Regina - Downtown Catalyst Projects Discussion

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

I think Newstart needs a lot of things explained to them. Them and others on here seem to think we should fall in line with what local politicians want to ram down our throats and not hold them accountable for their past failures to meet expectations and promises. The ironic thing is I am willing to bet they wouldn't apply this type of thinking to all levels of government and if it was Trudeau, for example, doing these things, there would be strong push back.

Keyboard Elitist Warrior to the rescue.

This is the narcissistic version of "man-splaining" at its best. I don't need to flip to the comic section in the newspaper anymore, I just have to sign in and catch the latest comedy that your fingers managed to type of how ultraistic you are and how there couldn't possibly be any other alternative.

I don't need a committee or a report to tell me that Regina needs a new Arena. I just have to go out of my little bubble to see that. As a matter of record I am 110% against the Arena being proposed ANYWHERE other than REAL District. It will do nothing but create more social problems at the locations proposed Downtown.

[djforsberg]

Originally Posted by Newstart

Keyboard Elitist Warrior to the rescue.

This is the narcissistic version of "man-splaining" at its best. I don't need to flip to the comic section in the newspaper anymore, I just have to sign in and catch the latest comedy that your fingers managed to type of how ultraistic you are and how there couldn't possibly be any other alternative.

I don't even know what you're talking about. You mad bro?

Originally Posted by Newstart

I don't need a committee or a report to tell me that Regina needs a new Arena. I just have to go out of my little bubble to see that. As a matter of record I am 110% against the Arena being proposed ANYWHERE other than REAL District. It will do nothing but create more social problems at the locations proposed Downtown.

I was at the Pats game on Sat. It was busy, but not sold out. If we can't sell out late-season games featuring one of the greatest junior hockey players in recent memory, I honestly don't see the point of a new arena right now when we have so many other priorities. The whole argument about missing out on concerts falls is moot as not even Saskatoon has been getting many acts lately, partly thanks to the Sask government's addition of PST on tickets and because of the depressed Sask economy, and it would just take events away from Moose Jaw anyways. Now is not the time for this, unless the Semples want to use their own money for it.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Trail system, aquatic centre and library top Regina priorities: catalyst committee report

The committee also recommends that a new arena, replacing the current Brandt Centre, be located in downtown Regina.

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-ne...mmittee-report

Also wish Downtown Grocery Store development was marked in the priority list too.

[djforsberg]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Trail system, aquatic centre and library top Regina priorities: catalyst committee report

The committee also recommends that a new arena, replacing the current Brandt Centre, be located in downtown Regina.

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-ne...mmittee-report

Also wish Downtown Grocery Store development was marked in the priority list too.

Agreed. The city could easily establish a non-profit to run a grocery store that the market is clearly unwilling to do. The only thing getting in the way of it is ideology.

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Agreed. The city could easily establish a non-profit to run a grocery store that the market is clearly unwilling to do. The only thing getting in the way of it is ideology.

spoken like someone who has clearly never run neither a non-profit or a business before.

I love how you just toss it out there "the city could easily do this...the city could easily do that..." like they have a magic wand. It is not as simple as waving your socialist magic wand and a grocery store is operating. The margins of a grocery store are low. The risk is high. Most of the grocery store chains survive because A. they have scale and one struggling store can offset a profitable store (or in this case a break even store) B. the make more of the profits through the brands that they produce which is the case with every single large grocery chain).

There is ZERO reason for a grocery store "Downtown" there is one 4 blocks from the edge of Downtown on 13th Avenue. If people are that lazy they can't drive/walk a few blocks west that is a bigger concern of societal trends in Regina.

Why does Downtown NEED a grocery store...To support the declining population of Downtown? What is this? Oprah? Grocery Store for you because you want it, Grocery Store for you because you want it, grocery store for you...

Downtown Edmonton has a population of over 50,000 people and it ONLY just got a second grocery store with the re-development of...oh wait for it...the ICE District aka Arena...(again not an advocate for that in Regina)

Downtown Regina and surrounding has a population of 20,000 people and has the Safeway as I mentioned. There is also the Independent on Broadway on the outskirts. And that is a population that has declined in recent years, NOT increased.

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

The whole argument about missing out on concerts falls is moot as not even Saskatoon has been getting many acts lately, partly thanks to the Sask government's addition of PST on tickets and because of the depressed Sask economy, and it would just take events away from Moose Jaw anyways. Now is not the time for this, unless the Semples want to use their own money for it.

