|
Post by jets4life on Dec 13, 2004 6:02:36 GMT -5
There has been talk between Blue Bomber GM Lyle Baure and CanadInns ownership about building a new 30,000 seat stadium for the Bombers, located at the Assiniboia Downs complex. CanadInns would build a hotel, 2 nightclubs, and possibly a casino on the complex. What are your thoughts on this?
|
|
NHLSUCKS
Rookie Member
The Original Manitoba Moose Fan
Posts: 19
|
Post by NHLSUCKS on Dec 13, 2004 6:44:28 GMT -5
Before anything happens, Lyle Bauer and the rest of the Blue Bomber executive are going to do a study whether to do a major renovation to the old place or possibly build a new one. If we do see a new stadium, it won't be for at least 5 years minimum. The MTS Centre project took almost 8 years from planning the place, financing it, finding a place to build it, political red tape, and finally construction. (Eatons Demolition included). I personally think that building a new stadium at the Red River Ex/Assiniboia Downs site is bad. It may be the only place. I also have a problem with the capacity, 40,000 seats should be the minimum.
|
|
|
Post by Big Chris in Japan on Dec 13, 2004 19:42:17 GMT -5
There has been talk between Blue Bomber GM Lyle Baure and CanadInns ownership about building a new 30,000 seat stadium for the Bombers, located at the Assiniboia Downs complex. CanadInns would build a hotel, 2 nightclubs, and possibly a casino on the complex. What are your thoughts on this? Interesting, but I wouldn`t want the stadium to be way out at the Perimeter, nor would I want it in an area that would be extremely windy in October and November. I would prefer to see them do a full scale renovation of the old stadium and at long last build south endzone seats. (that would bring capacity up to about 35,000.) One thing I would start with is the second rate novelty booths. Fix those up as well as the concession stands and make them more attractive to the board of health. Up next would be the addition of elevators and completely enclose the indoor sections of the stadium and start heating the place. Then, I would add an East side restaraunt/bar and grill to attach to the interior of the stadium with easy access to the seating area ala Hu`s On First at Canwest Global Park. I think the sightlines for the current stadium are great and if they do a GOOD job of renovating it, unlike WEC`s bandaids of the past, CanadInns Stadium can again be the class of the CFL.
|
|
|
Post by Ari G on Dec 13, 2004 22:48:59 GMT -5
A suburban or out-of-the-way location is best, because you would have a big lot for tailgating. And tailgating is the BIGGEST part of the football tradition besides the game. Downtown and inner-city ballparks and arenas are very good, but football stadiums work best when they're built outside of existing development.
Speaking of parking lots, I went to a Bombers game this past August with my brother, and that parking lot at CanadInns is absolutely, positively, the WORST parking lot on the face of the planet Earth. It had just stopped raining, and my brother and I were walking to the stadium (thank god we parked at Polo Park), and there was mush and puddles EVERYWHERE. And it's not a gravel lot, either. It was like concrete that was in really horrible shape.
|
|
|
Post by 3lackThorne on Dec 13, 2004 22:51:41 GMT -5
I don't care if the new Bomber stadium is out in the middle of nowhere.... or on the other side of the city as me... or out by Assiniboia Downs. The Bombers play 10 home games a year (at most I'll attend 3 a yr.).... if they played 40 home games a year, yeah, then it would be a problem.
They definitely need a new stadium though... I think CanAd Inns has been renovated about as much you can renovate a football stadium built in the 50's.
|
|
|
Post by Ari G on Dec 13, 2004 23:04:57 GMT -5
Exactly, BlackThorne. It's like that episode of the Simpsons where Marge keeps altering that Chanel suit over and over again. Eventually it gets destroyed in the sewing machine. ;D
But if anything needs to be said of this new stadium, I have to say PLEASE no dome. PLEASE, PLEASE no dome!! Domes suck all the fan enthusiasm and support out of a team. Case in point, the NDSU Bison. They built a 19,000-seat dome for us back in 1992, and now Bison football games resemble a library. There's old people reading books at the games, and then they tell anyone who cheers to sit down and shut up. I'm not kidding. The magic has been sucked out of the games.
I could give CFL examples too, like the Argonauts, Allouettes or Lions.
|
|
|
Post by jets4life on Dec 14, 2004 0:57:35 GMT -5
If the Bombers make a Dome stadium, I will stop going to the games. Domes suck.
|
|
NHLSUCKS
Rookie Member
The Original Manitoba Moose Fan
Posts: 19
|
Post by NHLSUCKS on Dec 14, 2004 8:44:12 GMT -5
If the Bombers make a Dome stadium, I will stop going to the games. Domes suck. You will never see a dome here. You are looking at approximately 300 million dollars. The Alerus and the Fargodome which are bush league facilities. I've been to both.
|
|
Dave74
Veteran Member
Posts: 239
|
Post by Dave74 on Dec 14, 2004 13:01:38 GMT -5
domes are too expensive... and usually were built for more then just CFL use. ex: the big O, skydome.
a new place would be nice, the Downs is soo far tho. They could build one is many open places in Winnipeg. Heck there is a field accross my house.
|
|
|
Post by Yar on Dec 14, 2004 16:50:10 GMT -5
i dont like the assinaboine downs site for a new stadium. its too far away from everything(including me). personally, i like the canadinn stadium. its sightlines are very good. it would have to be a good renovation though. not just a band aid like some of you mentioned. the last renovation i believe was for the pan-am games and that was a pretty good improvement. especially the seating. if a new stadium is built, they have got to find a better location for it.
