I agree that the stadium district in Vancouver is only adequate as a destination area, but I don't think a stadium built in the 1980s and an arena from the 90s are the model to be aspired to here. It's important to note that the Expo lands weren't developed with a coherent plan for an entertainment district, it was moreso a one-off stadium project, an arena built later between viaducts, and residential not integrated with the facilities at all. This is changing now with the construction of the towers adjacent to Rogers Arena.
Speaking of how these projects can be catalysts for transformation,
here's an article detailing the way the development of the Expo '86 lands was a catalyst for the transformation of Vancouver from what was a backwater to the modern, vibrant city we all know today. Some parallels can be drawn to our current situation.