As anyone who lives in Calgary will tell you, we REALLY need a new stadium. When international rock groups and international soccer games go to Edmonton, you know Calgary has a problem [okay ... Edmonton's a nice place also]. The current stadium by the university is smallish, and can't host most events because the residential neighbours in the old areas around the building complain of noise.

Given that Calgary is bidding for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, I'm hoping plans for a stadium start flowing. Please post any news you might have [please, please!]

you're just jealous that there is one being planned in van! it's just cuz van is better then calgary (actually, i have no proof of this cuz i only drove t hrough calgary, never stopped.)

lol

i like calgary's current stadiums.

i like calgary's current stadiums.

The hockey arena is great [Pengrowth Saddledome, formerly the Canadian airlines Saddledome, formerly the Olympic Saddledome], however, though McMahon Stadium looks "okay", it can't host any decent functions due to the location / noise issue, and small size.

And with respect to the other poster, yes, Vancouver is a wonderful place. Glad to see you're getting an Olympics of your own.

LOL

Sorry but I'm a little confused.
When you say the stadium at UCalgary do you mean the one at Jubille LRT station or is there another I'm not aware of?

will calgary be building a soccor (football) stadium for the 2007 FIFA games? or are they using Edmonton's Commonwealth stadium?

Just to let you know Calgary dropped out of the 2014 Commonwealth Games bid about a month ago.

Calgary Drops Out Of 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid

Calgary Alberta has dropped out of the competition for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, organizers said Tuesday.

The city was competing against Ottawa, Halifax, Hamilton and York Region to become the Canadian candidate for the 2014 Games.

All five bidders have submitted letters of interest and non-refundable $5,000 deposits to Commonwealth Games of Canada.

Tourism Calgary said the bid was dropped after the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority voted unanimously not to proceed.

Authority chairman Doug Mitchell said the decision not to bid was made because there is not enough time to perform the detailed analysis required to host the Games.

Sorry but I'm a little confused.
When you say the stadium at UCalgary do you mean the one at Jubille LRT station or is there another I'm not aware of?

He's talking about McMahon stadium at Banff Trail station which is owned by the University of Calgary. The Stampeders currently rent out the facility for games, while at the same time there are also UofC Dinos games and such.

A new stadium would be ideal for somewhere near downtown.

That's what I was thinking too, that they're not bidding for the 2014 C'Wealth games anymore. Maybe that's because of having no main stadium that's "suitable"?

I agree. It would be great for Calgary to have a new stadium. I would like to see one over the CPR yards between the East Village and the Stampede grounds.

McMahan lands could be used for a mixed use development very much like Bridges. Great TOD location, that would attract a lot of residents.

will calgary be building a soccor (football) stadium for the 2007 FIFA games? or are they using Edmonton's Commonwealth stadium?
I believe Commonwealth will host the 07 FIFA games. Along with Toronto, Vancouver and I believe Montreal.

I believe Commonwealth will host the 07 FIFA games. Along with Toronto, Vancouver and I believe Montreal.

thanks! i knew about the big three hosting it but i wasn't sure whether it was either calgary or edmonton. GREAT on EDMONTON! the volunteers for the big events there are what makes the difference

I thought it was five cities, including Ottawa?

Though we're out of the running for the Commonwealth Games, a thought came to mind while reading the World Junior Hockey Championships 2009 thread. Here's what I wrote there. Anyone know of a stadium like what I was getting at below?

If this could work, Calgary's football stadium could actually host, on a regular interval, Calgary Flames hockey games! Can you imagine the playoffs?

-----
Speaking about larger stadiums for hosting hockey ...

Maybe hosting hockey games should be in the RQP for a new stadium for Calgary. Frankly speaking, the game in Edmonton wasn't something that I would have enjoyed to see in person ... the rink looked sooo small, and most of the people problably couldn't see a thing.

The way stadiums are currently designed, accomodating different functions is done by opening up the spaces. There is no way to do the opposite easily, IE smaller physical space sports. Instead - I'd like to see a covered stadium in Calgary in which the seats at one of the narrow ends can actually be moved in entirety all the way up to mid-field, such that a hockey game could be hosted width-wise on the opposite end. It would be a 50,000 seat stadium, that could convert to 30K or 35K for hockey. The surface of the stadium would have to be custom, perhaps like the new BC place surface, which can be lifted out in squares. The large rails for the seats would be hidden underneath.

