[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed

[lirette]

Originally Posted by habs33

Cirque du Soleil is coming back next summer. Avenir center just posted on their FB page https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...81738830874971

Its an excellent show, I saw it in Quebec City back in 2018. Highly recommend, and tickets look like theres plenty at affordable prices, as low as $50 which is great value for a show like this in todays economy.

[MonctonRad]

The 2023 Atlantic Slam NCAA basketball event at the Avenir Centre was apparently enough of a success that they are bringing it back again next year.

I didn’t go this year, but, perhaps next year I will.

[David_99]

Really? My friend attended and he told me the turnout was terrible. I couldn’t find any official attendance figures. Hopefully it’s something they can build on for next year.

[felip_ars]

Acadie Nouvelle are indicating around 8000 for the entire event.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by felip_ars

Acadie Nouvelle are indicating around 8000 for the entire event.

Wow, that's great! I don't know where he got "terrible" from.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by David_99

Wow, that's great! I don't know where he got "terrible" from.

It needs to be considered that the crowd ends up divided over the 3 days. I went Saturday which was the best attendance day. My guess would have been over 3000 Saturday and then 2000 on the other 2 days.

I personally am not sure what the organizers were aiming for to call it a success. Colgate for example plays in an arena that only holds 1700 people. The Avenir Centre is just so big it makes the attendance looks worse in pictures. This event isn't the easiest sell to the casual crowd when the schools aren't exactly well known outside of Yale which isn't known because of basketball necessarily. You are attracting hardcore basketball fans only. I think there's a lot of room to grow the audience with some better marketing and promotions. Find a way to get some tickets to more local basketball teams.

For example they only started talking about Weber States Dillon Jones just a few days before the tournament and this is a guy that could play NBA next season. You also need to find a way to make it clear that these are meaningful games and not just exhibition. The games count and these inter conference games can be important for teams to try and get into the march madness tournament.

It would be great if they could have gotten at least one of the marching bands and some students up to add to the atmosphere as well. Overall I had a great time and both games were close. I believe they secured this event as a "multi year" event back in June, I plan on getting a tournament package next year. Hopefully they'll secure one or two high profile schools next time out. This is honestly a really cool event for Moncton to have, the only one of its kind in Canada this year and I'd love for it to do well.

[jnaygull]

I went yesterday and the attendance was about 1000-1200. Certainly not what I expected for the caliber of talent on the court.

That being said $50+ fees (for the cheap seats came to $224 for 4 tix) is a steep price for a family right now this close to the holidays.

I was surprised that they announced at the games yesterday that there will be another Slamfest next year. I am assuming the subsidies that this event got are what keeps it afloat because I can't see the attendance doing that, at least not this year.

Anyway, it was a great event yesterday and good value considering the talent and the fact we got to see 2 games for that price point. I hope it catches on next year.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by jnaygull

I went yesterday and the attendance was about 1000-1200. Certainly not what I expected for the caliber of talent on the court.

That being said $50+ fees (for the cheap seats came to $224 for 4 tix) is a steep price for a family right now this close to the holidays.

I was surprised that they announced at the games yesterday that there will be another Slamfest next year. I am assuming the subsidies that this event got are what keeps it afloat because I can't see the attendance doing that, at least not this year.

Anyway, it was a great event yesterday and good value considering the talent and the fact we got to see 2 games for that price point. I hope it catches on next year.

Yeah I understand they are selling you on the idea that you get 2 games for that price, but that's not really how people are going to see it when they are looking at their bank accounts. Even for a die hard basketball fan you are asking a lot for someone for pay $120 for 2 tickets for schools they no attachment to.

When the arena seats 8800 people why not price the event cheaper and improve the atmosphere so people will want to go again ? There was also zero pricing for students/seniors or any family 4 packs. Provide some student tickets around $10 and the adults will come. or 4 packs for $100. Anyway I'm sure there will be some learning from this one from both a marketing and pricing perspective.

[felip_ars]

Just to give an idea. This weekend is the 2nd edition of the "North Classic" in Laval where 8 NCAA teams are coming over for a similar tournament.

The first edition also got around 8000 over the weekend, so it looks like it is the expected numbers for those type of events.

[BlackYear]

I bought a single game ticket ($84.40) for Sunday 2pm game. Only found out a week later it was for two games, one at 2pm and the other at 4pm. Back to back games. I think their social media advertising should have pushed that pricing deal more clearly.

Both games were nail-biters right to the buzzer. Game 2 actually going into overtime. So I got pretty close to 5 hours of great entertainment for $84. Well worth the price. I was sitting row 1 right behind the media/score control table between both team benches.

Games were being broadcast on ESPN. I could see the tv monitor of the two sports commentators. One fella seemed pretty popular, everyone was fist pumping him. I had no idea who this person was.

Huge success probably in the way it was organized, sure, but huge success in drawing a crowd, I doubt. However, the 1000/1200 or so folks at Sunday's game were very enthusiastic. I probably would have gone to Saturday's game, but unfortunately I had a poker tournament to attend to.

I player stood out Sunday, Yale's 7ft Danny Wolf. Wow, this guy must be heading to NBA. Fast, agile and a play maker. Need to keep an eye on this guy.

