Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeyman
I'm not saying a new stadium won't happen, i think it will, but you have to question the logic of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a league with a growing apathy in it's 3 largest markets. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the cfl contract in the next 10 years and if one of those teams is Toronto, I would seriously question the viability of the league as we know it today.
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I think these are valid concerns, but the problem is two-fold.
One, from a local perspective, attendance is dropping, and Calgary boasts one of the best teams. Part of that issue is now poor the experience is due to the poor conditions of the stadium. It tough to grow the game when the facilities are bush league and the experience is unpleasant to the next generation of fans they are trying to attract who expect Saddledome level at a minimum to justify the cost of a CFL game. The CFL as a whole has some work to do, but it doesn't help its image when one of their best franchises in the fourth largest market plays in a 55 year old venue that looks its age.
Two, the Stadium is one-dimensional. It can really only do football. The turf sucks and the concrete beneath is obsolete. CSA won't touch it for men's or women's international soccer. Concerts are incredibly tough to do. Olympics and World Cups are not options for McMahon as is, as we've already been overlooked twice (U20 WC and WWC).
If McMahon is converted to a top notch venue/a new stadium is built, it becomes a lot more realistic to strengthen the existing tenant in the Stamps, as well as increase the chance of a viable co-tenant (MLS, NASL, CPL, etc.) and valuable one-offs (soccer, large scale rugby, concerts, etc.).