I thought it was five cities, including Ottawa?
6 actually. Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria

ugh, I cant believe you folks are still talking about multi-sport venues. No one will ever build another baseball/football stadium again.

Being a Calgary Stampeder season ticket holder I love McMahon stadium. It would be nice if the place had more bathrooms and better concessions, but in terms of being a place to watch a game, there is none better. The sightlines are awesome, fans are right ontop of the game. Try watching a game in Commonwealth stadium, which although is a very nice place...it lacks the same character.

Dome=never

Calgary could be well served by renovating McMahon. It is a perfect size for a CFL stadium, alls it needs is a little love. While a much bigger stadium would be nice, you guys are a bit optimistic to think that the International Soccer games, Track and Field, etc.. would right away pack up down to Calgary. These types of events are well established in Edmonton and not likely to leave.

As for concerts, how many 60,000 person outdoor concerts do you think actually come through Alberta every year? Maybe 5 in the last decade? You definetly do not need a larger stadium for this.

And sorry one last thing - building a stadium to host outdoor hockey games probably isnt the smartest idea. THere is absolutely no, zero, nadda chance that the NHL would ever allow playoff games to be played in such an atmosphere. Id be very suprised if they even ever allowed another outdoor game in the near future. The Heritage Classic was a wonderful event (rink too small???wtf?) and having had the opportunity to go I can say it was amazing. However its looking like a one time thing, the potential problems with it upsetting players, gameplay, etc likely means we wont see another one for a long time - maybe as a special event only ie All Star game.

personally, having worked in three of Calgary's sports venues throughout my tennage years (Saddledome, Burns Stadium, McMahon Stadium) i think that Calgary could use an entirely new sports complex complete with a new NHL arena (lets face it, the saddledome is dated and the concert acoustics suck), football and baseball stadium.

build it where the current 'Dome is, but hurry! replace McMahon with a covered stadium, then move the Flames to Max Bell for a year or two and build a 25,000+ seat arena where the old 'dome was.

Well we have the province build a new stadium in Calgary and at the same time build a new arena in downtown Edmonton. That would work in my mind but it wont fly politically

personally, having worked in three of Calgary's sports venues throughout my tennage years (Saddledome, Burns Stadium, McMahon Stadium) i think that Calgary could use an entirely new sports complex complete with a new NHL arena (lets face it, the saddledome is dated and the concert acoustics suck), football and baseball stadium.

build it where the current 'Dome is, but hurry! replace McMahon with a covered stadium, then move the Flames to Max Bell for a year or two and build a 25,000+ seat arena where the old 'dome was.

The Flames would never play in the Max Bell. Can you imagine an NHL team playing in front of a sold out crowd of 2,000 people? ugh.

I have recently talked to Ken King the president of the Flames, his next goal for the team is a new arena. In terms of size he's wanting somthing with 18,000 seats at the most and many more areas for groups such as luxury suites, obviously to capitalize on Calgary's office community.

In terms of what you say for sound at concerts, I disagree. The Saddledome's sloped roof makes the venue smaller and provides better acoustics. The building was also built with sound deadening panels in the roof to prevent reverb, somthing most other venues don't have.

I agree with replacing burns stadium with a downtown ball park in the east village, but Mcmahon could be an excellent facility if it underwent a renovation, much like the saddledome did 10 years back.

hey the flames DID play in the Corral for two years until the 'dome was built. although, maybe moving them to Max Bell for a year or two is far fetched. we could do that with the Hitmen and the Roughnecks.

i don't get the point of having these 18.000 seat arenas with luxury boxes. i mean if these suits in their glass towers downtown don't appreciate the luxury of the seats behind the Flames bench, then they should have to sit in the nosebleeds. make them appreciate the seats they have. you don't do business at a hockey game. thats like listening to Marylin Manson on your iPod in church.

It's all about corporate dollars. The Flames can sell their best suites for 300-400K a year. when you keep in mind the best season tickets cost 6K a year it's a nobrainer. The flames have about 70 suites right now, all of them are sold out, with a huge wait list. I specifically asked Ken King if he wanted more seats. He came out with a resounding...no, they want less seats, more boxes. It's where the money is. Especially in a city like Calgary.

