Dome or not to Dome...

[socktape]

Surprised no one has brought this up (the mods can move this to the other sports thread if they see fit)

The powers that be are going to spend $1 million on the fesability of a domed stadium for the Roughriders in Regina. What do you think? They are looking to replace Mozaik Field which was originally built in 1910 with a 38,000 seat (expandible to 50,000) 350 million dollar stadium.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=285159

[Jordan!]

350 mill for a CFL stadium?

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by socktape

Surprised no one has brought this up (the mods can move this to the other sports thread if they see fit)

The powers that be are going to spend $1 million on the fesability of a domed stadium for the Roughriders in Regina. What do you think? They are looking to replace Mozaik Field which was originally built in 1910 with a 38,000 seat (expandible to 50,000) 350 million dollar stadium.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=285159

That is exactly why nobody has brought it up.

[J pold]

Really misleading thread title.

[Scoopdogg]

I thought this thread was going to be about something else....

[albertGQ]

I didn't Dome 16 months ago and now I have a little rugrat running around the house

[calgaryrocks]

lol maybe this should be in the other sports forum. I have heard about the possibility of a dome in regina before, but thought it was a joke. would be interesting to see it happen, but thats alot of money, in a country where money doesn't easily go to sports stadiums (unless your in Toronto...)

[valo403]

I think it's an idiotic idea, absolutely unnecessary. I think it's a product of an area of the country trying WAY too hard to show everybody else that they are no longer the poor step-children.

[getbak]

Architectural Concept...

[Resolute 14]

$350 million for a football stadium in Saskatchewan is a complete and utter waste.

If they want to spend that much money on sporting venues, awesome! But honestly, they could easily build a new football stadium for half that, and spend the rest upgrading the WHL arenas in the province, and still have money left over for community rinks.

[octothorp]

That would be brutal. The indoor CFL stadiums are relatively weak on atmosphere (although BC Place seems to have its moments). And really, how much of the CFL season is really affected by weather? Maybe a month or so, part of which Sask isn't going to be in every year. Even forgetting about the money, I think it's a bad idea. Who wants to go hang out in a covered stadium on a warm july or august afternoon or a crisp september/early-october evening? That said, if it's anything like McMahon, even $100 million could supply some kick-ass upgrades.

[krazycanuck]

what else do you use the stadium for? It's hard to justify 350 million for 10 games a year and another playoff game every 15 years.

[Tyler]

When is McMahon going to be replaced?

It's more than 40 years old is it not?

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by krazycanuck

what else do you use the stadium for? It's hard to justify 350 million for 10 games a year and another playoff game every 15 years.

Not sure if that's just a shot at the Green Gang, but McMahon stadium gets used a lot more than just for Stamps games. I'm sure Sask's stadium is much the same.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Not sure if that's just a shot at the Green Gang, but McMahon stadium gets used a lot more than just for Stamps games. I'm sure Sask's stadium is much the same.

Even so that's $350 per sask resident or $440 per tax paying/future tax paying resident. Considering that half of the funds they were looking to get out the 'Western Economic Diversification Fund' Federally, even we could be on the hook for this pipe dream.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Even so that's $350 per sask resident or $440 per tax paying/future tax paying resident. Considering that half of the funds they were looking to get out the 'Western Economic Diversification Fund' Federally, even we could be on the hook for this pipe dream.

Not debating whether it is a good idea or not, just differentiating between the 10 day/night statement and the 100-200 day/night reality.

[browna]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Not sure if that's just a shot at the Green Gang, but McMahon stadium gets used a lot more than just for Stamps games. I'm sure Sask's stadium is much the same.

It does, Dino Football, HS Football, Mens and Womens soccer, field hockey, but how many events other than those does it get used that require more than say 3-5000 seats? The same (I'd say less usage) would go in Regina currently; its the field that's of use, not the stadium.

You could build a couple 5000 seat stadiums for 1/10 of that price and get as much usage as McMahon or Taylor Field does now.

That said, I assume the Sask government has unrealistic visions of the Rolling Stones again rolling though town annually and other big concert acts that would bypass Calgary and Edmonton to come play in Regina and the resultant tourism $ from Albertans and Manitobans would, in theory, pay for the stadium in 10-15 years.

However, that's walking a fine line. I am guessing the acts that could require more than 20K seats (AC/DC, Stones) are still going to play Edmonton and BC Place, some still even in smaller places like the Saddledome (with higher ticket $) and would be tough to draw the 30K from outside the province 5 or 6 times a year (and how many are going to trek to Regina in December, certainly very few people driving) that would be needed to fill the stadium at premuim priced seats, and, bring in the tourism $.

4H and farm impliment shows are more likely to be the order of the day in a covered stadium...but again, you don't need to construct 50000 seats around the field to hold those, or piss away $350m to accomodate those.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Even so that's $350 per sask resident or $440 per tax paying/future tax paying resident. Considering that half of the funds they were looking to get out the 'Western Economic Diversification Fund' Federally, even we could be on the hook for this pipe dream.

Is there not a large native population in Saskatchewan?

[FurnaceFace]

According to my friend who lives there, this is primarily due to the ego of the mayor wanting to put his stamp on the city. Mayor Fiacco (aka Fiasco) makes Bronco Dave look like a responsible guy. If you want to see what a city run by "Blinky" McIver would be like, see Regina.

Why don't they just build a couple of bridges over Wascana and call it a day?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by browna

It does, Dino Football, HS Football, Mens and Womens soccer, field hockey, but how many events other than those does it get used that require more than say 3-5000 seats? The same (I'd say less usage) would go in Regina currently; its the field that's of use, not the stadium.

You could build a couple 5000 seat stadiums for 1/10 of that price and get as much usage as McMahon or Taylor Field does now.

That said, I assume the Sask government has unrealistic visions of the Rolling Stones again rolling though town annually and other big concert acts that would bypass Calgary and Edmonton to come play in Regina and the resultant tourism $ from Albertans and Manitobans would, in theory, pay for the stadium in 10-15 years.

However, that's walking a fine line. I am guessing the acts that could require more than 20K seats (AC/DC, Stones) are still going to play Edmonton and BC Place, some still even in smaller places like the Saddledome (with higher ticket $) and would be tough to draw the 30K from outside the province 5 or 6 times a year (and how many are going to trek to Regina in December, certainly very few people driving) that would be needed to fill the stadium at premuim priced seats, and, bring in the tourism $.

4H and farm impliment shows are more likely to be the order of the day in a covered stadium...but again, you don't need to construct 50000 seats around the field to hold those, or piss away $350m to accomodate those.

Yep, I've heard all these arguments from delusional supporters of the idea. Like you said, a domed stadium is completely unnecessary for pretty much every use besides late season playoff games, and with the Riders history I'm not sure it's a great idea to count on hosting a ton of playoff games.

The concert argument always makes me laugh. There are virtually no acts that conduct stadium tours outside of summer, so the dome gets them no advantage over an open air stadium.

It would rather hilarious to watch them build it though.