Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project | Completed

[vancityrox]

When is the retail moving into the VCC?
I only know that Belagio is opening in August.

[Yume-sama]

Everything that I've seen still has big "For Lease" signs on it.

[GeeCee]

Vancity Buzz said 'Spring' for the Beard Papa's..

[Yume-sama]

I would think the ones that directly face the water could be difficult to lease, unless they are like "destination" restaurants. How many people will even be there, even during the Summer?

I can't imagine they'd get much walk in traffic.

Something like Beard Papa would do well in the plaza itself (though it's much more likely to become a Starbucks or souvenir stand ), adjacent to the Cauldron.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

What are you trying to say?

That venues that are internalized generally don't "need" to be on the waterfront (and often have large blank walls), but that hasn't stopped proposals or actual construction of such facilities that want a "great waterfront site" in the past.
i.e. The Vancouver Aquatic Centre would be a prime example.

[BCPhil]

Yeah, there is nothing stopping a casino from being multiple stories and being on the water hasn't kept Edgewater in the black. The hotel/casino can also be helped out big time by events in BC Place. It would be interesting if there is a gate into BC Place in or right near the hotel/casino. The hotel can also have convention space and can use it to expand the larger exhibitions that take place in BC Place. It would also be nice to expand the BC Sports Hall of Fame and/or it would be great to have a huge location for an Olympics Museum.

I think the waterfront space infront of BC Place can better be used by something all of the public can enjoy. Most of our waterfront is already taken up by private residences.

If it's not going to be a gallery or museum, then I would love to see a large outdoor amphitheater that can be used by both private and public functions. Imagine watching a band perform or a play where the backdrop is False creek, Science World and Olympic Village. And it would sort of keep alive the original theme of the Plaza of Nations. If it's built right it can have covered seating and performance area and still be open air in the summer. It would be a great venue for the Cirque to perform in when they visit town.

[SpongeG]

the problem with the casino at edgewater is there is no parking and the valet is something like $35 - all the other casinos have large parking areas and are more convenient

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

the problem with the casino at edgewater is there is no parking and the valet is something like $35 - all the other casinos have large parking areas and are more convenient

True, but we can build casinos with parking anywhere. I don't see the point of building a waterfront casino if the make it or break it factor is parking. If being waterfront isn't enough to draw ooos and ahhhs from degenerate gamblers then who cares where it is?

If there is to be a waterfront casino, I would rather see it be part of a convention center expansion at Waterfront station. Convention Center, Casino, and Hotel space would be perfect at that location. Having a casino-hotel right at the convention center could draw in a lot of additional interest from national and international conventions where their members want something fun to do at night, like for professional associations and such. Sure we still wouldn't be Vegas, but if you want to convention in the morning, ski or golf in the afternoon and party at night, there would be nowhere better to go than here.

I also think that 2 casinos would not be too much for the downtown core to support, as long as they made suitable nightlife spots and not just havens for degenerates. The profits from the casino can be used directly to fund the development of an improved transit hub at Waterfront Station. A casino in the vicinity can also generate foot traffic for the business that will be located on the Seawall in the West convention center.

As well another expansion of the convention center could land us a real Expo or two. I could see something on the scale of CES happening in Vancouver if we had the space for it. EPIC 2009 drew 16,482 visitors over three days to the convention center and if we made it a real international phenomenon (nothings hotter than sustainability right now) it could be a huge annual international event in our city.


EDIT: As an additional thought, if the casino at BC Place were placed on the upper floors of the podium, and something unobstructing is built at the Plaza of nations, then the casino could have quite the sweeping view of False Creek and the neighbourhood. The retail mall could be placed at the ground levels with the casino above.

[SpongeG]

that wasn't my point - the current location suffers, a new casino with proper everything will do well there - just build it already

maybe i misread something abover but i thought someone said it operates in the red currently

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by officedweller

That venues that are internalized generally don't "need" to be on the waterfront (and often have large blank walls), but that hasn't stopped proposals or actual construction of such facilities that want a "great waterfront site" in the past.

That is because some of those facilities--from the Sydney Opera House to the Vancouver Convention Centre--do in fact need to be on a great waterfront site to be what they are. Their relationship to the sea is precisely what informs and shapes their iconic architecture and makes them such a special destination.

Moreover, these "internalized" facilities often depend on the external world for their emotional power. Visitors who enter the Vancouver Convention Centre, for instance, are moved not by its opaqueness but its transparency. While business takes place in its inner core, our emotional experience is derived from moving through its outer concourses of space and light, from the connection between the inside and the outside, between the man-made and the natural.

The need for light and a beautiful view will be even greater for a facility which is to include an international destination hotel.

And you get to see grey whales.

[JimmyJ]

Originally Posted by vancityrox

When is the retail moving into the VCC?
I only know that Belagio is opening in August.

If you walk the seawall around the convention centre, you can see there is work going on in the retail units. The larger areas are being divided into smaller units.

Depending on the complexity of the tenant fit-out, it could take anywhere from 3-4 weeks to months before opening.

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Everything that I've seen still has big "For Lease" signs on it.

