New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Innersoul1]

I think 35,000 would be a reasonable number of seats for a new football stadium. I would imagine that there would be more corporate boxes, to some extent. Additionally I could see some sort of outdoor patio area/restaurant being included. i would imagine that there would also be space in the endzones for temporary expansion for large events like the Grey Cup.

Correct me if i am wrong but the current capacity of McMahon is around 39,000. I think a new stadium should maximize sideline seating in an efficient manner that promotes solid sight-lines. Endzone seating should be kept to a minimal. I think the only stadium that has popular endzone seating is Mosaic in Regina....but those third-worlders are CFL crazy

[bt04ku]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

I think 35,000 would be a reasonable number of seats for a new football stadium. I would imagine that there would be more corporate boxes, to some extent. Additionally I could see some sort of outdoor patio area/restaurant being included. i would imagine that there would also be space in the endzones for temporary expansion for large events like the Grey Cup.

Correct me if i am wrong but the current capacity of McMahon is around 39,000. I think a new stadium should maximize sideline seating in an efficient manner that promotes solid sight-lines. Endzone seating should be kept to a minimal. I think the only stadium that has popular endzone seating is Mosaic in Regina....but those third-worlders are CFL crazy

There are a couple (albeit small) rugby stadiums that have their suites at the endzone in a stack which I think is something that would be ineresting to look at for a bit larger scale. But keep in mind these are 15,000 seat stadiums:

Franklin's Gardens in Northampton


The Recreation Ground in Bath


Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester


I think for proper expansion ability you can't do it to both sides, but it would be a way to lower the footprint and still maximize the number of suites in the stadium. Since the suite experience tends to be less about the game than anywhere else, it makes sense to use the space this way IMO.

Suites and ample amounts of loge seating seem like no-brainers for football games and this city.

[Innersoul1]

Those are some great example. Especially if the price was right and it made it affordable for people and groups to access. The only tricky thing with the endzone boxes in general and the examples that I have posted below is that for CFL fields the endzones are quite large. So it takes the seats quite far away from the action

I also like things like this, albeit a very simplistic example:

Credit: jconline.com
This is from Perdue, although teams like Toronto FC have done similar things.

Credit: Espn.go.com

Also for consideration would be some of the inventive things that MLB clubs do in thier outfield seating areas. If the stadium can maximize food and beverage revenue in these areas it a good model.

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by Riise

Over the last two weeks, I have visited four football grounds in the UK. It's interesting to note the difference in user expectations as my biggest gripe was when they didn't have any meat pies available.

Forget craft beer, give me terraced standing room! Although I wouldn't complain if the new arena had truffle fries with mayo. And peppered steak pies.

[bt04ku]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Those are some great example. Especially if the price was right and it made it affordable for people and groups to access. The only tricky thing with the endzone boxes in general and the examples that I have posted below is that for CFL fields the endzones are quite large. So it takes the seats quite far away from the action

That's why I'm partial to the stack, doesn't move people as far away from the endzone but helps cater to the groups that probably don't care as much since they'd likely only be there because of the group.

Also for consideration would be some of the inventive things that MLB clubs do in thier outfield seating areas. If the stadium can maximize food and beverage revenue in these areas it a good model.

Those are good too. It looks like Tim Horton's Field is going for something like that in one of their endzones. Plus it is the kind of thing you can throw a lot of bleachers on top of when needed.


There is definitely a lot of options available to cater to people who would like the idea of being at a football game without being forced to watch a football game (basically want to be at a bar with a really big HD TV). The kind of areas they could make a killing with on Friday night games if they can bring in the corporate groups right after work.

And as mentioned before, they absolutely need to copy MLB beer policies, the lack of which is what I will attribute as the sole cause of the Stampeders lack of capacity crowds.

[Nudrock]

"Forzani Field" has a nice ring for a football stadium name.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Nudrock

"Forzani Field" has a nice ring for a football stadium name.

Good luck. Unless his family is sponsoring the name.

I'd expect something like the Telus Sports Complex. Home to Encana Field and Scotiabank Arena.

[monocle]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Good luck. Unless his family is sponsoring the name.

I'd expect something like the Telus Sports Complex. Home to Encana Field and Scotiabank Arena.

Can't you give us anything? WV. Check. Combined facility. Check.
TOD? Theaters? Leisure Centre?
Bueller???