|
|
|
Post by Believer on Dec 14, 2004 18:24:40 GMT -5
How bout the old Canada Packer's site?
|
|
|
Post by General Taylor on Dec 18, 2004 8:30:07 GMT -5
I always thought the military base on route 90 would be a good location. Lots of space there however it would be a nightmare for traffic. Kennaston is the only road leading to and from the location.
|
|
|
Post by hatrick007 on Dec 18, 2004 12:04:41 GMT -5
Hmm.. The Bay Downtown is talking about downsizing and only using the first 2-3 floors of its building for retail space. Lets build a football stadium ontop of that ;D. Then sports facilities will have been overtop of Both the Bay and the Eatons buildings! lol
|
|
|
Post by 3lackThorne on Dec 20, 2004 18:34:15 GMT -5
They're gonna announce plans for a new Bomber stadium tomorrow!
_____________________________________________________________ Chipman is ruining my life
|
|
|
Post by Yar on Dec 20, 2004 18:51:56 GMT -5
where did you hear about it? any links?
|
|
|
Post by jets4life on Dec 21, 2004 7:36:21 GMT -5
Winnipeg Sun, Dec. 21: New pigskin digs?
Bombers launch study into stadium at Red River Park
By KIRK PENTON, STAFF REPORTER
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers want a new home. Now they're going to find out if they can get it.
A provincial government source confirmed yesterday the CFL team, in conjunction with Red River Exhibition Park and Canad Corp., will announce today the start of a federally funded study that will examine the feasibility of building a multi-use sports facility on the western edge of Winnipeg.
At an 11 a.m. news conference today, Winnipeg Football Club chairman Gene Dunn, Red River Exhibition Association president and CEO Paul Robson and Canad Inns president Leo Ledohowski will present "a spectacular proposal," according to a news release issued yesterday.
"The three groups will be able to shed some light on plans we hope to come to fruition out here," Robson said yesterday. "This is an announcement to talk about the beginning of a process -- not the end of a process -- but an exciting one nonetheless.
"There's obviously a number of elements to this that we'd like to put together. It may be a little more than is on the surface."
Besides a new stadium, it's believed the study will look at the feasibility of a new Canad Inns hotel and water park on the Red River Exhibition Park's 380 acres, located northwest of the intersection of the Trans-Canada and Perimeter highways.
SHOWING ITS AGE
Ottawa will pay for the study under an economic agreement signed with Manitoba, the provincial government source said. It's unclear how much the study will cost or how long it will take to complete.
Federal Treasury Board president Reg Althingy and provincial Industry Minister Jim Rondeau are scheduled to be at today's announcement.
The community-owned Bombers have spent the past 51 seasons at Winnipeg Stadium, or Canad Inns Stadium as it's been known since 2001. The Maroons Road facility was built in 1952 at a cost of $672,000, and the property is showing its age.
Late last year, Bombers president and CEO Lyle Bauer said it was time for the WFC to either build a new stadium or renovate its current one. Bauer, who revealed last week that he's battling throat cancer, reiterated those thoughts last month.
"There's a very nice ball park (CanWest Global Park) and a very nice new arena (MTS Centre)," Bauer told The Sun on Nov. 11. "People get accustomed to those new types of amenities and then that becomes the standard.
BIG QUESTION WILL BE COST
"We probably don't want to be at a decided disadvantage, which we are now."
If the project gets the go-ahead, the next big question will be cost. The Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts announced earlier this fall they are building a new 25,000-seat home at York University for approximately $70 million.
The federal government is contributing $27 million, while the province of Ontario is tossing in $8 million.
A new stadium in Winnipeg might cost a little more because it will probably have 30,000 seats, but Robson said it isn't certain that the venture would require public money.
"Quite honestly, we don't know that," said the former Bomber player and general manager.
"I don't know that's the immediate conclusion I would jump to.
"There are some assets out here (at Red River Ex) that are quite significant."
As for the hotel and water park, the president and CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association said the area could use some lodging, but Jim Baker is concerned about the effect on other area hotels.
"I've often wondered ... that there isn't really accommodation on that west perimeter (area)," Baker said. "And it would seem to me if I was heading from the west to the east or the States and it's late at night, I'd probably want to stay out there and then hit the bypass (in the morning).
"It might do well ... but it also cannibalizes somebody else."
link: www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2004/12/21/pf-791881.html
|
|
|
Post by KillerBrew on Dec 21, 2004 14:25:04 GMT -5
Hollywood on moosehockey.com posted these pics of the could be new stadium: I hope those pics worked
|
|
|
Post by KillerBrew on Dec 21, 2004 14:30:46 GMT -5
I like it. I don't mind the location because we only have at least 9 games a year and those are spread out, plus I live in St. James so it's not much of a problem for me. The idea of making the hotel football shaped is pretty clever. What do y'all think of the pics?
|
|
|
Post by jets4life on Dec 21, 2004 14:35:04 GMT -5
Not too sure....
I like the design, but I really don't care for the canopy at the top. It makes it look like the Dallas Cowboys stadium. If the canopy was removed, it would look better, IMO.
|
|
|
Post by 3lackThorne on Dec 21, 2004 15:07:28 GMT -5
I was really suprised by the look.... doesn't look like something that would be built in Winnipeg, does it?
I like it though... *really* modern looking... and I LOVE how it's somewhat enclosed.... now it won't be as chilly in there in Oct. and Nov.
Still though- it looks like a giant toilet seat! They'd better paint that "thingy" surrounding the stadium BLUE.
|
|