Whitecaps Stadium | 15,000 seats | proposed

[towerguy3]

interesting:

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/current...ps/reports.htm

[Riise]

I hope everything goes well! This stadium will easily be the best SSS in North America.

[skrish]

I would be so jealous if this stadium gets built. Like Rise said, this will be one of the best soccer specific stadiums in North America.

[twoNeurons]

Very interesting. All the documents are showing the over-the-tracks proposal.

I guess the over-the-seabus proposal was only a suggestion, anyhow.

[jlousa]

No those documents are dated April 2006, the new proposal is north of Waterfront Rd. The new plan has dealt with alot of the issues by the public and the city.
Anyone heading down to the open house today at waterfront station

[vanman]

I wonder if the whitecaps stadium is built over the seabus terminal that the project would include a new seabus terminal. The current one is dull and outdated. In exchange maybe the city would then give the whitecaps owner a density bonus that he could then sell to another developer to help cover the costs.

[Smooth]

Originally Posted by jlousa

No those documents are dated April 2006, the new proposal is north of Waterfront Rd. The new plan has dealt with alot of the issues by the public and the city.
Anyone heading down to the open house today at waterfront station

I was planning to walk over there after I get off work at 5:00. I forgot my camera at home so if there's anything worth taking pictures of then I'll have to use my camera-phone.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by skrish

I would be so jealous if this stadium gets built. Like Rise said, this will be one of the best soccer specific stadiums in North America.

You have Encana and all of your oil to roll around in.

[MistyMountainHop]

Did anyone go to the open house? If so, please post info and pics if possible.

[jlousa]

If you didn't make it out then don't waste your time. I am in favour of the project but very dissappointed by the open house. They tied it in with the transportation hub plan which although they are related they are two seperate projects. The downtown transportation plan booklet they have has an intro from Vancouver's mayor Larry Campbell *looks at calendar*
There are no renderings of the new stadium, just a plotted line on where is could be located. I have been to a lot of these events but this one was not well planned. The only insite they provided is that the sea bus terminal could either be part of the stadium at the north end, or moved west right next to Canada place, hence taking up space which is now used to dock a second cruiseship on the elongated east side of Canada Place. They should get Heriquez and Partners to design this thing as they understand the area and could do a better job then whoever threw this stuff together.

[jlousa]

Here's a scan of the only documentation I could get of the stadium



The transportation hub plan booklet they are giving out is dated Spring 2005.

[mr.x]

^ obviously the SeaBus terminal should still be located at its same location, maybe a little farther into water because of the new stadium. it doesn't make any sense to sacrifice a cruise ship berth.

if it's too far for passengers to walk they could have movable walkways like at airports.

[MistyMountainHop]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

^ obviously the SeaBus terminal should still be located at its same location, maybe a little farther into water because of the new stadium. it doesn't make any sense to sacrifice a cruise ship berth.

if it's too far for passengers to walk they could have movable walkways like at airports.

Moving walkways would be a good idea. The cruise ship berth should be preserved. Too bad that there isn't any new information though.

[Smooth]

I went and didn't find the actual displays that useful. I did take advantage of Bob Lenarduzzi and the architect being there and was able to get the interesting info from them.

I rattle off what I can remember...

Apparently they were interested in getting the lions on board but the lions didn't publicly want to show any interest because they were happy with their lease at BC Place and didn't want to give BC Place the opportunity to give them the boot. Looks like the Lions will be the only thing saving BC Place from being torn down after the Olympics.

I asked if 15,000 was the magic number for a MLS franchise and Bob smiled and said it was around that number.

The Whitecaps would still like to have the Stadium build for the Olympics and has talked with VANOC about using the Stadium as a festival site.

Apparently the retractable roof was only just an option they wanted to look into but even if it was in place then then it probably wouldn't cover the full pitch.

There would be a seawall that would go around the entire stadium and then connect with the Carrall greenway waterfront access bridge.

I can't remeber exactly what I looked at on the map but I think it looked like the plan was to extend Canada Place Road infront of the stadium then connect it to near Richards and Cordova.

South of the stadium there was mention of either a hotel or new office tower.

The stadium's height is down from 150' to 130' because it's not over the railway tracks anymore. I think the architect said that was about the same height as the sails of Canada place.

The architect was pretty vague on design details but said that the concept drawing that we've seen so far are probably nothing like what the final design will be. He mentioned that some options being floated were elements of the building that could look like cranes from the port that could support the roof. He said some of the building materials could be timber, glass, and steel.

I can't remember much else right now but I'm sure there was more. I'll post it if I remember.

[MistyMountainHop]

^ Sounds good. It would be great if it could be ready for the Olympics but that would be difficult if they're building over the water.

[jlousa]

Don't see why they would say they'd like it built in time for the olympics. Construction is set to begin Jan/09. I can't see this complete till late 2011 possibly 2012. Even if they started this summer I don't see how they would finish. They will need to build a temp seabus terminal before they even begin construction of the stadium.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by Smooth

South of the stadium there was mention of either a hotel or new office tower.

so i'll start the rumour (without any factual evidence), but it would be a good site for a Ritz-Carlton...

[leftside]

> There would be a seawall that would go around the entire stadium
> and then connect with the Carrall greenway waterfront access bridge.
Sweet. It's already a nice bike ride along Carrall heading south to Pacific, along the waterfront through Yaletown/English Bay/Stanley Park/Coal Harbour and back to Gastown through Crab Park - but this extra extension will finish it off nicely. Well, the current Carrall Street section isn't so nice... but I'm hoping it will be when the Greenway is complete...

No way will this be ready by 2010! I think it's good that it won't be ready in time by 2010 though. People will see the construction site and will be asking "what are they building there"?

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

so i'll start the rumour (without any factual evidence), but it would be a good site for a Ritz-Carlton...

Umm no, we already know the Ritz Carlton is planning to occupy the hotel portion of 1153 West Georgia (The twisty tower). Maybe a mandarin oriental or something rediculious like that.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Umm no, we already know the Ritz Carlton is planning to occupy the hotel portion of 1153 West Georgia (The twisty tower). Maybe a mandarin oriental or something rediculious like that.

whats wrong with two Ritz's like Atlanta?