spiral Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 One would think this announcement will boost Kerfoot's MLS chances, yes? At this point, Garber can see the money has been approved and this upgrade isn't just a pipedream and hot air (a bit like the Olympic Village now is)... VANCOUVER - The B.C. government has approved the business case for a $365-million upgrade of BC Place, which will include a retractable roof estimated at about $200 million. The $365 million cost includes $65 million in interior improvements already underway, a $43-million seismic upgrade, the roof project, plumbing, electrical and infrastructure improvements and a contingency fund. PavCo chair David Podmore said most of the project will be financed through the development of lands near BC Place, existing cash reserves of about $25 million, expanded event business and sponsorships and energy savings. The business plan calls for more than $100 million to be recovered through the sale and lease of development sites near the stadium. Podmore said the release of the development sites can be delayed until the market recovers from the recession. The retractable roof project is crucial to the Vancouver Whitecaps' bid to win a Major League Soccer franchise to begin play in 2011. Six North American cities are vying for two franchises and the MLS is expected to decide on the winning bids early this year. The MLS season begins play in March but Podmore said the retractable roof probably won't be finished until the summer of 2011. He said the Whitecaps could still play in BC Place while the new roof is being completed. The $365 million cost includes $65 million in interior improvements already underway, a $43-million seismic upgrade, the roof project, plumbing, electrical and infrastructure improvements and a contingency fund. PavCo chair David Podmore said most of the project will be financed through the development of lands near BC Place, existing cash reserves of about $25 million, expanded event business and sponsorships and energy savings. The business plan calls for more than $100 million to be recovered through the sale and lease of development sites near the stadium. Podmore said the release of the development sites can be delayed until the market recovers from the recession. The retractable roof project is crucial to the Vancouver Whitecaps' bid to win a Major League Soccer franchise to begin play in 2011. Six North American cities are vying for two franchises and the MLS is expected to decide on the winning bids early this year. The MLS season begins play in March but Podmore said the retractable roof probably won't be finished until the summer of 2011. He said the Whitecaps could still play in BC Place while the new roof is being completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masster Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 quote:Originally posted by spiral The MLS season begins play in March but Podmore said the retractable roof probably won't be finished until the summer of 2011. He said the Whitecaps could still play in BC Place while the new roof is being completed. This news is a little disappointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streets Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Let's rip that thing off now and make that march home opener! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I dont get it. With less than a third of that money, you could build a pretty darn nice soccer specific stadium. And if needed, a facility that even the CFL could use. And, you would probably have a capacity that would be more suited to the times as opposed to a capacity that is more suited to an era where there were fewer entertainment options for the average consumer. But now, you have the added challenge to trying to stimulate demand when you have that huge inventory of seats to sell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I sincerely doubt that a 60,000 seat stadium with a retractable roof could be built for $365 million. Even if they used the existing BC Place land, tearing down BC Place and rebuilding would just add a whole pile of costs on top of the $365 million and leave the city without a stadium for two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 The whole purpose of this renovation is more for the Olympics than for the Whitecaps, is it not? And on top of that, although I suppose the same could be done for a new stadium, another feature of renovating BC Place is for the rejuvenation of the downtown area around it. Why should they bother to build a new stadium when they have a design for a fully functional one already in place. As for the downtown stadium, until the BC Place reno starts selling out consistently, I don't see the Caps getting their waterfront SSS any time soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandstander Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Free kick I dont get it. With less than a third of that money, you could build a pretty darn nice soccer specific stadium. And if needed, a facility that even the CFL could use. Where? You mean tear down and build new. Once that stadium comes down, a stadium does not go up in its place. It will be condos. Otherwise there are no viable DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER sites that can hold a stadium the size of BC Place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Grandstander Where? You mean tear down and build new. Once that stadium comes down, a stadium does not go up in its place. It will be condos. Otherwise there are no viable DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER sites that can hold a stadium the size of BC Place. No, he does not mean tear anything down, Einstein. He means it is a poor use of money when if they'd throw in something to make Kerfoot's waterfront project even better it'd cost less and they'd get more out of it. Or somewhere else. And by the way, no one said a SSS would have to be the same size as BC Place. Third thing: there are plenty of places near the downtown where a stadium could be built, most of the area under the viaduct, and in the old CN yards, out along Terminal, either side, industrial area. I agree that it is a ridiculous amount of