Halifax Stadium Discussion

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by JHikka

That's....not great? I was under the impression a business plan has been coming soon for months now.

This was from three months ago:

Leblanc appears to be all bluster and no substance. Seems par for the course for him.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Leblanc appears to be all bluster and no substance. Seems par for the course for him.

He said late spring and it's May 3.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by someone123

He said late spring and it's May 3.

January 12, 2018:

" ... and we’re getting ready to finalize economic impact analysis to go to the city and to the province with a proposal of how we can work together. We hope to have something to both those bodies in the next four to six weeks.”

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...-pushing-ahead


October 30, 2018:

Once a proposal is received in the coming months from MFLP, HRM will assemble a cross-functional team of professional staff to do the business case review and due diligence. There may be a need to contract with external consultants on some aspects of the review if needed.

https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default...1030rc1415.pdf


December 21, 2018:

He says the group expected to submit a business analysis to the Halifax Regional Municipality as early as today.

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/atlantic...soon-1.4227307


March 19, 2019:

The municipality is also waiting for the ownership group to present a business plan.

“We’re here waiting for a formal proposal from the proponent. What we understand is coming is going to be something that would look at a stadium and a commercial district somewhere in the municipality,” said Brendan Elliott, a senior communications advisor with the Halifax Regional Municipality.

https://globalnews.ca/news/5071350/m...wnership-team/


March 30, 2019:

“I’d say we’re about 90 per cent done for … the proposal to go to (the Halifax Regional Municipality) and to the province,” he told the crowd.

https://globalnews.ca/news/5114376/s...-to-land-deal/


May 1 2019:

Schooners Sports is to present a detailed business plan to the municipality but that plan is predicated on completion of the Canada Lands deal, Leblanc says.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...=1#post8561772

Emphasis added mine.

Leblanc has repeatedly proven that he's willing to set timelines and deadlines which mean effectively nothing.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Leblanc has repeatedly proven that he's willing to set timelines and deadlines which mean effectively nothing.

I guess. This is pretty standard for this type of project. There are a lot of moving parts and nobody really knows how long it will take. Canada Lands isn't fast, HRM council and staff aren't going to be fast.

I don't think the delays warrant negativity. They don't mean much one way or the other.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by someone123

I don't think the delays warrant negativity. They don't mean much one way or the other.

Sure they do, to people who have an agenda against this project and/or the CFL.

I've said it all along, generally takes about eight years in this country to get a stadium from first concept to final construction, Regina was slightly faster.

[TheNovaScotian]

With a big 2 - 1 win, The Halifax Wanderers bring professional football back to the Warden of the North.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/thri...oment-halifax/

I couldn't even get a ticket for some friends and I because it was sold out. The city had a great vibe, I was out for tacos and there was families in jerseys everywhere, even on a cold rainy day. Spring Garden was lively and thought about the day they might need something more than 6200 seats. We could host playoff games or tourneys, I think Halifax has more of a need for a stadium than people think. Beyond the recent growth, it would go a long way for this city to play on its international connections. Think of some of the possibilities of what a World Cup game would do to the reputation of the city. Televised sports can go a long way for a cities ability to put on large events.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by elly63

Sure they do, to people who have an agenda against this project and/or the CFL.

I've said it all along, generally takes about eight years in this country to get a stadium from first concept to final construction, Regina was slightly faster.

Actually Regina was around 10 years. They first seriously considered a new stadium back in 2007..back then it was about a multi-purpose domed stadium. I agree it is around 8 - 10 years from the idea of a stadium being expressed publicly to the completion of construction.

I have no agenda, but I do not trust leblanc one bit and have no faith in any project associated with him. If this succeeds, I think it will be in spite of his association. The quotes from JHikka above remind me the promises and false deadlines he gave when involved with the Coyotes a few years ago.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Actually Regina was around 10 years. They first seriously considered a new stadium back in 2007..back then it was about a multi-purpose domed stadium. I agree it is around 8 - 10 years from the idea of a stadium being expressed publicly to the completion of construction.

I have no agenda, but I do not trust leblanc one bit and have no faith in any project associated with him. If this succeeds, I think it will be in spite of his association. The quotes from JHikka above remind me the promises and false deadlines he gave when involved with the Coyotes a few years ago.

I don't think that is right about Regina, we may have a different measuring stick but when I think they first got serious it was spring and summer 2009. Stadium Concept Review: A Summary Report

I can see where some have issues with LeBlanc but that shouldn't cause alarm bells just because we have no clue how much financing is behind him. After all, as far as I know he was able to meet a 50 million dollar payroll in Phoenix. A CFL payroll is 5 million. Just because he doesn't want to put all his money into a stadium doesn't make him much different than many other owners.

I don't think you will ever see jhikka post one positive piece of news on a CFL stadium or team regardless if Leblanc said it or not. I myself have gone on record as saying if this is another Renegades venture (no properly financed ownership) I'd rather not have it than see it fail later.

I can't see why Ambrosie would allow this to go ahead if LeBlanc didn't have bona fides, what would there be to gain by it? And also, why would it still be going on for this long? Does Leblanc's mouth write cheques he can't cash right away? Probably so, but that still doesn't explain how he could carry another owner and Tom Cochrane with him.