The Stamps just need to upgrade their current facilities. They're gonna be upgrading the locker rooms/front office in about two years... and from what I hear, it'll be two floors high, and finally connect both sides of the stands at that end. Hopefully, they add some more features when they do that though. I'd like to see more color/design added to the stadium.

The Stamps just need to upgrade their current facilities...


other CFL cities upgrade thier facilities. i mean honestly, Calgary has a lot of money to spend, why don't they let the Dino's have McMahon all to themselves, and build the Stampeders a new 65K seat stadium that would outseat every other stadium in the CFL.

other CFL cities upgrade thier facilities. i mean honestly, Calgary has a lot of money to spend, why don't they let the Dino's have McMahon all to themselves, and build the Stampeders a new 65K seat stadium that would outseat every other stadium in the CFL.


I still think the stadium works for the purpose. The Stadium/land itself is owned by the Alberta Government, in which they let the Stamps rent it.

Building another stadium might not be feasible if it's just for football, as the stamps wouldnt be able to bring in that kind of cash to facilitate that... and somehow, it's hard to believe their games will bring in more than 40,000 fans unless they're really really really good.

a new world class stadium that could host things like summer olympics, track and field, soccer.. stuff like that would serve a purpose if that's what we're aiming for.. but for just football... an upgraded mcmahon will do just fine.

What they should do is upgrade the front of the complex to have a more appealing look, add more seats on top of the front office even.. better training/locker facilities to appeal better players, also build a parkade structure, and upgrade the road arteries going in and out of the stadium.

I think they just upgraded the turf, and added video screens recently? Right now, I think there's only seating on opposite sides of the field. I'd like to see them expand, and build seating on both sides of the endzone as well. That way, some of the seats on the sides of the field can be knocked out to create more luxury boxes for corporate sponsors. Add two new video screens on opposite corners of the building, and upgrade the concourse underneath the stadium to make it more indoors, more food kiosks, washroom facilities.

Calgary needs a civic art gallery and a new downtown library more than it needs another sports stadium. McMahon is just fine thank you very much. As for hosting outdoor megaconcerts it might be more useful to do something with the ski-jumping bowl at COP. You couldn't enclose it or heat it, but you might be able to put a retractable roof over the bowl to keep out the rain.

I'd rather see McMahan stadium move, and redevelop the land in a similar manor to the Bridges. Maybe higher density though. It would be an enourmously attractive place in town to live. Mountain and downtown views, right on an LRT line a few stops from downtown. It would also serve to house more university students.

I'm tempted to drift off topic, but I think a discussion of redeveloping the area around the university would merit its own thread...

Mcmahon needs a Major renovation, cmon Taylor field in Regina is better (that should wake up some complacent Calgarians) It could easily be upgraded by finishing off both ends and then renovating the eastside and then the westside (multi year project) The locker room end is slightly better than construction trailers now and the red and white club could be total rebuilt for conferences which can add to income. Adding some sort of restaurant and shopping area could also pay some rent in an area that needs more. hopefully with what seems to be more stable Stampeder ownership things will progress

I think a great solution for everyone would be to construct a 50-60,000 state of the art stadium with a retracable roof that could be part of a large trade and convention centre development somewhere by the stampede grounds. Meanwhile, why don't the U of C decrease the capacity of McMahon to about 20,000 and concentrate on fixing up the concession/bathroom areas. The facillity could be home to a soccer team and amateur sports. That way you gain a smaller stadium, a large stadium, and convention space all for the price of one large football stadium.

^^ Okay, do you have the $$$?

Not ON me right now. :)

Good one.

Do any of you have a picture of McMahon during the Games?

Do any of you have a picture of McMahon during the Games?

The Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, 1988
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0705opening33-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0705opening29-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0705opening26-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0705opening22-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0705opening23-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0711closing1-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/0711closing5-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/e004923384-v6.jpg
http://www.culture.ca/showcase/200601/images/e004923383-v6.jpg

Wow! But, since Calgary is booming, I think they should at least consider a new one, one that would last for years and still look nice.