I agree that concerts are not a winning argument. We aren't missing concerts because we don't have a 10K stadium. Concerts are going to 25k and bigger stadiums. Bumping to 10k still leaves us too small to get the big shows.

Besides, I'm not sure concerts aren't changing. A lot of artists are moving to smaller tours or residencies instead. There isn't the same need to tour that there once was.

A 10k seat rink in downtown that is only in use for a targetting 100-120 days a year (as indicated in the catalyst report) still leaves us with a huge elephant in the downtown that isn't drawing traffic the vast majority of the time.

[djforsberg]

Originally Posted by Newstart

spoken like someone who has clearly never run neither a non-profit or a business before.

I love how you just toss it out there "the city could easily do this...the city could easily do that..." like they have a magic wand. It is not as simple as waving your socialist magic wand and a grocery store is operating. The margins of a grocery store are low. The risk is high. Most of the grocery store chains survive because A. they have scale and one struggling store can offset a profitable store (or in this case a break even store) B. the make more of the profits through the brands that they produce which is the case with every single large grocery chain).

Actually, ya, it is that easy. Do you actually know how a business is run? All that is missing is the initial investment up front. It could start as a small store, offering the basic necessities sourced through Coop and local producers. These kind of things happen all the time throughout the world. Do I need to list all the examples of when government has stepped in to offer a service that private investment is unwilling to here in Saskatchewan? And please spare the BS that only private investment can make it work. You talk about me being elitist...

Originally Posted by Newstart

There is ZERO reason for a grocery store "Downtown" there is one 4 blocks from the edge of Downtown on 13th Avenue. If people are that lazy they can't drive/walk a few blocks west that is a bigger concern of societal trends in Regina.

Why does Downtown NEED a grocery store...To support the declining population of Downtown? What is this? Oprah? Grocery Store for you because you want it, Grocery Store for you because you want it, grocery store for you...

You are one strange, angry, rigid, and unimaginative individual. There is clearly a need for a grocery store within walking distance of downtown, and with prices of groceries today, one that offers goods at a low price. This can be an opportunity for the community to provide something the giant corporate grocery conglomerates cannot offer.

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

I agree that concerts are not a winning argument. We aren't missing concerts because we don't have a 10K stadium. Concerts are going to 25k and bigger stadiums. Bumping to 10k still leaves us too small to get the big shows.

Besides, I'm not sure concerts aren't changing. A lot of artists are moving to smaller tours or residencies instead. There isn't the same need to tour that there once was.

A 10k seat rink in downtown that is only in use for a targetting 100-120 days a year (as indicated in the catalyst report) still leaves us with a huge elephant in the downtown that isn't drawing traffic the vast majority of the time.

I disagree with the first part. The arena for concerts is an accurate commentary and I say this having lived in a number of communities that bumped up to that slightly higher capacity and modern arenas and there was a noticeable difference in concerts not only based on size but amenities within the arena. Brandt Centre is an old arena and needs to be replaced.

I however AGREE wholeheartedly with the 2nd set of comments of having an elephant that isn't drawing much a majority of the year and only limited engagement.

The Arena SHOULD be replaced, however it SHOULD be at REAL District on VACANT lands that the City already owns. IT should look at a private style arrangement that has been successful in other markets that have similar teams to the Pats.

[djforsberg]

Originally Posted by Newstart

I disagree with the first part. The arena for concerts is an accurate commentary and I say this having lived in a number of communities that bumped up to that slightly higher capacity and modern arenas and there was a noticeable difference in concerts not only based on size but amenities within the arena. Brandt Centre is an old arena and needs to be replaced.

That's some top notch science right there. Are you sure you didn't just watch Field of Dreams?

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Trail system, aquatic centre and library top Regina priorities: catalyst committee report

The committee also recommends that a new arena, replacing the current Brandt Centre, be located in downtown Regina.

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-ne...mmittee-report

Also wish Downtown Grocery Store development was marked in the priority list too.