ESPN Danny Wolf bio here along with an ESPN highlight of the Moncton game.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...173/danny-wolf

Will I'll be attending Atlantic Slam 2024, you betya!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by felip_ars

Just to give an idea. This weekend is the 2nd edition of the "North Classic" in Laval where 8 NCAA teams are coming over for a similar tournament.

The first edition also got around 8000 over the weekend, so it looks like it is the expected numbers for those type of events.

Very interesting. Thanks for this.

If the attendance in Moncton is equivalent to the attendance at Laval, then I can see why they considered the Moncton tournament a success.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

I bought a single game ticket ($84.40) for Sunday 2pm game. Only found out a week later it was for two games, one at 2pm and the other at 4pm. Back to back games. I think their social media advertising should have pushed that pricing deal more clearly.

Both games were nail-biters right to the buzzer. Game 2 actually going into overtime. So I got pretty close to 5 hours of great entertainment for $84. Well worth the price. I was sitting row 1 right behind the media/score control table between both team benches.

Games were being broadcast on ESPN. I could see the tv monitor of the two sports commentators. One fella seemed pretty popular, everyone was fist pumping him. I had no idea who this person was.

Huge success probably in the way it was organized, sure, but huge success in drawing a crowd, I doubt. However, the 1000/1200 or so folks at Sunday's game were very enthusiastic. I probably would have gone to Saturday's game, but unfortunately I had a poker tournament to attend to.

I player stood out Sunday, Yale's 7ft Danny Wolf. Wow, this guy must be heading to NBA. Fast, agile and a play maker. Need to keep an eye on this guy.

ESPN Danny Wolf bio here along with an ESPN highlight of the Moncton game.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...173/danny-wolf

Will I'll be attending Atlantic Slam 2024, you betya!

Im assuming that was Rod Black, whos been a staple on TSN over the years. Just seems to be doing commentary on every random event you can find. In the late 90s to 2008 he was calling Blue Jays games

Danny Wolf i guess was turning a lot of heads playing in a u20 FIBA event over the summer for team Isreal. Definitely an athletic kid for being 7 feet tall. The best part about sitting lower at basketball games is appreciating just how big some of these kids are. When you are used to watching Wildcats games its rare to even see a player over 6'5 which is basically guard height for basketball.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

Will I'll be attending Atlantic Slam 2024, you betya!

Yeah, I think I'll be going next year too.

Avenir Centre looks pretty good on that ESPN highlight reel.

[jonny golden]

The Zamboni is hard at work on the skating oval this morning!!

[BlackYear]

STYX tickets went on sale this morning for general public at CasinoNB, and it's pretty much almost sold out 5 hours later. This show would have made more sense at Avenir. I wonder what's the story behind this. No available date for Avenir? They are playing Scotiabank centre in HLF and Bell centre in MTL.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

STYX tickets went on sale this morning for general public at CasinoNB, and it's pretty much almost sold out 5 hours later. This show would have made more sense at Avenir. I wonder what's the story behind this. No available date for Avenir? They are playing Scotiabank centre in HLF and Bell centre in MTL.

I'm not 100% sure, but that date lines up with the QMJHL finals, so it may be blacked out until the Wildcats would be eliminated from the playoffs.

[lirette]

I'm not sure if its correct to keep posting in this thread, but I've heard from a good source that Moncton put together a strong bid to host the 2026 Womens World Hockey Championships.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by lirette

I'm not sure if its correct to keep posting in this thread, but I've heard from a good source that Moncton put together a strong bid to host the 2026 Womens World Hockey Championships.

I think this thread is useful for Avenir Centre updates (if not concert related, since there is a thread for that).

This would be exciting, and probably the top tier hockey sporting event the city could ever hope to attract. We did very well as junior co-host of the Men's World Juniors last year, and of the CHL/NHL Top Prospects this year. The Women's Worlds would be a good event for the Avenir while we wait for our second time hosting the Memorial Cup.

[habs33]

Couple events coming:
-Atlantic Showdown Cheerleading competition this weekend
-Harlem Globetrotters May 4th

[MonctonRad]

Pro hoops league looks to expand into quartet of N.B. markets
The Basketball League examining potential expansion to Saint John, Moncton, Bathurst and St. Stephen for 2025 season
Author of the article:Kevin Barrett
Published Apr 11, 2024 • 4 minute read
https://tj.news/saint-john-south/pro...of-n-b-markets (paywall)

I heard something about this on CBC Information Morning the other day, but this is the first print article to pick up the story.

The Basketball League is a 38 team loop, primarily based in the US, but in expansion mode, looking to set up a new Atlantic Division to begin operations in 2025.

In addition to the NB cities mentioned above, they also mentioned several cities and towns in NS as well as Charlottetown as being places they are interested in expanding to. Bangor ME is part of the deal too. The league commissioner said that they want a five team Atlantic Division next year, so I imagine the likely cities to get involved (if there is investor interest) would be Bangor, Saint John, Moncton, Halifax and Charlottetown.

David Magley, the league president, was formerly the CEO of the NBL of Canada, therefore he is quite familiar with the Avenir Centre. It sounds very much like he wants a local franchise here.

League play is all intra-divisional, but, becomes continent wide during the playoffs. That could be quite interesting.