[News] Calgary City Council votes 11-4 to approve event centre deal

[agulati]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

How about not building a roof? I'm thinking of doing it on the cheap, since these facilities see a lot less use.

Depends on the growth of the CPL (or if the Flames make an MLS bid). If the fan following for Cavalry FC goes up, I could see a mixed stadium for both the Stampeders and Cavalry FC (or Flames owned MLS team).

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Muta

Well then you can't use it in the winter, which defeats the purpose of undertaking any kind of conversion that puts the space to greater use.

Use it for what? It would be for Stampede, football, and soccer. Why would the extra costs make sense with the convention centre and event centre so close? It's not going to be a field house. Enclosing the whole thing would be much harder and more expensive, and reduce the experience if you want to keep it for chucks. Field house would still be needed in the University lands.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Use it for what? It would be for Stampede, football, and soccer. Why would the extra costs make sense with the convention centre and event centre so close? It's not going to be a field house. Enclosing the whole thing would be much harder and more expensive, and reduce the experience if you want to keep it for chucks. Field house would still be needed in the University lands.

Rodeo events and other related activities, but definitely not football or soccer, not sure that was even considered or why at the time, that would even have been. The extra costs DIDN'T make sense, hence why it was just a feasibility study and nothing more - that's exactly my point.

[powderjunkie]

Building a roof makes no sense. Having a pretty decent open air 17k+ half stadium used for 10 days a year, and another decrepit open air 35k stadium used for 10 days a year [near capacity] also doesn't make a lot of sense. Both venues take up massive footprints in prime locations (Stampede grandstand has considerably less potential for other use, though).

The Grandstand is a surprisingly nice facility (mainly the premium experience facilities)

Instead of sinking money into McMahon, why not build a relatively simple 12k person grandstand (with suites at the base) where the infield bleachers currently are? Better parking. Better transit. Better nearby amenities. From a city land-use perspective, it just makes more sense.

Stampeders are a tenant in either situation...

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by agulati

Depends on the growth of the CPL (or if the Flames make an MLS bid). If the fan following for Cavalry FC goes up, I could see a mixed stadium for both the Stampeders and Cavalry FC (or Flames owned MLS team).

The Southerns already have long term plans to convert the All Canada Ring into a 12,000 seat facility for Cavalry. And there's no chance MLS seriously entertains a Calgary bid. Honestly, neither will the CSA, the USSF or CONCACAF. So, alas, soccer will remain in the deep south.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Muta

Rodeo events and other related activities, but definitely not football or soccer, not sure that was even considered or why at the time, that would even have been. The extra costs DIDN'T make sense, hence why it was just a feasibility study and nothing more - that's exactly my point.

So the feasibility study you brought up didn't consider what I am suggesting, and considered something completely different, so you are using that as a point to suggest my idea is unfeasible? Well that makes sense.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Muta

Well then you can't use it in the winter, which defeats the purpose of undertaking any kind of conversion that puts the space to greater use.

What? No it doesn't! Jeezus. Use your brain. I'm suggesting combining McMahon, Soccer, and rodeo in one facility. How is that not increasing the use? Why is it only useful if it is usable year round?

[RM14]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The Southerns already have long term plans to convert the All Canada Ring into a 12,000 seat facility for Cavalry. And there's no chance MLS seriously entertains a Calgary bid. Honestly, neither will the CSA, the USSF or CONCACAF. So, alas, soccer will remain in the deep south.

Isn't it more of an idea rather than a plan?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What? No it doesn't! Jeezus. Use your brain. I'm suggesting combining McMahon, Soccer, and rodeo in one facility. How is that not increasing the use? Why is it only useful if it is usable year round?

Not happening in the proposed feasibility study. I simply said, to your original point, that a feasibility study was conducted on putting a roof over the Grandstand to expand its uses, that's all. You're making aggressive and disjointed connections to what I know was just one project considering the facility's expanded use, which considered a roof. Use your brain, and calm the hell down.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by Muta

Well then you can't use it in the winter, which defeats the purpose of undertaking any kind of conversion that puts the space to greater use.