Along the east side there are lots of red "LEASED" stickers. On the north side...not so much. But on a nice sunny day, there is a lot of foot traffic around the building; I'd expect even more when the float plane terminal moves and the walkway is tied into the seawall. Those units will lease with the increased exposure.

[SpongeG]

plus all the conventioneers wanting food on their breaks oer maybe some other kind of services

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by JimmyJ

If you walk the seawall around the convention centre, you can see there is work going on in the retail units. The larger areas are being divided into smaller units.

Depending on the complexity of the tenant fit-out, it could take anywhere from 3-4 weeks to months before opening.



Along the east side there are lots of red "LEASED" stickers. On the north side...not so much. But on a nice sunny day, there is a lot of foot traffic around the building; I'd expect even more when the float plane terminal moves and the walkway is tied into the seawall. Those units will lease with the increased exposure.

Yeah, once the Sea Wall is completed so you can walk out of Waterfront station along the water all the way to Stanley Park (and back around on English bay and False Creek) the pedestrian traffic along the North Side of the convention center will be busy all day. The few times I went past that side of the convention center last summer it was mind blowingly busy for being somewhat isolated like it is.

I say if they put in a good pub with the right atmosphere, it will be there for the next 50 years. In the summer there is lots of foot traffic, and in the Convention center there is plenty of parking for winter visitors, plus all the conventionners looking for a full lunch, not just a quick bite.

[SpongeG]

lots of people hang out and watch the planes and cruise ships - it will be nice once the sewall arounf the conventtion centre is done that little closed off bit is annoying

[jsbertram]

There's no point on putting a casino on an area 'with magnificent views'.

If you've been in a Casino in Vegas (and I was just been there last weekend), two things stand out.

a) there are no clocks anywhere other than the one on your wrist. They don't want to to think about time once your there, so the inside of a casino looks the same at 8 am, noon, 6pm or midnight.

b) there is no view in the casino of anything other than more of the casino. If you're not plugging money into a machine or stacking your chips at a table, they aren't making money off you. If you're busy looking at the sunset, the plane taking off, the snow on the mountains, or the boats puttering around the harbour, then you're not gambling & they aren't making money.

A casino is one of the most highly-developed environments to push all your buttons for instant gratification - the blinking lights, the sounds of coins tinkling in the trays, the smells, the crowds, the lighting, the drinking and smoking, the background music and the Food & Bev hostesses (and their uniforms) are all designed to keep you sated and gambling.

Anything that distracts from your gambling is taken away from the casino floor and moved to the periphery - the shows, the restaurants, the pools, the hotel lobby, even the sunlight coming from outside.

With the Edgewater moving to a new building, you can be assured that everything their Las Vegas parent company knows about building a casino from the ground up and running it will be used in this new facility. It may be new and exciting and fresh, but its one and only purpose is to separate you from your money.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

There's no point on putting a casino on an area 'with magnificent views'.

If you've been in a Casino in Vegas (and I was just been there last weekend), two things stand out.

a) there are no clocks anywhere other than the one on your wrist. They don't want to to think about time once your there, so the inside of a casino looks the same at 8 am, noon, 6pm or midnight.

b) there is no view in the casino of anything other than more of the casino. If you're not plugging money into a machine or stacking your chips at a table, they aren't making money off you. If you're busy looking at the sunset, the plane taking off, the snow on the mountains, or the boats puttering around the harbour, then you're not gambling & they aren't making money.

A casino is one of the most highly-developed environments to push all your buttons for instant gratification - the blinking lights, the sounds of coins tinkling in the trays, the smells, the crowds, the lighting, the drinking and smoking, the background music and the Food & Bev hostesses (and their uniforms) are all designed to keep you sated and gambling.

Anything that distracts from your gambling is taken away from the casino floor and moved to the periphery - the shows, the restaurants, the pools, the hotel lobby, even the sunlight coming from outside.

With the Edgewater moving to a new building, you can be assured that everything their Las Vegas parent company knows about building a casino from the ground up and running it will be used in this new facility. It may be new and exciting and fresh, but its one and only purpose is to separate you from your money.

I agree with that assessment completely.

A casino right on the water has no point. It needs to be part of a complex. Which is why I think it would make sense to have a casino be part of any future East Convention Center expansion with a hotel. The casino would not be on the waterfront side of the rather large building. You could have shops, and restaurants on the north side, with Convention Center space above and bellow, with a casino on the street side, basically taking up the space overlooking the rail yard and docks. The casino would basically be located in Gastown with the convention center on the water.

[mr.x]

So I'm doing some conference planning at the VCC...and I learned today that our so-called world-class convention centre does not have free Wi-Fi service. The pricings are absolutely ridiculous, especially for the bandwidth levels.

Huge fail.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by mr.x

So I'm doing some conference planning at the VCC...and I learned today that our so-called world-class convention centre does not have free Wi-Fi service. The pricings are absolutely ridiculous, especially for the bandwidth levels.

Huge fail.

Bring a router?

It is a mighty big fail, though.

[WarrenC12]

Supply and demand! You don't make money on free wifi.

[Yume-sama]

You certainly don't, but you *can't* not have it, either.

EDIT: And you probably could make money, actually If you were sponsored by either Bell, Telus, etc. "Hotspot".