McMahon is one of the top 3 football stadiums in Canada. It is old, but offers great sightlines. If Calgary builds a new stadium make sure there is no running track and the stands are right next to the side lines.

Edmonton's stadium is newer and modern in comparison, but you're 50 feet from the action even if you're in the front row. Edmonton: get rid of the track, lower the field, and add a few more rows of seating in the front to bring the fans closer to the game. Ohio Stadium and LA Coliseum both did it. Works very well.

McMahon is one of the top 3 football stadiums in Canada. It is old, but offers great sightlines. If Calgary builds a new stadium make sure there is no running track and the stands are right next to the side lines.

Edmonton's stadium is newer and modern in comparison, but you're 50 feet from the action even if you're in the front row. Edmonton: get rid of the track, lower the field, and add a few more rows of seating in the front to bring the fans closer to the game. Ohio Stadium and LA Coliseum both did it. Works very well.

I think there needs to be a whole lot more thought than this. Though I understand what you are saying with respect to football, fact is that only accounts for 10 or so events per year. Commonwealth on the other hand, gets used a whole lot more. Consider the concerts and additional international sporting events. And remember, the smaller city of Edmonton's stadium already has 20,000 more seats! Let us not dwell on what Edmonton should do to their facility, and instead focus on improving what is in our city!

For a new stadium, perhaps the last 30 feet or so on each side can be retractable, to expose a track when needed. In addition, any new stadium should consider being multi-use with lacrosse and soccer (and having the flexibility features to customize to each sport). It is a real shame that a major city like Calgary doesn't have a proper facility for hosting even a single game for the U20 World Cup of Soccer that Canada is hosting this year.

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/U20WC_2007/

"The FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 will take place from June 30 - July 22, 2007 in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Burnaby, and Victoria."

Stadium design depends on many many factors. Agreed. I am aware of the financial problems of building football specific buildings, but the other extreme is not desirable either. The issue I have is with stadiums that try to be too much to too many and end up doing everything poorly.

The Skydome is a good case in point. It's a baseball stadium, a football stadium, a concert venue, a theatre venue, etc. The end result is a venue that is mediocre in staging some events, and plain awful in alot of cases.

Football and soccer work well together, but athletic tracks and baseball should never be combined with a football/soccer venue.

^^ I hear ya'. Baseball and ANY other sport doesn't make sense.

I really hope the flames and oilers get new state of the art NHL arenas with luxury boxes. Would be beneficial to the area not just for hockey but for concerts, events and so on.

They should also consider building an MLS stadium in either Calgary or Edmonton to represent Alberta in MLS after Montreal and Vancouver land teams.

That may take 20-30 years as MLS needs to mature and grow interest and talent where it already is. But we will probably get it as in 20-30 years, we might have another million or two living in this province.

As for hockey arenas, in Edmonton we're hoping we'll get it within 10 years. Lots of things falling into place for Edmonton.

Edmonton is probably ready for MLS now. The key is a soccer specific stadium that isn't too big. 20,000 would be large enough. Commonwealth is just too big. Even the Eskimos have trouble filling that one.

Eventually, I'd love to see MLS in Calgary also, but I don't think you'll have to wait 20-30 years for that. Soccer isn't as foreign as it used to be, especially with the younger generations. It wouldn't surprise me if Calgarians quickly adopted soccer within a decade.

Edmonton is probably ready for MLS now. The key is a soccer specific stadium that isn't too big. 20,000 would be large enough. Commonwealth is just too big. Even the Eskimos have trouble filling that one.

Eventually, I'd love to see MLS in Calgary also, but I don't think you'll have to wait 20-30 years for that. Soccer isn't as foreign as it used to be, especially with the younger generations. It wouldn't surprise me if Calgarians quickly adopted soccer within a decade.

While Edmonton and Calgary may be able to support teams in the MLS, remembr the league is a US invention and will probably concentrate expansion efforts south of the border for many years to come.

If Calgary builds a new stadium for anything, football and baseball would be my first and second choices for stadiums.

build a temporary 40,000 seater for cheap.

Edmonton is probably ready for MLS now. The key is a soccer specific stadium that isn't too big. 20,000 would be large enough. Commonwealth is just too big. Even the Eskimos have trouble filling that one.

