Concerts - Calgary vs Edmonton

[Calgary14]

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2014/...ry-music-fans/

Another big name act skipping Calgary in favour of Edmonton. The reason seems to be the same every time - the roof of the dome can't handle the big stages. I'm not a Taylor Swift fan personally but I imagine lots of people here will be disappointed.

Has anyone been at a concert at Rexall Place in Edmonton? If so how is the sound there compared to the dome?

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

If so how is the sound there compared to the dome?

No good.

[troutman]

I've mentioned this before - the Mayor checked into the whole "calgary is losing concerts because of the dome thing". He talked to concert promoters.

He was told Calgary only loses two concerts a year because of the roof. If we are losing any more concerts than that, and I'm not sure we are, it would be for other reasons than the roof (it's the scoreboard that is the problem actually).

[Regular_John]

I dunno if I buy the "two concerts a year" thing. Maybe two specific tours looked into the domes technical specs and determined that "nope, can't do our full show there" and opted to pass. But I suspect the dome is getting a reputation as being unable to handle full scale productions, so the promoters don't even really consider it as a stop anymore.

I've seen two shows at the dome (Metallica & Nine Inch Nails) that both had compromised/stripped down productions at the dome. Metallica it was clearly a last minute decision as the "in the round" stage was placed down in one end and about 1/2 their overhead lighting was left out. NIN simply skipped the series of roof mounted video screens and did much more of a "festival" set rather than an full production arena show.

I'll honestly be surprised if Metallica ever plays the dome again after that. And I know I won't be shelling our for premium NIN tickets in Calgary if they come back.

There's only so many large scale touring shows, these promoters know the venues, and if one isn't providing what they need... they tend to just leave it off the list.

But that's just my opinion/take on it.

[getbak]

The scoreboard is the problem. The maximum clearance under the scoreboard is less than at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge. Any show that has any elements that need to go under the scoreboard can't fit.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by troutman

I've mentioned this before - the Mayor checked into the whole "calgary is losing concerts because of the dome thing". He talked to concert promoters.

He was told Calgary only loses two concerts a year because of the roof. If we are losing any more concerts than that, and I'm not sure we are, it would be for other reasons than the roof (it's the scoreboard that is the problem actually).

Well, it's the scoreboard due to the low roof, so it's the roof.

All newish scoreboards are similar to ours.

[jayswin]

Sting and Paul McCartney were two pretty big misses for Calgary. Both played Edmonton and Vancouver.

jaydorn is most likely right. Promoters for a lot of huge "big stage" shows likely have Calgary as a "Don't even bother" city.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

I dunno if I buy the "two concerts a year" thing. Maybe two specific tours looked into the domes technical specs and determined that "nope, can't do our full show there" and opted to pass. But I suspect the dome is getting a reputation as being unable to handle full scale productions, so the promoters don't even really consider it as a stop anymore.

I've seen two shows at the dome (Metallica & Nine Inch Nails) that both had compromised/stripped down productions on the dome. Metallica it was clearly a last minute decision as the "in the round" stage was placed down in one end and about 1/2 their overhead lighting was left out. NIN simply skipped the series of roof mounted video screens and did much more of a "festival" set rather than an full production arena show.

I'll honestly be surprised if Metallica ever plays the dome again after that. And I know I won't be shelling our for premium NIN tickets in Calgary if they come back.

There's only so many large scale touring shows, these promoters know the venues, and if one isn't providing what they need... they tend to just leave it off the list.

But that's just my opinion/take on it.

I know exactly what you are talking about...Saw Metallica in Calgary and Edmonton...stage show and special effects were legendary in Edmonton and Calgary got a half ass production due to the limitations of the dome.

The Mayor doesn't have a clue...king of the hipsters

[jayswin]

I think the toughest thing to take is it's not even just arena shows that skip Calgary, we also get skipped on almost every stadium tour as well.

ACDC
U2 etc

that play Vancouver, Edmonton, hell even Winnipeg now, over Calgary for outdoor shows, due to city making it so hard to get permits at McMahon. I heard even though they give them out sometimes, it's still really difficult to acquire.

We really get a raw deal here considering our size and place in Canada. I mean even if these artists were all skipping Edmonton too, at least you could say "Oh well, they're skipping the prairies, must not make logistical sense".

But no, they are coming to the prairies...and then going 4 hours north to a wasteland, AND not even taking advantage of having two 1mil+ cities in Alberta. Unbelievable.

Regardless, it's been bad for our city, but when our new mega arena/stadium project is complete, we'll likely never get skipped for Edmonton again.

