darwink
Senior Member
That makes moving the bus barns harder not easier. The land underneath is meant to pay for a good portion of new bus barns.
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Urban Development and Proposals Discussion
- Thread starter Surrealplaces
- Start date
darwink
Senior Member
Pretty impossible to do so give the number of events and ticket prices, plus the television contract. The CFL isn't an especially (or perhaps at all) profitable venture.
trtcttc
Senior Member
Unfortunately stadiums are a tough sell these days. Last one built was Mosaic about 10 years ago and most are in secondary cities where there's more government subsides to attract investment - Regina, Hamilton, Winnipeg, are the only ones built post 2010. BMO Field is only 28,000 in Toronto. Not to mention the CFL doesn't seem to be doing great financially. McMahon isn't great, but it's not crumbling so it's hard to get groups together to put the money in. We only got a firm plan for the Saddledome once it was clear the building wasn't going to last much longer.
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CallmeCatbread
Active Member
I'm planning on producing a design for stampede park at some point that includes this. Though my motivation to do it is a little diminished now that I know populous is doing the same thing and no matter what I do stampede is just gonna go with their shitThat's what I've been saying in conversation to my friends and partner as well. That would also be a huge step in making the grounds a year round, or at least spring-summer-fall, destination.
Hadn't thought about the saddle shape, but yeah would be cool. Unfortunately part of the reason it needs to be demolished is the weak roof. So maybe a shape reminiscent of... I dunno, a cowboy hat? But somehow modern, abstract, and not gross kichy stampitecture
I'm imagining a roof similar to the one in Van, but either more rounded or closer to a rectangle, and maybe a lighting feature at the top blasting beams up into the sky (the top of the hat), and fins on the sides of the roof (the sides of the cowboy hat) to direct ice and snow down the arms rather than off the ledge... I dunno.
I wish I was good at photoshop. Maybe I'll draw it after work if I remember.
I think it's absolutely a no brainer to pay homage to the Saddledome. It's one of the most iconic buildings in the city and it will be a sad day when it is demolished. We could easily do a lightweight canopy structure that is similar in shape and orientation to the Saddledome. It would be like the Saddledome's ghost living on still featured prominently in front of the skyline from Scotsmans Hill.
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MichaelS
Senior Member
Was this ever clear? I don't recall ever seeing a firm assessment showing this, and what a cost estimate to repair it was. Hard to believe that the Saddledome, which is younger than most of the buildings in Calgary, was somehow on the brink of collapse.
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
Funny thing is. CSEC put some money into McMahon to make it better and then the UofC turned around and upped their rent because of the improvements. Needless to say, CSEC won't be making that mistake again.
Yes, there was a report about the Saddledome roof (you'd have to look it up). The choice was build a new roof or build new building. Since the existing building lacked a lot of other things modern Event Centres have, the decision was made to pony up for a new building. Personally, I think what we got is pretty good. Did it cost us a lot of money, yeah but what is money?
lemongrab
Active Member
It's just a crazy investment for 10-11 dates a year, half of which don't even draw 21k.
I doubt it. 4 of the 5 lowest attended games last year were the 4 homes games they played in July and August. But maybe if the team is good and the weather is perfect and they're playing the Roughriders they could do okay.
Interestingly, it looks like they played on Sneak-a-peak Thursday (July 3) this year and drew 22.4k - about 100 more than their Sat June 29 date last year. That's the closest to Stampede I can recall them playing for years (though tbh I haven't had any idea when their games are unless my dad mentioned it for years!)
Excluding Labour Day games, since 2022 they have exceeded 23k attendance just 5 times (4 of those against the Roughriders).
I doubt it. 4 of the 5 lowest attended games last year were the 4 homes games they played in July and August. But maybe if the team is good and the weather is perfect and they're playing the Roughriders they could do okay.
Interestingly, it looks like they played on Sneak-a-peak Thursday (July 3) this year and drew 22.4k - about 100 more than their Sat June 29 date last year. That's the closest to Stampede I can recall them playing for years (though tbh I haven't had any idea when their games are unless my dad mentioned it for years!)
