Quebec City CPL

[Tigers]

On 4/14/2023 at 11:11 AM, Shway said:

I still think Lamport stadium is perfect for the Argonauts, just need to put additional seats in the endzones. 
I think a stadium of that size would be perfect with adjustable endzone seats on both ends.  

The key is planning for it properly, and not doing what TFC/Argos do with their endzones.

Lamport isn't big enough. It's only 110m long concrete-to-concrete, which is 120 yards. You need 150 yards + runoff space for CFL.

Not to mention the facilities are nowhere close to acceptable.

[-Hammer-]

On 4/14/2023 at 11:11 AM, Shway said:

I still think Lamport stadium is perfect for the Argonauts, just need to put additional seats in the endzones. 
I think a stadium of that size would be perfect with adjustable endzone seats on both ends.  

The key is planning for it properly, and not doing what TFC/Argos do with their endzones.

I think it could be, but as it stands no. The Argos are drawing 15,000+ as is, they need a 20,000 seats to accommodate some growth, but not be a cavernous experience.

The problem is you would need a major renovation of Lamport as the facility isn't nearly big enough, even with extra endzone seats, the amenities are not up to snuff and understandably, neither the city of Toronto or MLSE are willing to pay for it (The former because they can play at BMO, and the later because of the same but also because they don't see the Argos as having enough of a growth opportunity for either TFC or the Argos if they are given their own facility.)

To me, the groundshare is an awful half measure. You are saying with it "TFC doesn't deserve their own immaculate pitch" which the purists want and "The Argos are a second fiddle, but one with thing we can do something with because of the CFL TV Deal." However that's MLSE, maximize profits and operate as monopolistic as possible in our catchment area. One of many reasons I don't support that organization.

Edited August 28, 2023 by -Hammer-

[Ansem]

News about Quebec City in La Presse

 Julie Dionne, Director of sporting activities at Laval University.

• She calls the CPL file "active"
• It's very likely that a CPL club will have to play at the University Stadium while a 5k to 6k stadium gets built
• She has been in contact with "multiple investors groups" interested in bringing a club for many years. She says that there are currently "active" groups in play

Mark Noonan mentionned to "Le Droit" Laval and Trois-Rivières as potential cities.

• He rejects the club playing at Laval University stadium permanently and that this option must be a short term solution. No expansion will be awarded without a concrete plan for a soccer venue attached to the project

City of Quebec - Jean-Francois Gosselin

• The city is collaborating on the project
• Mentions that there were 4 groups that were interested but are down to 2 groups today.
• He's not authorized to say who they are but revealed that one of the 2 groups have "European investors". He views this as "very serious" and has no doubt that CPL will succeed in Quebec City
• There's been ongoing meetings with the mayor about the project
• Multiple sites were considered but for a variety of reasons, the city excluded some of the locations
• Laval University area came out as the preferred location with regards to how the city could help, accessibility, public transit and demographics/customers

Cons

• Stadium is too bid too create a soccer atmosphere. It's not viable medium to long term. The running track puts the pitch further away from fans

Julie Dionne, Director of sporting activities at Laval University

• She recognize the challenges with the size of the stadium and running track but reiterate that it's a beautiful stadium and that it works for football.
• She also points out that Winnipeg, Ottawa and Hamilton are also big football stadiums

Other article  - The ball is in the investor's camp
https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/soccer/premiere-ligue-canadienne/une-equipe-a-quebec/2023-11-16/premiere-ligue-canadienne-de-soccer/le-ballon-est-dans-le-camp-des-promoteurs.php

Philippe Bernard - Regional director of Quebec soccer association

• There are existing pitches on the site of the university, they could be repurposed to allow a proper stadium to be built
• With Cegep Ste-Foy, Champlain St.Lawrence college, Laval Rouge & Or - there's an opportunity to reach all age groups for the new club

 Julie Dionne, Director of sporting activities at Laval University.

• The grounds don't belong to the city but to the university. If there's a stadium being built there, the university won't contribute anything financially. The club would have to build and rent the location

City of Quebec - Jean-Francois Gosselin

• The city is open to contribute financially but nothing concrete yet has been proposed to the city yet. It's up to the investors to make their case and the city's involvement will depend on what's being asked, available existing subsidies programs from the province and Feds.
• The city is aware of "project 8" and wants to be kept in the loop on that front/
• The business community wants to participate
• The city overall wants CPL to come to Quebec City

Edited November 16, 2023 by Ansem

[Big_M]

the good news is it looks like noonan is willing to allow a quebec team to start playing at telus stadium as long as theres a plan for a permanent home...it should move pretty fast now for quebec and a 2025 start looks likely

[Ansem]

A reminder that no news means "bad news" or "nothing is happening" - they've been working on it for a while now

[SoccMan]

3 hours ago, Ansem said:

News about Quebec City in La Presse

 Julie Dionne, Director of sporting activities at Laval University.