[Johnny199r]

On the bright side, a 3 hour drive isn't the end of the world for an act you really want to see, contrary to what most people in Calgary say.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

On the bright side, a 3 hour drive isn't the end of the world for an act you really want to see, contrary to what most people in Calgary say.

it's not the drive dood

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

On the bright side, a 3 hour drive isn't the end of the world for an act you really want to see, contrary to what most people in Calgary say.

It is if it's on a worknight, or if the cost of tickets was already tough to get together (which for a lot of concerts these days it is).

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by flameswin

It is if it's on a worknight.

Yup, a show in Edmonton isn't just a 3 hour drive, it's a 3 hour a drive both ways, a day (possible 2) off work and a night in a hotel.

There's been a handful of shows/tours I wanted to see in Edmonton, but none of them were worth the 2 days vacation & a night in a hotel.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

But I suspect the dome is getting a reputation as being unable to handle full scale productions, so the promoters don't even really consider it as a stop anymore.

Promoters with that mindset would quickly be replaced with promoters willing to squeeze every last cent out of a tour.

[Lucifer]

Well, I would much rather Linkin Park play Calgary over Taylor Swift.

To the point, there have been many metal concerts that have gone to Edmonton and skipped Calgary, all of which could have taken place at MacEwan Hall. Before cancelling their tour in favor of finishing the recording their new album, Machine Head was just going to play Edmonton and skip Calgary. They could have played MacEwan Hall but nooooo, the promoters chose to skip Calgary. At least Calgary would have had a Children Of Bodom show the next night, or the night before, one of the opening bands on this tour.

Not big concerts I'm talking about, but still. I think it might be because Edmonton is the capital of Alberta, I don't know. Calgary is the bigger city, so I would think it would make sense for these bands to play here.

[RedMileDJ]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I think the toughest thing to take is it's not even just arena shows that skip Calgary, we also get skipped on almost every stadium tour as well.

ACDC
U2 etc

that play Vancouver, Edmonton, hell even Winnipeg now, over Calgary for outdoor shows, due to city making it so hard to get permits at McMahon. I heard even though they give them out sometimes, it's still really difficult to acquire.

We really get a raw deal here considering our size and place in Canada. I mean even if these artists were all skipping Edmonton too, at least you could say "Oh well, they're skipping the prairies, must not make logistical sense".

But no, they are coming to the prairies...and then going 4 hours north to a wasteland, AND not even taking advantage of having two 1mil+ cities in Alberta. Unbelievable.

Regardless, it's been bad for our city, but when our new mega arena/stadium project is complete, we'll likely never get skipped for Edmonton again.

I saw ACDC's ball-breaker tour at the Dome. But it wasn't a stadium tour.

Not sure what year that was. I was so blitzed!

And didn't U2 play here, with some sort of "heart" middle area for people to stand in? Again...don't remember exactly. I didn't go to that one.

edit: point I'm making is that these bands still come to Calgary. I guess it just depends on the scale of the concert.

And forget Taylor Swift. I'm excited to see LP live, finally!

[RedMileDJ]

And yes, I agree that the Dome has held us back on some awesome concerts. I'm in full agreement that this new building needs to hurry up. Not just for hockey and football, but all the other entertainment acts we're missing out on.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Addick

Promoters with that mindset would quickly be replaced with promoters willing to squeeze every last cent out of a tour.

Yeah because that's how the business world works. It's all about squeezing every last cent out of every transaction. There's no point of diminishing returns when it comes to set ups/tear downs or just plain meeting contract terms.

I mean sure, if I have a choice between two venues, and one venue has the potential to derail the show due to technical issues that's not going to enter my decision making process at all. I'm just gonna book both shows, because hey, money!

Do you really think business operate that way? Yes they make every reasonable cent they can, but it's not the be all/end all here.

[DOOM]

I've seen The Rolling Stones (2005) Iron Maiden (2008, 2010) in the Dome. (Also seen Iron Maiden, 2008, 2010, 2012 in Edmonton)

These were HUGE shows.

Especially the 2005 Rolling Stones show and the 2008 Iron Maiden show. (Both in Calgary and Edmonton)

The Dome can still fit amazing shows.

[RougeUnderoos]

The sound is pretty much the same in both places, and it ain't good. They are hockey rinks and large concrete circles, after all, and you don't really go for "good sound".

I've heard that Edmonton is always on the back of the t-shirt because they always sell out and the Edmontonites buy all the stuff for sale. AC/DC could show up three times a year in that town and they'd fill the building and clean out the merchandise stands every time.

I personally don't give a rat's patoot if U2 or Taylor Swift ever darken the door, but obviously some people do, so it would, I suppose, be nice to have a venue that could support their apparatus in Calgary.

I don't want to pay for it though, so hopefully the highrollers who build such things don't convince the government to ask me to chip in.