Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
I agree with the notion of infrastructure investment during a downturn, but I think certain projects are better than others (preferably more costs for labour and local equipment). Build pipelines, energy corridors , repave highways (adding lanes where necessary), etc.
Things that would have seemed crazy to wonder about 35 days ago:
- whether global supply chain disruptions could cause significant delays in procuring certain supplies/equipment
- viability of pro sports model as we know it (we assume a vaccine is coming, but what if it takes longer than we expect? mutations? what about another pandemic? or a global recession/depression?)
- viability of the NHL (what if mass gatherings remain impossible in places like NYC, TOR, and MTL for a lot longer than we expect?)
- viability of the Flames in Alberta's possible economy
I'm not saying that these things are likely to happen, but I'm not sure either side should feel keen to throw $270M of chips into the middle until a return to normalcy [from a pro-sports context] seems inevitable.
I'll save my green line thoughts for its thread at somepoint, but TLDR: I'm as concerned about OPEX increases as CAPEX, and I don't think it's crazy to ask similar existential questions from a public transit standpoint. We'll always need to move people around the city, but will downtown be the same kind of 9-5 hub 5 days a week as it used to be? More reason to pursue the more flexible (and much cheaper) SE BRT option.
|
This is what I've thought all along.
I wonder if anyone from pro sports is putting social distancing into their business model yet. If it takes 18 months for a vaccine, who would want to be crammed with 18,000 people into an arena? Crowded seating, concessions and washroom? Not for me in the near future.
They should reconsider the entire design of the arena based on this. Bigger seats further apart? Shields between seats? More washrooms? No concourses and food delivery? More entrances/exits? Perhaps the model becomes more pay-per-view as a result.
I almost view it as spectator sports need to vastly reconsider their business models in a pandemic era. Athletes will have to take a huge shave in pay. All players are in physical contact with each other, sweating, breathing more, sitting on a bench, confined locker rooms, etc. How many times does the flu run through a team? Do teams want to risk their 'assets' with Covid-19 that is way more contagious than the flu?
Same goes for any events such as concerts in these facilities. Maybe the pandemic and the arena construction timing turns out to be a blessing in disguise.