Canadian stadiums

[Yellow Fever]

Regina's Moasic Stadium..




By edward willett, flickr.




By daniel paquet, flickr.



Regina skyline is quite impressive for a city of under 200,000.

By computer saskboy, flickr.

[Steeltown]

Proposed stadium for Hamilton...


Proposed velodrome next to the stadium....

[Yellow Fever]

More Commonwealth Stadium photos...









from flickr.

[isaidso]

Moncton I can't wait to watch a game at this stadium.





Both pictures by ErickMontreal

Originally Posted by brettinhalifax

Construction progress:
image hosted on flickr


25,000 seats

[isaidso]

CanWest Park, 'The Fishbowl'





http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9...titled1am4.jpg
http://www.mcgowanrussell.com/images/canwest01.jpg

[Yellow Fever]

Nice downtown baseball stadium!

[isaidso]

I think it's the best ball park in the country. Labatt Park is second, but only for historical reasons.

[Yellow Fever]

Can this ball park be upgraded to MLB level?

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Yellow Fever

Can this ball park be upgraded to MLB level?

I'm not sure what MLB standards would entail. I'm assuming that the stadium would need to meet minimum revenue generating capabilities. This would likely involve a combination of minimum seating capacity, luxury boxes, concession and other retail generating space, etc. A city needs a fairly substantial and well capitalized business community, but that is outside the scope of the stadium itself.

Canwest Park is fairly new, so I imagine the biggest hurdle would be to add another 1 or 2 tiers of seating to bring it up to about 35,000 seats. Capacity and attendance are the highest in the Northern League, but at only 7,481. The lowest average attendance in MLB is over 20,000. Everything is do-able, it's just a matter of whether Winnipeg has the money and population base to fill such a stadium, and sustain a MLB team. Probably no, on both accounts.

That said, this is how baseball parks should look like. Intimate, charming, and with grass. That skyline backdrop doesn't hurt either. Canwest Park has twice been honoured by Baseball America.

A bizarre photo from a Winnipeg Goldeye game:


http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?p...oto_id=4337645
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...egGoldeyes.PNG

Some others:


I like their logo too. Didn't know a Goldeye was a fish.





http://www.musco.com/projshow/images/canwest.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/charliesba...h/canwest2.jpg
http://www.mopupduty.com/winnipeg.jpg

[Yellow Fever]

Thanks! Me too, I find this stadium is really beautiful as well. Good job, Winnipeg!

[isaidso]

TD Waterhouse Stadium, London, Ontario

image hosted on flickr




image hosted on flickr


TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ontario was built in 2000 and has a capacity of 8,000 to 16,000 people. It is primarily used as the home stadium for the University of Western Ontario Mustang football team. Configured at 8,000, it is the 7th largest college football stadium in the nation. At 16,000, it is the 4th largest.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/...a257b85dd4.jpg
http://www.westernhomecoming.uwo.ca/...s/Football.jpe
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/4...2334160a92.jpg

[isaidso]

Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan



image hosted on flickr




Griffiths Stadium was built in 1967 for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football team. Capacity is 4,997 and the 15th largest college football stadium in the nation. The 2006 Vanier Cup saw temporary stands erected bringing capacity up to 13,000.


http://facilities.usask.ca/images/ne.../griffiths.gif
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/...a876a96931.jpg
http://www.usask.ca/communications/o...nd-of-game.jpg

[isaidso]

Raymond Field, Wolfville, Nova Scotia



image hosted on flickr


Raymond Field opened in 1966 and seats 3,500. This is the home of the Acadia University Axemen Football team. It is one of the smallest college football stadiums at one of the smallest schools in one of the smallest communities with a university. In 2007, the grass was replaced with Field Turf and an 8 lane athletics track built. Raymond Field features the largest lettering on any football field in America.


http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/sit.../11/game02.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/...9854ff48a4.jpg

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Didn't know a Goldeye was a fish.

They are smoked, and bright red in colour, with golden coloured eyes. There is another one that is cheaper and looks similar.. I think it is called Tullibee, but it is not as delicious; the flesh does not flake as nicely. They are a Manitoba delicacy. I always buy a few when I go home and bring them back here as a treat for my Eastern European friends. I've heard some dubious examples of truly Canadian dishes, but this one is the real thing.

[Yellow Fever]

You're in the wrong thread, Mr.