Maybe this will all crash, I don't know, but the last proposal made some sense and is surely doable especially when measured against what every other large city in this country has done.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by elly63

I don't think that is right about Regina, we may have a different measuring stick but when I think they first got serious it was spring and summer 2009. Stadium Concept Review: A Summary Report

I can see where some have issues with LeBlanc but that shouldn't cause alarm bells just because we have no clue how much financing is behind him. After all, as far as I know he was able to meet a 50 million dollar payroll in Phoenix. A CFL payroll is 5 million. Just because he doesn't want to put all his money into a stadium doesn't make him much different than many other owners.

I don't think you will ever see jhikka post one positive piece of news on a CFL stadium or team regardless if Leblanc said it or not. I myself have gone on record as saying if this is another Renegades venture (no properly financed ownership) I'd rather not have it than see it fail later.

I can't see why Ambrosie would allow this to go ahead if LeBlanc didn't have bona fides, what would there be to gain by it? And also, why would it still be going on for this long? Does Leblanc's mouth write cheques he can't cash right away? Probably so, but that still doesn't explain how he could carry another owner and Tom Cochrane with him.

Maybe this will all crash, I don't know, but the last proposal made some sense and is surely doable especially when measured against what every other large city in this country has done.

You can never underestimate the persuasiveness of some people. See John Spanos the would-be owner of the New York Islanders and Boots Del Biaggio wanna-be owner of the Kansas City NHL team. We will see what happens, but I will be pleasantly surprised if this stadium plan goes ahead with a substantial contribution from Leblanc's group toward the actual permanent part of the stadium. In that interview he gave alongside someone else, it did not sound like the ownership group would only contribute towards the operating cost of the stadium and the lease fee for the temporary seats.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

You can never underestimate the persuasiveness of some people. See John Spanos the would-be owner of the New York Islanders and Boots Del Biaggio wanna-be owner of the Kansas City NHL team. We will see what happens, but I will be pleasantly surprised if this stadium plan goes ahead with a substantial contribution from Leblanc's group toward the actual permanent part of the stadium. In that interview he gave alongside someone else, it did not sound like the ownership group would only contribute towards the operating cost of the stadium and the lease fee for the temporary seats.

Is this really a bad thing?

It amounts to the city building a modest stadium with a small-ish amount of seating that is available for much of the time for other uses for free, and getting bonus seating and a CFL team.

Not too long ago the city proposed building an only somewhat more modest stadium with no CFL team on the horizon (and maybe it wouldn't have been suitable).

[elly63]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

See John Spanos the would-be owner of the New York Islanders and Boots Del Biaggio wanna-be owner of the Kansas City NHL team.

One would think with infamous examples like that Ambrosie would have done his due diligence, him being a financial guy.

[c-way-dude]

http://www.globalnews.ca/news/537674...gh-sales-slow/

[c-way-dude]

Originally Posted by elly63

One would think with infamous examples like that Ambrosie would have done his due diligence, him being a financial guy.

According to a couple of posters from Saskatchewan on the CFL site, Drummond is very wealthy.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by c-way-dude

http://www.globalnews.ca/news/537674...gh-sales-slow/

Well, I bought four tickets, and with fees and taxes, I was set back nearly $600.00

That's getting pretty pricey for the average Joe. I realize I have the second highest ticket price for my seats but Geez........

I've been to every Touchdown Atlantic in Moncton, and these tickets are by far the most expensive I've ever bought.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Wow! That's not likely to draw in the casual fan, or the curious person who might want to give it a look in the event that they could become a regular fan in the future...

I'm assuming the prices are set as such due to limited seating and the fact that it is not a regular event, but still it's a shame that it will be limiting attendance to those who are reasonably well off, and not those who are just scraping by but would like to attend...

[blueandgoldguy]

Late spring is over and not a word from Leblanc. Deadlines mean nothing to him.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Late spring is over and not a word from Leblanc. Deadlines mean nothing to him.

Why didn't he buy the Alouettes ? The business must be a bit of a mess with no buyer and and another willing seller in Vancouver with no buyers.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Colin May

Why didn't he buy the Alouettes ? The business must be a bit of a mess with no buyer and and another willing seller in Vancouver with no buyers.

Fake news, Alouettes have at least two suitors at this moment (two others were previously rumoured) and Braley has had several suitors and is not willing to sell yet.

Stick to Halifax city council your CFL knowledge is lacking.

[OldDartmouthMark]

I don't think late spring was a reasonable expectation:

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/ne...-swirl-307700/

Date of the article was May 1...

Brendan Elliott, a spokesman for the municipality, said it will take municipal staff some time to go through any Schooners’ proposal before presenting it to council.

“Ultimately, it will be council’s decision on how to proceed, based on the details that are in the business plan,” Elliott said. “We don’t have a business plan yet.”

Jacques Dube, the chief administrative officer for the municipality, has said in the past that it will take staff six months to pore over a formal proposal once it is received.

Although... previously, Canada Day was a date that was tossed around...

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/ne...da-day-281961/

“Everybody agrees that we have to figure out if this is a go or a no-go by the midpoint of this year,” said Anthony LeBlanc, one of three principal owners of the Atlantic Schooners franchise.

By Canada Day, LeBlanc hopes to have a definitive answer for Halifax fans.

[Colin May]

HRM Financial Statements for year ending March 31 2019 show a $26.1 million surplus; just in time for pre-election spending over the next 15 months.
Deed Transfer Tax was $9 million over the budget of $37 million.
https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default.../190626ac4.pdf