — running from 2026 through 2027 — the stadium’s new roof will be built on the playing field and then raised and installed ahead of a 2028 reopening.

Another $91.6 million has been budgeted by the provincial government to replace the stadium’s sound, lighting and ventilation systems.

• Video Link

[Djeffery]

There are a few pics on the Transport Sud Ouest Facebook page, but it's more about their trucks in the stadium than about the work on the stadium itself. There is one pic showing a couple of the ribs without the ring attached.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

There are a few pics on the Transport Sud Ouest Facebook page, but it's more about their trucks in the stadium than about the work on the stadium itself. There is one pic showing a couple of the ribs without the ring attached.

I've got pics but they're all from July, I expect an update in a couple of days at the end of August.

Listening to those cats, it's quite a project and I think it will go well when all is said and done

[craner]

What is the rational for pouring all this money into the Big O when it will still be outdated and tenantless the end of it ?
Do they anticipate it being rented out for a lot of dates ?
Or is it just a matter of re-furbishing an icon to keep it alive given the astronomical cost to demolish it ?

I think I would prefer putting the money toward a new state of the art stadium for the Als and the soccer club.
Or really push to get the Expos back and build a baseball stadium.

Just my thoughts.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

What is the rational for pouring all this money into the Big O when it will still be outdated and tenantless the end of it ?
Do they anticipate it being rented out for a lot of dates ?
Or is it just a matter of re-furbishing an icon to keep it alive given the astronomical cost to demolish it ?

I think I would prefer putting the money toward a new state of the art stadium for the Als and the soccer club.
Or really push to get the Expos back and build a baseball stadium.

Just my thoughts.

I have gone back and forth on this subject for years and still can't convince myself of a right answer.

First a little story. There are many naysayers who aren't as polite as this poster who argued/trolled when I stated the the stadium was a landmark in Montreal.

I have just ordered a video projector that is being delivered by Intelcom. They have an animation of a truck driving across the country. In Toronto, the drawing shows the SkyDome and CN Tower. For Montreal, the chosen symbols were the Mount Royal cross and the Big O. So I think it is fair to say the stadium is a landmark. I'd have posted a screenshot but the package is being delivered today and the animation changed.

BTW the video projector is an experiment for me and I will post the results on if I find a $100 projector (Happrun H1) is junk or has merit as some legitimate reviewers have said.

I don't think it is fair to say The Big O is outdated as much of the building infrastructure will be updated. And if we call it outdated there are iconic buildings like the Rose Bowl, USC stadium, Berlinstadion that are much older and still in existence.

Perhaps a better term would be oversized which is my primary issue. If we want to see the stadium host CFL or MLS it has too many seats to create demand for the 40 or so home dates. That's why I wanted to see an indoor refurbishing to get it down to 35k seats that are closer to the field.

Apparently there are plans for the interior (see below) that will change much of the stadium making it "unrecognizeable"

Toronto is spending $146 million to build temporary stands for their small number of World Cup games and will get four new LED videoboards in the stadium’s corner columns, self-serve technology at select concession stands, stadium Wi-Fi upgrades, a new centre-field lounge on the west side of the stadium, and a ticketed rooftop patio.

The BC Place renovation (roof and interior) cost $514 million (nearly $700 million in today's money) Two years ago the proposed new 11k stand at Ottawa's TD Place was budgeted to cost $140 million and some think it will be much higher than that.

So this Montreal stadium is going to cost a lot of money no matter how you look at it.

BC Place is booked for about 250 days a year and if you subtract about 40 Lions and Whitecaps games you can come closer to what the Big O could potentially deliver. Also, I would think Montreal is more centrally located to attract big scale events than Vancouver and also has the French element working for it to get bookings from large Quebec corporations for shows/events. Part of the push to get the roof done was how many bookings were lost in the winter season because they could not be booked on account of the failing roof.

Lastly there is this: I think the new roof will bring a new attention and goodwill back to the stadium. Then maybe a few years later there will be enough impetus to tackle the interior and that is where this article comes into play.

Yes, it is a lot money, but so was BC Place but it didn't have a legacy of failure or a historic albatross around its neck. But also the BC Place reno was done right the first time and it is looking like this Big O roof reno will be the same.

[Meuhud]

The big O is called the big Owe for a reason. Pouring more money down the drain to fix an outdated stadium without a viable business plan for what comes after is sheer folly. The Expos aren't coming back, there are not enough Corporations in Montreal to make that happen, and the locals won't fill up a redone big OWE.

[EpicPonyTime]

I for one fully support renovation of Olympic Stadium and hope they spare no expense.

Signed,
A stadium aficionado and non-Montreal taxpayer

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by elly63

I have gone back and forth on this subject for years and still can't convince myself of a right answer.

First a little story. There are many naysayers who aren't as polite as this poster who argued/trolled when I stated the the stadium was a landmark in Montreal.

I have just ordered a video projector that is being delivered by Intelcom. They have an animation of a truck driving across the country. In Toronto, the drawing shows the SkyDome and CN Tower. For Montreal, the chosen symbols were the Mount Royal cross and the Big O. So I think it is fair to say the stadium is a landmark. I'd have posted a screenshot but the package is being delivered today and the animation changed.

BTW the video projector is an experiment for me and I will post the results on if I find a $100 projector (Happrun H1) is junk or has merit as some legitimate reviewers have said.