Excluding Labour Day games, since 2022 they have exceeded 23k attendance just 5 times (4 of those against the Roughriders).
Mountain Man
Senior Member
Putting a football stadium where the Saddledome is would require the demolition of the Stampede offices. Definitely not something I'm opposed to... lol
DougB
Senior Member
Calgary would need to double in size to attract the MLB or NFL franchise that would be required to justify a new stadium
darwink
Senior Member
Eventually we will need to just do it. I wonder what a 'minimal viable product' could look like (and cost). Something like a modern auto-stade where instead of trying to stack facilities to save land, facilities (like concessions, bathrooms) were spread out a bit to save money and make the structure much more simple. Parts of the auto-stade are still in use today.
trtcttc
Senior Member
The most likely is probably MLS, but even then, US/Canada wealth gap is pretty far apart now that we probably won't see a Canadian expansion of any North American sports team (other than the PWHL) in a long long time.
trtcttc
Senior Member
It'll need to be mixed/multi-use for sure. Something smaller that can host football, soccer, and concerts. Not very fancy, just simple and functional. A bit like BMO Field in Toronto.
Albertasaurus
Senior Member
I don't see a redevelopment or replacement for McMahon until such time as the current stadium is considered structurally unsafe. Not sure how far away that day is.
Otherwise, the only hope I see is if perhaps they join forces with Cavalry FC to build a facility that is affordable and also usable for both clubs?
Otherwise, the only hope I see is if perhaps they join forces with Cavalry FC to build a facility that is affordable and also usable for both clubs?
ByeByeBaby
Active Member
A 50,000 seat stadium opened less than three weeks ago in Toronto. It's designed as a temporary 5-year facility, and it's only for concerts, but nonetheless it's fascinating to see the numbers worked out for that project.
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
Ideally you want something that can nicely go from 10,000 to 30,000 seat capacity.
The lower end being for Cavalry and Wild. The higher end being for Grey Cup, a big soccer match, outdoor NHL game and a big concert which would actually have higher capacity because you can use the field.
There are a lot of simple designs out there that can be pretty basic, which is all we need. Best comparisons are probably MLS stadiums...
en.wikipedia.org
Cincinnati
26,000 Seats
Opened May 16, 2021
Construction cost $250 million (343.75 million Canadian)
en.wikipedia.org
St. Louis
22,423 Seats
Opened November 16, 2022
Construction cost $457.8 million (629.48 million Canadian)
en.wikipedia.org
Austin
20,500 Seats
Opened June 16, 2021
Construction cost $260 million (357.50 million Canadian)
en.wikipedia.org
Columbus
20,371 Seats
Opened July 3, 2021
Construction cost $314 million (431.75 million Canadian)
So with a 2025 budget of $500 million Canadian you could probably get something like one of these. You could probably cut out a lot of bells and whistles (roof, permanent amenities, etc.) to maybe get it to $350 million Canadian. That doesn't seem crazy expensive to me. Especially if you put a bubble on it and call it a community recreation space from Mid-November to Mid-April.
The lower end being for Cavalry and Wild. The higher end being for Grey Cup, a big soccer match, outdoor NHL game and a big concert which would actually have higher capacity because you can use the field.
There are a lot of simple designs out there that can be pretty basic, which is all we need. Best comparisons are probably MLS stadiums...
TQL Stadium - Wikipedia
26,000 Seats
Opened May 16, 2021
Construction cost $250 million (343.75 million Canadian)
Energizer Park - Wikipedia
22,423 Seats
Opened November 16, 2022
Construction cost $457.8 million (629.48 million Canadian)
Q2 Stadium - Wikipedia
20,500 Seats
Opened June 16, 2021
Construction cost $260 million (357.50 million Canadian)
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field - Wikipedia
20,371 Seats
Opened July 3, 2021
Construction cost $314 million (431.75 million Canadian)
So with a 2025 budget of $500 million Canadian you could probably get something like one of these. You could probably cut out a lot of bells and whistles (roof, permanent amenities, etc.) to maybe get it to $350 million Canadian. That doesn't seem crazy expensive to me. Especially if you put a bubble on it and call it a community recreation space from Mid-November to Mid-April.