Without a conversion there is already a plan to potentially use it this winter. 3 extra days!

[Muta]

Originally Posted by RM14

Without a conversion there is already a plan to potentially use it this winter. 3 extra days!

Exactly; this is much more feasible and cost effective. If, of course, the X Games actually goes ahead.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Muta

Not happening in the proposed feasibility study. I simply said, to your original point, that a feasibility study was conducted on putting a roof over the Grandstand to expand its uses, that's all. You're making aggressive and disjointed connections to what I know was just one project considering the facility's expanded use, which considered a roof. Use your brain, and calm the hell down.

Ya, I read a feasibility study that said trains to Banff would cost about $700 million, so it doesn't sound like it would work.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by RM14

Isn't it more of an idea rather than a plan?

Well, it was specifically called out in Spruce Meadows' latest vision document as one of their goals is to diversify the number and type of events hosted there. There is also a goal of a hotel and conference centre in the medium term plan.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ya, I read a feasibility study that said trains to Banff would cost about $700 million, so it doesn't sound like it would work.

Not sure the point of your post since it has nothing to do with the discussion at all... but since you've brought it up, that train line is probably further along to being a reality than you think. But, that discussion is for another time in another thread.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Muta

Not sure the point of your post since it has nothing to do with the discussion at all... but since you've brought it up, that train line is probably further along to being a reality than you think. But, that discussion is for another time in another thread.

So close...

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So close...

Swing and a miss. The feasibility study done at the Grandstand relates directly to your original post, so now you're admitting you're just trolling for the sake of it. Keep up the quality posting.

[topfiverecords]

I doubt there would be need for any more indoor space in the city of the scale of a football stadium. Especially with the BMO expansion.

I agree about mixing Stampede rodeo, grandstand show, soccer and football into one facility and the location of the Grandstand is perfect for it. Seems like great synergy aside from hauling in and out all of the dirt and replacing turf just a few weeks into the CFL season.

Stamps would have to be on the road every year early July just as the season is kicking off though and maybe Stampeder games are best held when there's a ton of visitors in town.

I just attended a Rider game at Mosaic on Thursday and damn that stadium is nice but is it worth $350 million for 10 CFL games per year, a concert here and there, one an NHL game, and other minor events?

[Dr. Pepper]

Relevant - looks like no stadium if I read properly into all of KK's comments in this article: https://calgaryherald.com/business/l...mes-arena-deal

[Ozy_Flame]

A facility that could handle all of those events would be an interesting design, especially for a full chuckwagon track. I don't know if such a sporting facility exists today with those unique demands.

That being said, the more events that can be put into a singular facility for year-round events would be more impetus to build it. One facility to serve all, and minimizing environmental impacts with multiple locations for mulitple events. It would also help create an official "sports district" for Calgary, much like Melbourne already has.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Muta

I know for a fact that a feasibility study was conducted for that reason only a couple years ago - to build a roof between the grandstand / infield track, with modern modifications all-around. The cost was simply too prohibitive to do anything like that; you may as well have built a completely new facility for that price.

Originally Posted by Muta

Swing and a miss. The feasibility study done at the Grandstand relates directly to your original post, so now you're admitting you're just trolling for the sake of it. Keep up the quality posting.

You suggested that my idea wouldn't work because a feasibility study had already been done that showed it wasn't feasible. But the study was for an entirely different concept. Which makes it pretty much irrelevant as an attempt to dismiss the idea. It's fine to say that a feasibility study was done for a roof, and it didn't make sense. That is useful information. What I take issue with is you dismissing the idea based on an irrelevant study.



It's like saying we can't afford an underground green line, and a study has shown this, but dismissing that we could maybe afford an above grade one.


I'm not trolling, I'm trying to figure out how you don't see this.