The city desperately needs a new hockey palace , that orange Buffoon is the embarrassment of the country it’s almost fifty years old the foundation is falling apart ,And if they build at ten thousand that’s way to small it should be at least 15 thousand if it’s to last fifty years

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by The mayor

The city desperately needs a new hockey palace , that orange Buffoon is the embarrassment of the country it’s almost fifty years old the foundation is falling apart ,And if they build at ten thousand that’s way to small it should be at least 15 thousand if it’s to last fifty years

I've never heard about issues with the foundation, but that is always a classic excuse. Other than a couple a big concerts, those seats will mostly be empty. Remember when people were saying new Mosaic was too small?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by The mayor

The city desperately needs a new hockey palace , that orange Buffoon is the embarrassment of the country it’s almost fifty years old the foundation is falling apart ,And if they build at ten thousand that’s way to small it should be at least 15 thousand if it’s to last fifty years

I can appreciate that Regina may need a new arena, maybe something bigger and with more modern amenities. But there is nothing embarrassing about the existing venue, it does the job well. I like it a lot.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by esquire

I can appreciate that Regina may need a new arena, maybe something bigger and with more modern amenities. But there is nothing embarrassing about the existing venue, it does the job well. I like it a lot.

It is actually the perfect size for the Pats. There is still the option to build in the upper seating in the east end like was done in the west end. This is part of the original design.

[Stormer]

If we build a $175 million aquatics centre, swimming should instantly become by far the most expensive sport, leaving hockey in the dust. Users should at least cover operating costs, if they are getting a Taj Mahal at taxpayers expense.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Stormer

It is actually the perfect size for the Pats. There is still the option to build in the upper seating in the east end like was done in the west end. This is part of the original design.

The concourse and other amenities are not nearly big enough to handle more people in its current configuration. That being said I'm not in favour of the arena taking precedence over other more needed things but at some point a new arena will be getting built.

[StealthGirl]

Soccer thinks they should get a covered field at Taylor Field and bump the Lawson replacement out of that area.

They are determined to push through the rink downtown before they actually tell the public the chosen location. If Semple wants a new rink so bad, he should fund it himself, but that would mean spending business money within city limits.

It'll be interesting to see how many delegations present at Wednesday's executive meeting. We couldn't balance the budget in December and are cutting things in 2023 to pretend all the spending fits yet we are talking about adding a massive amount of debt. I'm tired of the millionaires in our business community running the city. And Reid near bankrupted things when he was with Rexall in Edmonton. He's going to do the same here; he'll leave and Masters will slide into a high ranking spot back at REAL.

[djforsberg]

Originally Posted by pappcam

The concourse and other amenities are not nearly big enough to handle more people in its current configuration. That being said I'm not in favour of the arena taking precedence over other more needed things but at some point a new arena will be getting built.

Whatever happened with the idea to push the concourse outward? That would help a lot.

[esquire]

The thing with concourses is that they're always jammed when a venue is at capacity. A new building will be no different.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by pappcam

The concourse and other amenities are not nearly big enough to handle more people in its current configuration. That being said I'm not in favour of the arena taking precedence over other more needed things but at some point a new arena will be getting built.

The concourse and amenities issue can be addressed by not having obstructions such as booths blocking the flow of fans. Also ushers need to be trained to politely move, off to the side, groups of fans who are visiting in the middle of the flow routes (Mosaic also has this problem). Further, because the concourse is mostly at grade, it is relatively inexpensive to push to walls out in a few choke points. For example, it is pretty jammed under the east stands behind the box office. That area could easily be expanded into the east parking lot.

Also, on the lower level under the stands, there are (or were) public washrooms and concessions that were built in the the original construction and never used. I recall seeing these - they were rather ghostly. These are on the side opposite the dressing rooms. Maybe that could be opened up, or if its not convenient just push out the at-grade walls as stated above.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The concourse and amenities issue can be addressed by not having obstructions such as booths blocking the flow of fans. Also ushers need to be trained to politely move, off to the side, groups of fans who are visiting in the middle of the flow routes (Mosaic also has this problem). Further, because the concourse is mostly at grade, it is relatively inexpensive to push to walls out in a few choke points. For example, it is pretty jammed under the east stands behind the box office. That area could easily be expanded into the east parking lot.

Also, on the lower level under the stands, there are (or were) public washrooms and concessions that were built in the the original construction and never used. I recall seeing these - they were rather ghostly. These are on the side opposite the dressing rooms. Maybe that could be opened up, or if its not convenient just push out the at-grade walls as stated above.

Yeah that would work. I'm just saying that jamming another 1500-2000 seats in there without accounting for how packed and crowded it would make the common areas would be bad.