Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[Horus]

Originally Posted by elly63

Every game, no matter who is playing, will have no problem selling out.

Unless (Toronto) organizers get greedy like they did for the last Grey Cup and price the event out of the reasonable range for most fans.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

FIFA set the ticket prices

[ZeDgE]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

Whoever put mcmahon on the list was either concussed or hammered.

This is funny and sad at the same time.

[Hackslack]

I wonder too why McMahon would even be considered, even though I enjoy watching football games there, the sight lines are great from every seat, but it is super old and seriously seriously lacks proper facilities, especially for a crowd of 40k plus... however, maybe there is more to the story, as a Calgary is seriously considering putting in an Olympic bid it may work out to be a bonus to have McMahon redone or refurbished.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by Hackslack

I wonder too why McMahon would even be considered, even though I enjoy watching football games there, the sight lines are great from every seat, but it is super old and seriously seriously lacks proper facilities, especially for a crowd of 40k plus... however, maybe there is more to the story, as a Calgary is seriously considering putting in an Olympic bid it may work out to be a bonus to have McMahon redone or refurbished.

Bingo. Olympics or not, there is more than enough time to have McMahon (hell, even CalgaryNext) completely ready for 2026.

[sdimedru]

A few nice stadium shots of Commonwealth in this short video from Metallica...

• Video Link

[king10]

I bet McMahon was just put there as a placeholder. Surely if Calgary is seriously considered as a host it would be with a new CalgaryNEXT project or in conjunction with 2026 Winter Olympics.

[osmo]

Rogers Centre is a baseball facility, people need to get used to this now. Aside from concerts no other sporting events can be hosted there as the seats are going to be fused soon.

You wouldn't expect to host a WC match at Yankee Stadium, even if it has the ability to host soccer, it isn't a soccer stadium.

No "multi-purpose" facilities will be used by FIFA. If this is a tri-county event than an expanded BMO will be the Toronto venue. Grass/Sod laid down in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montreal. That is it. I don't see other or more cities entering the fold as you still would have the CFL operating. How can you expect to take off-line over 50% of the venues of league? This would make zero sense. Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Montreal, Hamilton, Ottawa would be kept on-line to ensure the league could still have games duirng the WC. I remember when Canada was looking to to a WC on thier own, if this was the case, the CFL would have to push back thier season start date to accomodate the WC.

Actually Ottawa may be a dark horse. EST time zone, well located, good infrastture, secruity abilities, Bi-Lingual etc. IMO Ottawa or Edmonton could be interchanged.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by osmo

Rogers Centre is a baseball facility, people need to get used to this now. Aside from concerts no other sporting events can be hosted there as the seats are going to be fused soon.

It hasn't happened yet, and unless Rogers demolishes the 100 level seats and rebuilds them without the ability to rotate the decks to accommodate rectangle-field sports, there is no reason why Skydome couldn't in theory host this event.

It's used exclusively for baseball as far as sports tenants go, but nothing fundamental to its character has changed... it's still a multi-sport stadium.

[osmo]

Originally Posted by esquire

It hasn't happened yet, and unless Rogers demolishes the 100 level seats and rebuilds them without the ability to rotate the decks to accommodate rectangle-field sports, there is no reason why Skydome couldn't in theory host this event.

It's used exclusively for baseball as far as sports tenants go, but nothing fundamental to its character has changed... it's still a multi-sport stadium.

The concrete has been dug in; initial work has been completed to the seats. Plans are in place, much before 2026, to install a warning track, once that is in the seats will be fused with concrete dips that won't make it work for grass. You would have to fill in the divots with, then place sod on top that has no ability to drain. It would be a poor surface.

Soccer can work for the one-off event but it isn't feasible for a duration setting that would last days - unless of course, you are willing to replace the sod many times which is costly. It would be worse than the Silverdome in theory. Which if I remember had to replace the sod many times and it was still a bad surface to play on.

You can host other events at Rogers Centre, sure, but nothing is going to happen during baseball season unless it's a concert.

RC a baseball stadium now 100%, the stadium is also a piss poor soccer facility as well and isn't suitable for a FIFA event.

Also, why would Rogers accept anything from FIFA, if FIFA will just go to BMO Field where Rogers will make money off them anyhow from facility rentals and concessions. The double dip is already locked in. They have no incentive whatsoever to even think of accommodating FIFA at Rogers Centre (if it was even possible).

BMO Field isn't a palace but it is a very good and adequate soccer facility. It has a simple Euro charm to it that mimics some of the soccer barns across the ocean. Also, with expanded seats, BMO Field will be fine. Canada overall has poor facilities, this isn't anything new, so no point trying to downplay the best soccer facility we have in Canada at BMO Field.

[WhipperSnapper]

At least I understand the push for the Dome. I simply don't agree BMO is that awful compared to any other stadium in Canada and, in particular, for soccer.

Is it just because it looks a Frankenstein?

[wave46]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

At least I understand the push for the Dome. I simply don't agree BMO is that awful compared to any other stadium in Canada and, in particular, for soccer.

Is it just because it looks a Frankenstein?

The biggest knock against BMO is that it has relatively low seating capacity compared to Skydome/other facilities that usually host World Cup games.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by osmo

Canada overall has poor facilities, this isn't anything new,

Neither is you saying it before when it was bullshit then and still bullshit now.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

At least I understand the push for the Dome. I simply don't agree BMO is that awful compared to any other stadium in Canada and, in particular, for soccer.

Exactly how many soccer specific stadiums will be used in the States. Is the answer ZERO?

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by wave46

The biggest knock against BMO is that it has relatively low seating capacity compared to Skydome/other facilities that usually host World Cup games.

4 of the venues in Brazil 2014 are around or below the capacity of a expanded BMO

Arena Pantanal - 41,112
Arena da Amazonia - 40,549
Arena das Dunas - 39,971
Arena da Baixada - 39,361

Likewise with South Africa in 2010

Peter Mokaba Stadium - 41,733
Mbombela Stadium - 40,929
Free State Stadium - 40,911
Royal Bafokeng Stadium - 38,646


all the venues in question held games in the round robin group stages - which is all Toronto will be getting.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by wave46

The biggest knock against BMO is that it has relatively low seating capacity compared to Skydome/other facilities that usually host World Cup games.

BMO is the easiest stadium to expand in Canada as we speak. The entire North end is begging for a stand, ideally one that fills in corners with the East and West.

[elly63]

In the words of Zoey Klein. Yuckkkk

[WhipperSnapper]

It can be easily expanded over the next 7 years. I find the location of BMO isolated but, not to the degree of IGF or NMS. There nothing to do but, to go home once you leave those stadiums.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

4 of the venues in Brazil 2014 are around or below the capacity of a expanded BMO

Arena Pantanal - 41,112
Arena da Amazonia - 40,549
Arena das Dunas - 39,971
Arena da Baixada - 39,361

Likewise with South Africa in 2010

Peter Mokaba Stadium - 41,733
Mbombela Stadium - 40,929
Free State Stadium - 40,911
Royal Bafokeng Stadium - 38,646


all the venues in question held games in the round robin group stages - which is all Toronto will be getting.

IIRC, FIFA was looking for a capacity of ~40,000 permanent seats.

BMO has ~25-30k and can accommodate 40,000 temporarily.

Given that FIFA is in the position it is in, I'd imagine that they will probably overlook this detail at BMO.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by elly63

Exactly how many soccer specific stadiums will be used in the States. Is the answer ZERO?

Do you really think there is absolutely zero chance of a soccer stadium being chosen over a football stadium especially for round robin action?