Quote:
Originally Posted by getbak
Are the cost overruns for renovations any worse than they are for new construction?
I recall the Saddledome running into problems with installing the roof panels because no one had ever installed anything like that before. Also, I recall the Oval having some issues with the precast concrete pieces for its roof.
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There are more unseen cost additions when dealing with existing structures as opposed to building from scratch. Look at Vancouver what happened to BC Place which initially was supposed to cost $365 ballooned to $563 million. They found out that carefully removing a roof and putting a new one on isn't as easy as demolishing an old structure and starting from scratch. Obviously a McMahon renovation would be less complex but I would like to see a lot of details about just how improved of a stadium we would be getting for a large chunk of change in $135 million which is more than half what a new facility would cost. That Regina stadium is really, really nice and it was only $278 million. Calgary doesn't need a facility that nice though and if you are talking about spending $135 on a 50+ year old facility like McMahon you should be considering spending say $230 on a completely new facility. At the end of the day it's a matter of getting value out of your money. Is paying $5k on a new paint job for your old beater a good investment when you can get a new car for $9k? I certainly don't think so.