I don't think it is fair to say The Big O is outdated as much of the building infrastructure will be updated. And if we call it outdated there are iconic buildings like the Rose Bowl, USC stadium, Berlinstadion that are much older and still in existence.

Perhaps a better term would be oversized which is my primary issue. If we want to see the stadium host CFL or MLS it has too many seats to create demand for the 40 or so home dates. That's why I wanted to see an indoor refurbishing to get it down to 35k seats that are closer to the field.

Apparently there are plans for the interior (see below) that will change much of the stadium making it "unrecognizeable"

Toronto is spending $146 million to build temporary stands for their small number of World Cup games and will get four new LED videoboards in the stadium’s corner columns, self-serve technology at select concession stands, stadium Wi-Fi upgrades, a new centre-field lounge on the west side of the stadium, and a ticketed rooftop patio.

The BC Place renovation (roof and interior) cost $514 million (nearly $700 million in today's money) Two years ago the proposed new 11k stand at Ottawa's TD Place was budgeted to cost $140 million and some think it will be much higher than that.

So this Montreal stadium is going to cost a lot of money no matter how you look at it.

BC Place is booked for about 250 days a year and if you subtract about 40 Lions and Whitecaps games you can come closer to what the Big O could potentially deliver. Also, I would think Montreal is more centrally located to attract big scale events than Vancouver and also has the French element working for it to get bookings from large Quebec corporations for shows/events. Part of the push to get the roof done was how many bookings were lost in the winter season because they could not be booked on account of the failing roof.

Lastly there is this: I think the new roof will bring a new attention and goodwill back to the stadium. Then maybe a few years later there will be enough impetus to tackle the interior and that is where this article comes into play.

Yes, it is a lot money, but so was BC Place but it didn't have a legacy of failure or a historic albatross around its neck. But also the BC Place reno was done right the first time and it is looking like this Big O roof reno will be the same.

Just to carry forward some information from the article for those who didn’t/won’t read it - the interior renovation after the roof replacement is going to be the big key to getting tenants back in here. The article outlines that the following are planned:
- Permanent locking of lower bowl seats into the rectangular configuration. This would mean no more baseball configuration (this is ideal IMO).
- Removal of screens at the one end of the stadium (with presumably the completion of the seating bowl) and mounting of new jumbotron/screens to the new metal technical ring.
- Opening up of concourses so the field will be visible from these areas.
- Conversion of underused seating areas into terraces/standing room.
- Major lighting and sound system upgrades.

For all intents and purposes, this is going to be a modern (albeit cavernous) stadium when all is said and done. So this will ultimately more or less resemble the current format of BC Place which I think is generally a good thing. If all renovations go according to what was in that article, I am confident that the Alouettes will return as a tenant, but I am less confident about CF Montreal being a permanent tenant here since MLS is pushing soccer-specific stadiums hard. The Whitecaps in Vancouver are currently exploring leaving BC Place due to scheduling issues and conflicts so it’s possible that CF Montreal wouldn’t even want to introduce the risk of that happening here.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

Major lighting and sound system upgrades.

For all intents and purposes, this is going to be a modern (albeit cavernous) stadium when all is said and done. So this will ultimately more or less resemble the current format of BC Place which I think is generally a good thing. If all renovations go according to what was in that article, I am confident that the Alouettes will return as a tenant, but I am less confident about CF Montreal being a permanent tenant here since MLS is pushing soccer-specific stadiums hard. The Whitecaps in Vancouver are currently exploring leaving BC Place due to scheduling issues and conflicts so it’s possible that CF Montreal wouldn’t even want to introduce the risk of that happening here.

As I posted above, the money for the lighting and sound has already been allocated, $91.6 million, so that part of the refurb is a done deal.

Unless there is a major interior renovation (downsizing) I don't see either the Als or CFM moving back. They could play early and late season games there. If none of that pans out I could see the stadium becoming a major Eastern Canada NTC and I could also see SACO Technologies playing a part in the reformation of the stadium.

The pool is a success, the tower is a success, it's time for the stadium to have its shot at success. Meanwhile, the haters can hate and post the same old story and never change the record.

[craner]

It's too bad these current renovations couldn't be completed in time to host World Cup matches next year. Olympic Stadium would be more suitable than a temporarily expanded BMO in Toronto.

Oh well - perhaps Taylor Swift will make a stop on her next tour.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by craner

It's too bad these current renovations couldn't be completed in time to host World Cup matches next year. Olympic Stadium would be more suitable than a temporarily expanded BMO in Toronto.

Oh well - perhaps Taylor Swift will make a stop on her next tour.

Montreal (like Chicago) passed on the WC because of the ridiculous expenses involved with the WC, like security etc.

As for the pop performer, one of the Montreal officials said one reason for the roof repair was the lack of a large venue.

BTW don't crap on BMO, some people think that's the greatest stadium ever designed, much better than they have in those hick towns like Regina and Winnipeg.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

AI Treatment of McMahon Stadium with the following criteria:

McMahon Stadium in Calgary with modern outside cladding, 25,000 red seats, no upper deck or end seats

These are two of the more reasonable results (it doesn't listen too well)

I can't remember where I did the above but I tried the regular? ChatGPT and got this less inspiring model.