• She calls the CPL file "active"
• It's very likely that a CPL club will have to play at the University Stadium while a 5k to 6k stadium gets built
• She has been in contact with "multiple investors groups" interested in bringing a club for many years. She says that there are currently "active" groups in play

Mark Noonan mentionned to "Le Droit" Laval and Trois-Rivières as potential cities.

• He rejects the club playing at Laval University stadium permanently and that this option must be a short term solution. No expansion will be awarded without a concrete plan for a soccer venue attached to the project

City of Quebec - Jean-Francois Gosselin

• The city is collaborating on the project
• Mentions that there were 4 groups that were interested but are down to 2 groups today.
• He's not authorized to say who they are but revealed that one of the 2 groups have "European investors". He views this as "very serious" and has no doubt that CPL will succeed in Quebec City
• There's been ongoing meetings with the mayor about the project
• Multiple sites were considered but for a variety of reasons, the city excluded some of the locations
• Laval University area came out as the preferred location with regards to how the city could help, accessibility, public transit and demographics/customers

Cons

• Stadium is too bid too create a soccer atmosphere. It's not viable medium to long term. The running track puts the pitch further away from fans

Julie Dionne, Director of sporting activities at Laval University

• She recognize the challenges with the size of the stadium and running track but reiterate that it's a beautiful stadium and that it works for football.
• She also points out that Winnipeg, Ottawa and Hamilton are also big football stadiums

Other article  - The ball is in the investor's camp
https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/soccer/premiere-ligue-canadienne/une-equipe-a-quebec/2023-11-16/premiere-ligue-canadienne-de-soccer/le-ballon-est-dans-le-camp-des-promoteurs.php

Philippe Bernard - Regional director of Quebec soccer association

• There are existing pitches on the site of the university, they could be repurposed to allow a proper stadium to be built
• With Cegep Ste-Foy, Champlain St.Lawrence college, Laval Rouge & Or - there's an opportunity to reach all age groups for the new club

 Julie Dionne, Director of sporting activities at Laval University.

• The grounds don't belong to the city but to the university. If there's a stadium being built there, the university won't contribute anything financially. The club would have to build and rent the location

City of Quebec - Jean-Francois Gosselin

• The city is open to contribute financially but nothing concrete yet has been proposed to the city yet. It's up to the investors to make their case and the city's involvement will depend on what's being asked, available existing subsidies programs from the province and Feds.
• The city is aware of "project 8" and wants to be kept in the loop on that front/
• The business community wants to participate
• The city overall wants CPL to come to Quebec City

For a temporary stadium that Laval university stadium does not look that bad at all actually. Obviously they would have to take out the football lines , but after that it looks ok , what’s the capacity ? It looks like a 10000 seater from the picture. 

[SthMelbRed]

RE: Foreign Investors

CFG makes too much sense, doesn't it? Quebec 'City' FC playing in Nordiques bleu would slot beautifully into the 'project', no?

[red card]

1 hour ago, SoccMan said:

For a temporary stadium that Laval university stadium does not look that bad at all actually. Obviously they would have to take out the football lines , but after that it looks ok , what’s the capacity ? It looks like a 10000 seater from the picture. 

Largest attendance was 19.3k which includes standing room. A couple of Vanier Cup games got over 18k.

Sradium is now also named after a main CPL sponsor: Stade TELUS-Université Laval 

[CDNFootballer]

2 hours ago, SoccMan said:

For a temporary stadium that Laval university stadium does not look that bad at all actually. Obviously they would have to take out the football lines , but after that it looks ok , what’s the capacity ? It looks like a 10000 seater from the picture. 

12817 is the capacity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPS

Edited November 17, 2023 by CDNFootballer

[Ozzie_the_parrot]

13 hours ago, Big_M said:

the good news is it looks like noonan is willing to allow a quebec team to start playing at telus stadium as long as theres a plan for a permanent home...it should move pretty fast now for quebec and a 2025 start looks likely

The last bit was probably doable on a relatively rapid timeline as far back as 2019 if they eased up on their stadium expectations (for example, by being willing to use Telus Stadium long term if the gridiron can be replaced with unmarked fieldturf and the rental payment is reasonable) but is that what is actually happening?

A "concrete plan" would probably mean something more along the lines of what was going to unfold at Prairieland in Saskatoon rather than some vague aspirational statement of future intent York 9 style. After the fifth season of the league and unlike the Saskatoon scenario nothing has been proposed to the city yet though...

Edited November 17, 2023 by Ozzie_the_parrot