Eventually, I'd love to see MLS in Calgary also, but I don't think you'll have to wait 20-30 years for that. Soccer isn't as foreign as it used to be, especially with the younger generations. It wouldn't surprise me if Calgarians quickly adopted soccer within a decade.

Edmonton may be ready for it, but is MLS ready for Edmonton?

1) Edmonton just had Fifa U-20 tourny. And I feel that Alberta can only support 1 team. MLS has stated they WILL expand to Montreal and Vancouver after 2010 because Toronto FC holds Canada rights till after that. Most likely their current USL teams will be switching over. That's why Alberta should build a stadium in a neutral territory so both fans from each city can have access. This will not be 20-30 years away, 10 years I say. There will prolly be 4 teams in Canada by then.

2) The Oilers will be the first to get a new arena, just look at Mr. Katz bid to buy the oilers and build a downtown stadium announced last week. This is the first priority considering Rexall is outdated, has no luxury boxes so there is a huge loss in revenue, and it is one of the oldest arenas in the NHL.

3) The CFL teams wont be getting new stadiums in my opinion, just they will prolly undergo massive renovations to make them more on par with the new Blue Bomber Stadium and Rogers Centre.

4) Flames will also get a new arena in the near future for the same reasons as the Oilers (luxury boxes).

I'm still very much of a fan of keeping the Saddledome, either for the Flames or for the community. That place is an iconic hockey arena.

What if they tore the Saddledome down, and built a larger, better version of it on the same site? The new building could take the Saddledome name and even feature a saddle shaped roof. Madison Square Garden is the third of fourth MSG building on the same site. Same goes for Wembley in London.

That may take 20-30 years as MLS needs to mature and grow interest and talent where it already is. But we will probably get it as in 20-30 years, we might have another million or two living in this province.

As for hockey arenas, in Edmonton we're hoping we'll get it within 10 years. Lots of things falling into place for Edmonton.

By that time Canada would have it's own professional league.

By that time Canada would have it's own professional league.

It should. It would then amalgamate with MLS (like MLB's leagues) then or another 15 years.

It should. It would then amalgamate with MLS (like MLB's leagues) then or another 15 years.

FIFA would never allow that.

Oh... Hmmmm...

I still don't think the MLS will be big enough to warrant an Edmonton team in 15 years. Maybe in 20 years.

not Edmonton, not Calgary, AN ALBERTA TEAM

liek the BC lions and how the rep all of BC and like Sask Rough Riders and how the rep the province, Regina and Saskatoon.


A Canadian Soccer League in my opinion is 25 years away. MLS would be stupid to let a market like Toronto and Vancouver go.

An Alberta team makes more sense, agreed.

Hopefully the CSA cleans up and starts being proactive. For a Canadian league in 10-15 years (I'm optimistic), they should have a development plan, and follow examples around the world like Australia and the USA.

Yep, Australia's best soccer league, the A-League, is based in Australia and has 8 teams. The premier league in Canada will probably end up being the foreign based MLS, but we should at least aim to eventually host 8 teams. If Australia, a country much smaller than Canada can support 8 teams, we can surely support a minimum of 8.

Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City
Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver

This shoud be the absolute minimum we should be satisfied with. 12 teams within 20 years is a more adequate representation, however. The problem is when your league is foreign based, developing the sport in Canada is not considered central, but an after thought.

Regarding a Calgary stadium, I love McMahon, but I think Calgary has completely outgrown that facility. I just hope that any new stadium isn't a dome, is grass, and has grandstands that are parallel to the football field. And please, please, please, no athletics track. Calgary could easily support a stadium as large as Edmonton's, if not larger. Calgary continues it's population boom, and any future stadium must acknowledge this.

Screw Edmonton and Calgary, let's just have it Alberta, like Vancouver is BC. Spread it around for another team in another area to happen.

Calgary should build a multi-purpose stadium, seating capacity around 40,000 would be good.

Something similar to the Rogers Centre.

No, nothing like Rogers Centre. For the love of god, don't build something like Roger's Centre. It doesn't do anything well.

I just meant to say something similar to Rogers Centre that could be used for a variety of purposes. I didn't mean the shape or the roof, just something that could be used for different purposes.