[koolio]

If everything goes according to plan, the Roughriders and Stampeders will have the worst stadiums in the CFL in about a decade or so (that is if no other city joins). I know Regina has done some feasibility studies and what not but there seems to be a lot of opposition towards a new stadium from what I've heard. Are there any plans in Calgary for a new stadium? Considering how big the city is and how popular the game is in that region, I think they should aim for a state of the art stadium not unlike the future Winnipeg one. I think Canada has done very poorly in regards to constructing world class stadium (the ones in Toronto and Montreal cost way too much) but now that cheaper alternatives have been explored around the world in terms of retractable roof, I think time is right for cities like Calgary to jump on the bandwagon.

By the way, does anyone know what the deal is with the Ottawa CFL team? Are they going to exist or not? I remember a couple of years ago CFL granted them a franchise for 2010 or something but that seems quite unlikely considering how a new stadium is not even planned yet.

[koolio]

Also, I really wish that they would do something with the Commonwealth stadium in Edmonton. It is such a valuable facility considering how it is the largest natural grass and athletic stadium in the country but overall it is such a barebones stadium ... I wish they would install some sort of roof to cover the stands and/or create a good looking facade.

[isaidso]

They aren't spending money on a new facade, but they're building a $112.5 million addition to Commonwealth. The new facility will create additional recreation, sports and wellness opportunities for community residents and athletes. Regarding a roof, most football purists want to watch football in the elements. Personally, I hate watching football indoors. You lose a lot of what makes the football experience great when you put it in a dome. Go to a homecoming game at Saint Mary's University and you'll see what I mean.

Originally Posted by koolio

If everything goes according to plan, the Roughriders and Stampeders will have the worst stadiums in the CFL in about a decade or so (that is if no other city joins). I know Regina has done some feasibility studies and what not but there seems to be a lot of opposition towards a new stadium from what I've heard. Are there any plans in Calgary for a new stadium? Considering how big the city is and how popular the game is in that region, I think they should aim for a state of the art stadium not unlike the future Winnipeg one. I think Canada has done very poorly in regards to constructing world class stadium (the ones in Toronto and Montreal cost way too much) but now that cheaper alternatives have been explored around the world in terms of retractable roof, I think time is right for cities like Calgary to jump on the bandwagon.

By the way, does anyone know what the deal is with the Ottawa CFL team? Are they going to exist or not? I remember a couple of years ago CFL granted them a franchise for 2010 or something but that seems quite unlikely considering how a new stadium is not even planned yet.

'Worst' depends on what you deem important in a stadium. Regina and Calgary's stadia are definitely some of the oldest, most antiquated, and lack modern amenities. As far as football experience goes, they are infinitely better than Skydome. Skydome is a baseball stadium first, and does the job of a football stadium very poorly. Sight lines are atrocious, and you can't see the entire end zone from some seats. I'd rather watch football at McMahon or Taylor Field any day.

I heard that support for a new facility in Regina was building rather than the opposite. That's what the Leader Post seems to indicate as does chatter on SSP. Regarding McMahon, there's really nothing wrong with it. Ohio Stadium is just as old, but they renovate and upgrade it. That's all McMahon needs. Calgary should modernize the stadium, and over time expand it to create a horseshoe or bowl. They're close to sell outs every game already. If Calgary grows another 25% over the next 10 years, McMahon will likely need another 10,000 seats.

Ottawa was granted a conditional franchise for the 2012 season. It hinges on building a suitable stadium. As can be expected, the process of securing financing, getting all levels of government on board, finding the right site, selecting a design, and then building a stadium can be very time consuming. The ball is definitely rolling, but not close to a shovel going in the ground. Government has elected to back a football stadium in Ottawa instead of a competing soccer only stadium in Kanata and they are now debating over the right site to build on. There are about 5 sites being contemplated.

I haven't heard any news over the last few months, but it still seems to be inching ahead. This is the proposal for Lansdowne where the old football stadium was:





http://www.lansdownelive.ca/images/g...adiumfield.jpg
http://www.lansdownelive.ca/images/gallery/aerial.jpg

[isaidso]

Telus Field, Edmonton

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr




Telus Field opened in 1995 and replaced John Ducey Park (formerly Renfrew Park). The ballpark is home of the Edmonton Capitals and capacity is 10,098. They play in the Golden Baseball League's Northern Division. Telus Field is a one of the most well-regarded ballparks in America, and had the highest ratings for best ballpark for 8 years straight by Triple A Best Ballparks. Telus Field is a unique baseball stadium in that the infield uses FieldTurf but the outfield is natural grass.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/3...cf311b.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/...f6d795.jpg?v=0
http://www.nlfan.com/edmonton/photos/mainSeating.jpg

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

They are smoked, and bright red in colour, with golden coloured eyes. I've heard some dubious examples of truly Canadian dishes, but this one is the real thing.

You peeked my curiosity. Can you buy it at St. Lawrence Market?