[The Fisher Account]

There's the dream.. of one day.. taking a piss at a sports facility in Calgary.. without.... waiting. I have a dream.

[McBuilderson]

There was probably 10,000 people today at McMahon and it's 0c and snowing. No one wants to sit outdoors in this. If they build anything other that a stadium with a retractable roof it would be a mistake. I'm a proud Stampeder fan and I wouldn't catch me in the stadium when it's below +2c

The actual football is terrible in bad weather also...

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Their Beef Mince pies are mint!

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Good luck. Unless his family is sponsoring the name.

I'd expect something like the Telus Sports Complex. Home to Encana Field and Scotiabank Arena.

They could always name the stadium after him and sell the naming rights of the stands or vice versa. The Shaw Stand at Forzani Field or Forzani Stand at TELUS Field.

Originally Posted by McBuilderson

There was probably 10,000 people today at McMahon and it's 0c and snowing. No one wants to sit outdoors in this. If they build anything other that a stadium with a retractable roof it would be a mistake. I'm a proud Stampeder fan and I wouldn't catch me in the stadium when it's below +2c

The actual football is terrible in bad weather also...

Attracting 10,000 fans to a meaningless game in terrible weather is pretty decent.

[McBuilderson]

Many Western finals we have had 18k.... the most meaningful games no one is willing to brave the weather. I would bet we sell out 35k if we had a indoor stadium.

Attracting 10,000 fans to a meaningless game in terrible weather is pretty decent.[/QUOTE]

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by McBuilderson

There was probably 10,000 people today at McMahon and it's 0c and snowing. No one wants to sit outdoors in this. If they build anything other that a stadium with a retractable roof it would be a mistake. I'm a proud Stampeder fan and I wouldn't catch me in the stadium when it's below +2c

The actual football is terrible in bad weather also...

Yeah, 100% agree - build it right with a retractable roof.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Yeah, 100% agree - build it right with a retractable roof.

Wouldn't it be much more cost-effective to just shift the season a month forward? It's going to be tough enough financing a stadium in general, an indoor stadium would be even more challenging.

I will admit that I am a bit biased as I value the outdoor elements (e.g smell of the grass, the breeze and sunlight) and consider them as part of the experience.

[CorporateWhore]

Originally Posted by Riise

Wouldn't it be much more cost-effective to just shift the season a month forward?

Im sure they have their reasons, but it does seem silly that they only start their season at the end of June. IMO, they should be be playing by early May and finishing by mid-October. Id rather the crappy weather would be at the beginning of the season, instead of the end of it when they are the most important.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a total fair-weather CFL fan. The best part of a football game is the outdoor experience on a beautiful day, but if the weather sucks, no thanks. I don't mind making a wintery trek to the Saddledome...but that's because I don't also have to sit in the cold for 3 hours.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

Im sure they have their reasons, but it does seem silly that they only start their season at the end of June.

I was wondering as well so I took a look. There were no definite answers but some suggestions were: the Grey Cup Final is traditionally played in November and the CFL doesn't want to go head-to-head with the Stanley Cup playoffs.

[ggopher]

Regina's new stadium will cost $278.2 million and seats 33, 000. But to add on a retractable roof would have cost $100 million more. Sure it might be nice a few days to have a covered stadium, and it would draw a few more events per year. But not enough to justify an extra $100 million.

[Spring2008]

Ken King emphasized this is going to be one of the most multi-purpose sporting and entertainment complex in the world.

Without a retractable roof you have about 10 CFL games plus a few other events per year.

With a roof, potential for a field house, convention space, year round events and concerts, and MLS.

[CorporateWhore]

Originally Posted by Riise

I was wondering as well so I took a look. There were no definite answers but some suggestions were: the Grey Cup Final is traditionally played in November and the CFL doesn't want to go head-to-head with the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Doesn't sound like very compelling reasons then. I'm sure the majority of football fans would be willing to push that that "tradition" to October. And the last game of the Stanley Cup finals was June 13th, and the first week of the CFL was June 26th...so if there was overlap it would be in the CFL preseason. Even if there was more overlap, I doubt it would make much of a difference. In fact, I actually think the CFL would get better attendance numbers with the season starting earlier...by the the the NHL Finals roll around, everyone is tired of the indoors and wants to get outside.

[93JC]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Ken King emphasized this is going to be one of the most multi-purpose sporting and entertainment complex in the world.

Anybody who believes that tripe is in for one hell of a disappointment.