For the most part, multi-purpose venues have not been great successes. Football and soccer could work, but never ever build a stadium that also tries to be a baseball stadium. They are disasters. Often they try to accomodate all these different sports, and end up satisfying none of them.

McMahon is a great place to watch a football game because it is built for football. Try watching football at the Rogers Centre. Almost every seat is awkward in some way. You can't even see the corner of the end zones from alot of the seats. Rogers Centre is a mediocre baseball venue, horrible for other sports, and not good for concerts...perhaps tractor pulls work well there.

I would love to see Calgary get a new, state of the art, stadium but the reality is that that is so far down the list of priorities for the city that it doesn't even get general discussion around town. There is talk of a new coliseum for the Flames, but that's different. What's more likely is that McMahon Stadium will continue to get facelifts here and there to maintain it as an acceptable venue for field sports. Calgary's not progressive enough to build a stadium just because it's good to have a better one.

Calgary may have to wait a long time for a new football stadium, but at least you've got one that has amazing atmosphere and great sight lines for football. As a football venue, I'd take McMahon Stadium over Rogers Centre any day. Rogers Centre is so bad for football it is affecting success of the Argonauts. I love football, but find it hard to watch in that facility. In fact, I avoid going there.

Calgary may have to wait a long time for a new football stadium, but at least you've got one that has amazing atmosphere and great sight lines for football. As a football venue, I'd take McMahon Stadium over Rogers Centre any day. Rogers Centre is so bad for football it is affecting success of the Argonauts. I love football, but find it hard to watch in that facility. In fact, I avoid going there.

That may very well cause another team to pop up in Mississauga or another team in the GTA. I personally wouldn't mind seeing that.

Eventually, a team in Mississauga would make sense. First, the Argonauts need to reconnect with the city to the extent that was the case pre-1980. The stadium problem needs to be solved.

Toronto FC is already looking to expand BMO Field. A BMO Field closer to 40,000 would be an ideal venue for the Argonauts. The sight lines are good for football, the atmosphere is vastly superior, and a renewed interest would be generated. A similar phenenom occurred when the Alouettes moved out of Olympic Stadium to Molson Stadium.

An Argonaut team at BMO Field needs to happen, then a 2nd team in a football/soccer specific stadium in Mississauga would add to the momentum of pro-football in the GTA.

If Melbourne can support 9 Australian Rules Football teams, much larger Toronto should be able to support 2 Canadian Football Teams. Popularity of football in Canada? Alot of people in this country discount the popularity of the CFL since NFL teams draw better, but we need to put things in perspective. The CFL is has the 6th highest game attendance of any sports league on the planet.

NFL: 67,000
Bundesliga (Germany-soccer): 37,644
Australian Football League (Australian Rules Football): 35,250
Premier League (England-soccer): 34,363
Major League Baseball: 31,423
Canadian Football League: 29,343

It attracts larger crowds than soccer in France or Spain and larger crowds than baseball in Japan. Canadian Football, isn't that far off from being #2 in the world. Concluding that the CFL isn't popular by comparing it to the size of crowds in the NFL, isn't fair. American cities have far greater populations to draw from.

The CFL is has the 6th highest game attendance of any sports league on the planet.

NFL: 67,000
Bundesliga (Germany-soccer): 37,644
Australian Football League (Australian Rules Football): 35,250
Premier League (England-soccer): 34,363
Major League Baseball: 31,423
Canadian Football League: 29,343

It attracts larger crowds than soccer in France or Spain and larger crowds than baseball in Japan. Canadian Football, isn't that far off from being #2 in the world. Concluding that the CFL isn't popular by comparing it to the size of crowds in the NFL, isn't fair. American cities have far greater populations to draw from.

Your comparison above, particularly to soccer, is not a fair one. While there are only a handful of CFL games, there are NUMEROUS soccer games. A city like London would have millions and millions attending games cumulatively. Imagine if the English Premier League only had 18 game seasons like the CFL ... London would need a stadium of 500,000+, and it would be packed!

BTW ...

NCAA Division I FBS football College American football United States 2006
Attendance - 36,814,468
Per game average - 46,249

If we could only figure out how to make a football/soccer/hockey stadium ...
movable stands on huge rails something like skydome's roof?

