Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Muta

Cleveland - why does a CFL stadium only have to be apprx. 30,000 seats, which is what Mcmahon is?

I bet that if the stadium is covered, even more people would go. I bet you could put 40,000 butts in the seats for each Stamps game. The ones that wouldn't go because of the slightest negative aspect of the weather... now would go.

It doesn't have to 30k only, but anyone thinking the CFL requires anything more than 40k at the best of times is seriously misled about the draw of that league. Even if its in doors (which it could be and not have to be that huge) you aren't going to draw that many more fans each week. Plus, new facility probably means higher prices which will take some fans away, the CFL is already a low cost entertainment option.

While I would love a giant stadium in this town it would be the biggest waste of money ever. It would be lucky if it hosted an event a year, and it would be at 50% capacity 9 times a year for its only permanent tenant. It would be ridiculous.

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

It doesn't have to 30k only, but anyone thinking the CFL requires anything more than 40k at the best of times is seriously misled about the draw of that league. Even if its in doors (which it could be and not have to be that huge) you aren't going to draw that many more fans each week. Plus, new facility probably means higher prices which will take some fans away, the CFL is already a low cost entertainment option.

While I would love a giant stadium in this town it would be the biggest waste of money ever. It would be lucky if it hosted an event a year, and it would be at 50% capacity 9 times a year for its only permanent tenant. It would be ridiculous.

I agree, as much as i love the Stamps. 40,000 seats would be the max with possible areas for temps in the case of a Grey cup or outdoor hockey game.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

I agree, as much as i love the Stamps. 40,000 seats would be the max with possible areas for temps in the case of a Grey cup or outdoor hockey game.

Yeah, we even struggle to sell out home playoff games at 36000.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Yeah, we even struggle to sell out home playoff games at 36000.

Guess when the playoffs is . . .

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Guess when the playoffs is . . .

I know, but still. If you can't get 36 000 out for a playoff game, regardless of weather/season, I doubt you're going to regularly get 40000 in any conditions.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Yeah, we even struggle to sell out home games at 36000.

Fyp. It was embarrassing last season.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Guess when the playoffs is . . .

Just look at last years attendance statistics for the Stampeders. Attendance is pretty consistent around the high 20k or low 30k regardless of time of year. Weather doesn't seem to impact the attendance figures, which doesn't really bode well for the if it was indoors they would come theory. The main factor in attendance appears to be opponent with no surprise, the Riders attracting the most crowd.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Locke

And I'm a casual fan who occasionally gets tickets, and if I'm going with my fiancee and its ball-freezingly cold outside you can bet we either wont go or will leave very, very early.

Last year we had tickets, we showed up and left after the first quarter and watched the rest of the game from a nearby pub.

Catering exclusively to diehards isnt a solid business strategy.

Neither is building a dome, or retractable roof, which would be god awful expensive, to cater to fair weather (literally) fans.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I'm a pretty casual Stamps fan... the only time I'll go to a game is when it's one of those beautiful summer afternoons. Maybe when I was younger I would've braved the cold weather you get during the late season or playoff games, but now, I don't care enough to make that sacrifice.

When you're a 2nd-tier sport league such as the CFL, you have to cater to the casual-fan crowd to fill those seats. You can make fun of people like me, or call us fair-weather (which is exactly what I am when it comes to football), but you do it at your own peril.

Would you spend one of those beautiful summer afternoons sitting inside a dome?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Sorry, but the comment that people won't go because it gets chilly in the evenings made me laugh.

This is Canada and it's CFL football. I've never stayed home due to weather, but I'm a total diehard.

The Stamps have lower attendance in the playoffs. Many do not want to freeze.

Never understood why the CFL could not start in June and end before Halloween.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Stamps have lower attendance in the playoffs. Many do not want to freeze.

Never understood why the CFL could not start in June and end before Halloween.

I think that could cause some issues with the talent, as any guys who have mini camp or other options in the NFL wouldn't be around for the start of the season. That's a pretty large pool of guys.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Stamps have lower attendance in the playoffs. Many do not want to freeze.

Never understood why the CFL could not start in June and end before Halloween.

It was more the comment that it gets chilly in the evening so I won't go. Sort of like, "It's going down to 8 degrees and I'll have to put on a sweater so I'm staying home." I know that wasn't what was said but I sort of inferred that.

[frinkprof]

I think the only way that there is a new large McMahon-replacement stadium built is as part of a winning large international athletics competition. Olympics, or more likely Commonwealth or Pan-Am games. Just to clarify, it would be built only after the bid is won, not built in advance with the hopes of winning. It would also not be built on the current McMahon Stadium site, which, after demolishing, the U of C would build upon or sell to development interests. Until then, you will only see renovations.

Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton was built in 1928 (in advance of hosting the 1930 British Empire, now known as 'Commonwealth,' Games) and lasted until Toronto-Hamilton region won the 2015 Pan-Am Games. Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium was built as part of the winning bid to host the 1978 Commonwealth Games. BC Place in Vancouver was built as part of the 1986 Expo and then renovated as part of the 2010 Olympics.

As the situation currently stands, a new stadium is hard to justify at this juncture over other options. There is lots of room to renovate the current McMahon Stadium and the gains as compared to cost for doing so are pretty good. Given the stature of the current primary tenants (a CFL club and a CIS football team) and the number of dates they play, it would be very hard to see returns on a new stadium versus the option of just standing pat and/or renovating. It's a classic case of the current situation being just good enough or being incrementally improved upon with relatively-cheap renovations.

It's not that there isn't something to the argument of a new stadium, because I don't think it's such a bad idea to be laughed out of a room. It's that, in the absence of some strong, and perhaps unlikely, external force (winning a major international sporting event or landing an MLS team) it is cost prohibitive when weighed against other viable renovation options. I don't think there will be an MLS team coming, and to me that leaves the only way an new stadium gets built is with the assistance of public funds, and I think the only way that public funds would be justified is if Calgary is hosting an Olympics, Commonwealth Games or Pan-Am Games.

The good news is that I think a Commonwealth Games or Pan-Am Games is relatively easy to win if there is an appetite to do so. The Pan-Am Games are on a rotation of North America => South America => Central America. That would mean the next ones Calgary could hope to host are in 2027 and then in 2039. I personally think a US city will step up to host the 2027 ones.

The Commonwealth Games are a both a bigger event and could be won sooner I think. The rotation isn't as clearly defined and they have shown a trend of going to developing nations much like the Olympics. Still, Canada hasn't hosted since Victoria in 1994. Toronto is chasing the Olympics, Vancouver just hosted an Olympics and I don't think you could sell a bid on an international sporting event to Montrealers after the 1976 Olympics debacle. I think a bid for the 2026 or 2030 Games is possible.

[corporatejay]

I have stamps season tickets for 3 reasons.

1) They are cheap
2) It's a nice way to spend a beautiful summer day
3) I'm a stamps fan

In pretty much that order. I could easily watch the games from home (and sometimes do if it's a meaningless October game and it's cold) but I go because I enjoy being outside, I dome would absolutely kill that.

Further, I get to about 4/5 games a year (as do the rest of my friends with whom I share tickets) but we don't care about burning off the other games because the aggregate cost is still affordable. A new building would likely make tickets way more expensive and so while I'd still get game day seats, there is no way I'd be willing to burn off 50% of my tickets.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Stamps have lower attendance in the playoffs. Many do not want to freeze.

Never understood why the CFL could not start in June and end before Halloween.

I think another big reason why the Stamps have lower attendance in the playoffs is because you're selling from scratch with next to no notice most seasons since playoff tickets aren't part of the season ticket package. Same reason, it's hard to sell group tickets for home playoff games if you don't know when or if there will be a home playoff game.

[Locke]

Forget a dome, but a heated concourse would help. You've got to have something.

[getbak]

Looking at the Stamps' website, it says that your season tickets include preseason and playoff games: http://stampeders.com/season

What happens in those rare years where the Stamps don't host a playoff game? Do you get a credit for that game's ticket, or do they just count playoff tickets as free?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

I think the only way that there is a new large McMahon-replacement stadium built is as part of a winning large international athletics competition. Olympics, or more likely Commonwealth or Pan-Am games.

If we get a new football stadium through winning a bid for an athletics competition, that may be detrimental to the football experience in Calgary. Those stadiums with athletic tracks around the field suck!

[Canada 02]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/m...dmontons-suit/

Quietly, there is talk that some concepts will be revealed within the next two months.

...

So, what does it all mean? It could mean the first Sports Complex in Canada with a new state-of-the-art home for the Flames and a newly constructed Stampeder facility — that of the ilk of Philadelphia or the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City.

[krazycanuck]

If a new stadium is built in Calgary it will be done in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede. I predict where the Saddledome currently stands. The other big rodeos in North America are done either indoors or retractable roof stadiums. (Vegas at the UNLV, Houston at Reliant Stadium). The grandstand is not an ideal rodeo venue. Unpredictable Calgary weather, Few seats are close, not enough suites and corporate areas for the big money companies looking to make a splash with clients during stampede. It also gives the stampede the option of hosting even larger music during the 10 days with some big stadium acts and making

I would place my bet on us seeing a combination venture between the Flames and Stampede for a retractable roof CFL stadium/rodeo venue/convention venue open in 7-10 years, with construction starting immediately after the saddledome is demolished. I've heard Ken King call the new arena the most ambitious development in a long time in this city. A neighbourhood with a new arena, a new stadium/convention area, a new entertainment district, hotels & condos done in partnership with the Stampede Board (who has the cash to make something like this happen) would fit that bill. Will be an interesting next few months!