money to spend to get a retractable roof, I am frankly amazed there is the political will to spend that kind of money for a reno job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnie Monster Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 They'll spend it because of the 200+ yearly corporate events, trade shows and cultural festivals that still need a home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandstander Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. No, he does not mean tear anything down, Einstein. He means it is a poor use of money when if they'd throw in something to make Kerfoot's waterfront project even better it'd cost less and they'd get more out of it. Or somewhere else. And by the way, no one said a SSS would have to be the same size as BC Place. Third thing: there are plenty of places near the downtown where a stadium could be built, most of the area under the viaduct, and in the old CN yards, out along Terminal, either side, industrial area. I agree that it is a ridiculous amount of money to spend to get a retractable roof, I am frankly amazed there is the political will to spend that kind of money for a reno job. Give your head a shake man. In it's current location, land that Kerfoot owns and can swap, you can not build a stadium that can accomodate a CFL field. The intent of WWS is not to share it with the Lions. It's supposed to be small to be built over time. The Province will commit to refurbish it's own asset, not build something for a private enterprise like the Caps. The "reno job" has more to do with the olympics then anything else as BC Place is the site for opening and closing ceremonies. All the amenities are getting a face lift/upgrade. The roof seems to be getting all the attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiral Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 The Waterfront Stadium Proposal is dead. They're just not saying so officially or publically so as not to jeapordize the MLS bid. It's dead. Get over it. The Whitecaps can play in BC Place. You think the Port Corporation is going to give up valuable Port land that can be used for future expansion to kiss the ass of a soccer team that's worth mabey $ 1 million on the open market when that team can play in a Stadium that already exists? We're not dealing with Machester United here ya know... geez... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandstander Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Yes they would. Why do you think they are holding out for a greater valuation on the land swap? The Caps need to go back to the city and make a better plan for their original site. The problem is that if Kerfoot gives the Port the valuation they want, he has to give up mor eland east of the stadium. That's where the real money is to be made, should future developments on that land be proposed. I don't think Kerfoot wants, nor should he expect to be holding just a stadium while the Port develops the land to the east of it. Remember the Port went to the Caps and extended the olive branch. At Vancouver city council meetings they endorsed the stadium project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 the waterfront is dead theory i think might be true a big reason for that was having john rocha an executive with very little executive experience.to be the pitchman for the waterfront stadium to the media and business community.that was a bad mistake on kerfoots part.john rocha was a middle manager who somehow got to be an executive president overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I don't think the waterfront is dead. Given the BILLION dollar tab that the city of Vancouver just got stuck with for the athlete's village things could change. I know the port is the big sticking point but with the meltdown of the condo market having a self financed stadium can only be a good thing. In down times having projects go ahead and keep people employed will get more attention. There will be less going on so it will be a good time to get people's attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandstander Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I was thinking the same thing yesterday reading through doom and gloom stories about Vancouver's need for cash. Maybe a few things get "reconsidered" on the old site that doesn't require land from the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I can tell you for certain it's not dead. But I would be surprised if you heard anything more about it before 2011. At this stage the most realistic target for it could be as late as 2016. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calgary Boomer Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 quote:Originally posted by spiral The Waterfront Stadium Proposal is dead. They're just not saying so officially or publically so as not to jeapordize the MLS bid. It's dead. Get over it. The Whitecaps can play in BC Place. You think the Port Corporation is going to give up valuable Port land that can be used for future expansion to kiss the ass of a soccer team that's worth mabey $ 1 million on the open market when that team can play in a Stadium that already exists? We're not dealing with Machester United here ya know... geez... Thanks for sharing your totally unfounded, uneducated, "guess" on the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Calgary Boomer Thanks for sharing your totally unfounded, uneducated, "guess" on the situation. Pay him no mind. Spiral is merely "Bill"'s sock puppet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiral Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 except that you're the real Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Don't worry...some day you'll be a real something, dome boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiral Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 New Section numbers for BC Place. Gone is the Level 2 / 4 designation. Lower level sections start with a 2 (like Sect. 37 is now 237), Upper Level sections with a 4, in a scheme similar to GM Place. The Club Seats are now on the 300 Level: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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