I know it is unrealistic ... but one can dream.

Why are you trying to read more into statistics than they are designed to show? Average attendance/game is exactly what it says: average attendance/game! In plain English, these figures state how many people on average are going to be at a game. Nothing more, nothing less.

No one is talking about total attendance per year in certain sports leagues. Statistics are absolutely useless if people don't understand what the statistics represent. I think it is quite obvious what average game attendance means. It is as clear as the English language allows. Your comments also indicate that you have missed the point.

By the way, the Skydome looks impressive, but it is an atrocious venue for watching sports. Multi-purpose sports venues, are for the most part, disasters.

Plus, why wouldn't you want multiple sports venues? Is it because you think you would be wishing for too much for that to happen or what?

Why are you trying to read more into statistics than they are designed to show? Average attendance/game is exactly what it says: average attendance/game! In plain English, these figures state how many people on average are going to be at a game. Nothing more, nothing less.

No one is talking about total attendance per year in certain sports leagues. Statistics are absolutely useless if people don't understand what the statistics represent. I think it is quite obvious what average game attendance means. It is as clear as the English language allows. Your comments also indicate that you have missed the point.

By the way, the Skydome looks impressive, but it is an atrocious venue for watching sports. Multi-purpose sports venues, are for the most part, disasters.

Relax man - you're absolutely correct that statistics are useless if people don't understand what they represent. The only reason average attendance numbers for the CFL are somewhat large (at ~65% of US college numbers) is that there are so few games.

The thread is not all about what you post. I'm free (as are all) to bring up whatever statistics they wish. Your response, and you've obviously been agitated, demonstrates that you've missed the point - I was not arguing with you, just showing a different perspective on statistics, which demonstrate how small the CFL really is.

And looks like you've missed my point about the moving stands also. My reference to skydome was simply to demonstrate how stands could move like the roof of skydome does. No one was arguing about how good or bad skydome is as a multi-sport venue.

We are all aware that football teams don't play as many games/season as soccer teams. The CFL do actually play more games/season than NFL or NCAA teams do, but this wasn't the point of my comment.

If you followed the line of thought, the reasoning was that in the CFL 30,000 fans on average, show up at a game. That in the grand scheme of things, 30,000 is a decently large game attendance. People in this country tend to think it is not because 67,000 show up at NFL games. What they don't take into account is that NFL GAME attendance is way higher than any other league on the planet.

You are completely entitled to your perspective, and your comment would normally be a welcomed point, but you've hijacked the discussion and took it off on a tangent. That was what was abit irksome, not your observation. In response to a previous forumer, I commented on the feasibility of a Mississauga team. I guess if you don't want to talk about that, that's fine.

You are right that I should relax...sorry. I just got abit frustrated having one statistic used to go onto another topic entirely.

Don't get me wrong, I've been wanting a new stadium in Calgary for a long time ... and I've brought it up here and on SSP on numerous occasions. We've discussed various locations, and what sports work better together also. The two prime spots are fire park to the East of DT (Barlow Maxbell station) and the large car dealership lands to the West of DT (new West line). The other location mentioned at some point was the current bus terminal in Victoria Park. It, along with the parking lot and a pinch from the rail yards, could be big enough for a smaller stadium (but not MacMahon replacement).

Calgary regularly misses out on events - be they large concerts, international level soccer, etc. and a lot of that has to do with the stadium.

Why not expand McMahon Stadium to more than 50,000 capacity? That option would be better than a new stadium.

Why not expand McMahon Stadium to more than 50,000 capacity? That option would be better than a new stadium.

They could, or they could something new. What would you gain apart from the added seats?

Stadium design depends on many many factors. Agreed. I am aware of the financial problems of building football specific buildings, but the other extreme is not desirable either. The issue I have is with stadiums that try to be too much to too many and end up doing everything poorly.

The Skydome is a good case in point. It's a baseball stadium, a football stadium, a concert venue, a theatre venue, etc. The end result is a venue that is mediocre in staging some events, and plain awful in alot of cases.

Football and soccer work well together, but athletic tracks and baseball should never be combined with a football/soccer venue.

The Skydome is one of few World Class stadiums in Canada, I don't see how it's mediocre.