[SpongeG]

The idea of a large sports stadium in Surrey is exciting and attractive, but it is very unlikely to come about.

A stadium in Surrey would be more central to the entire region than one in downtown Vancouver. It could be reached by SkyTrain, but it could also be reached by car for those from further away – like Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The added congestion on Highway 1 whenever there is a Canucks or Lions game is proof of the number of people who go there by car.

Surrey has land available for a stadium – something that is in short supply in downtown Vancouver. The South Westminster area near Pattullo Bridge offers plenty of possibilities, and at one time was suggested as a possible site for the Pacific National Exhibition. It is on SkyTrain and in need of some redevelopment.

What Surrey does not have is well-heeled corporate sponsors and patrons, who are a big part of the sports business these days. They rent the boxes, buy season’s tickets and entertain clients at sports events. Most of them are based in or near downtown Vancouver, and few would favour of a Surrey stadium.

Nor does Surrey have the associated businesses that would benefit from a stadium – at least very few anywhere near South Westminster. New Westminster businesses would benefit somewhat, as they are a SkyTrain stop away. Many new Surrey businesses would certainly be built near a new stadium, as has happened in Seattle near the two large sports stadiums that are located just south of the downtown area.

Perhaps one of the best reasons Surrey should stay away from the stadium idea is past attempts to attract sports tourism. Back in the early 1990s, there was ongoing controversy over the upgrading of the Stetson Bowl in Cloverdale to house minor league baseball. It was a political and economic nightmare that did little for citizens of Surrey.

Another attempt to attract the Indy to Surrey streets never got too far. The most successful sports event here, the Greater Vancouver Open golf tournament, died because of a lack of sponsorship.

Surrey also does not have political clout. Perhaps it should have more, given its size, but decisions in the Greater Vancouver region usually reflect what the City of Vancouver wants – not what is necessarily best for the region as a whole, or most logical.

A great example of that type of thinking is the recent debate over who should pay for the annual English Bay fireworks event. Corporate sponsor Telus has pulled out, and Vancouver councillors say other local governments and the Greater Vancouver Regional District should help pay for it.

Why? The economic benefit from this event is only realized in Vancouver.

B.C. Place Stadium was built in the early 1980s as a home for CFL football and NASL soccer (which departed a few years later) and with the fond hope that Vancouver could attract a major league baseball franchise.

At the time it was built, there was plenty of land in downtown Vancouver, as the Drake Street railway yards were vacated so that it, Expo 86 and SkyTrain could be built.

Now there is little land left. The Whitecaps are talking about building a smaller stadium on the Vancouver waterfront, but it would be built over the existing rail yard and would not be large enough for CFL games.

Real estate throughout the region is expensive, and large tracts are rare. Surrey is one of the few places where there would be enough land for a new stadium.

Overall, it is questionable if a new stadium is needed at this time. B.C. Place is in a good location, is in good shape structurally and is quite capable of serving the needs of the region for many years to come.

* * *

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of John Watt, a 30-year Surrey firefighter who recently retired with the rank of deputy chief. He was an inspiration to many people, within the fire department and in the larger community. He loved his work with the fire department, and had a tremendous amount of class.

He will be missed by many.

http://www.surreyleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=73&cat=48&id=825497&more=

[SpongeG]

previous story:

Scott Road stadium?

By Jeff Nagel Black Press
Jan 31 2007

Sites as far away as Surrey are being raised as the possible future home for a new Greater Vancouver stadium if B.C. Place is demolished after the 2010 Winter Olympics.

And while the City of Vancouver is keenly interested in keeping the stadium, tourism and sport minister Stan Hagen says all options will be considered.

"There are other possibilities probably tied fairly closely to transit, which could take it out to Coquitlam or could take it out to Surrey, or to Richmond or Burnaby," Hagen told The Leader. "Any of the sites served by rapid transit."

The talk was touched off after the stadium's roof deflated in early January.

Soon after, condo marketer Bob Rennie said the aging stadium might not be the best use of scarce downtown land.

"Does a football stadium need to be in elitist space or could it spread out to serve more of the Greater Vancouver region?"

Surrounded by the explosive condo tower redevelopment of the former Expo lands around False Creek, B.C. Place would command top dollar if the stadium was demolished, conceivably helping finance a replacement.

Built by the province for $123 million in 1983 on vacant former industrial land, Rennie estimates the land would fetch at least $250 million today.

Estimates to build a replacement run around $200 to $250 million, Hagen said, but noted discussions so far have centred on a smaller stadium of around 40,000 seats.

Government subsidies to run 60,000-seat B.C. Place are forecast to rise to more than $6 million per year. And much bigger bills may soon loom as the time nears for major renovations such as a roof replacement.

Keeping the facility and fixing it is an option, Hagen said. But he rules out adding a retractable roof.

"By the time you retrofit you could probably build a new stadium," he said.

Rennie says one alternative is for the province to work with the Vancouver Whitecaps – who propose a new soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront – to expand that project using proceeds from B.C. Place. The Whitecaps, however, have yet to win over city planners and Gastown residents.

"Or you sit down with Derek Corrigan and council in Burnaby and look at Swangard Stadium," Rennie said. "Swangard has SkyTrain access."

Good transit is critical wherever a new stadium eventually goes, says ex-Vancouver Coun. Gordon Price, who heads SFU's City program.

He said rapid growth south of the Fraser means there's a good case the next major facility should go "somewhere toward the centre of the region", rather than downtown.

A site near the Scott Road SkyTrain station in Surrey would work well, he said.

"I've got no complaint if I can get there easily on SkyTrain," Price said. "You want it right on top of transit and you want it to be in a central place."

There have already been attempts to get stadium builders to look outside Vancouver.

City councils in Surrey and Coquitlam tried but failed a year ago to convince the Whitecaps to build a new 15,000-seat soccer stadium in their cities. They argued SkyTrain lines run in both directions and can as easily carry Vancouverites out to events as transport suburbanites to downtown.

But team owners resisted – business executives who buy season tickets prefer a downtown site even if most fans live elsewhere.

The idea of a new site has fired debate among B.C. Lions fans on the online forum lionbackers.com.

"Let's build a stadium in Surrey for the Leos," says one post.

"Build it and they will come," says another.

Others aren't convinced, arguing downtown offers more restaurants, entertainment and ambience for patrons before and after events.

"They would certainly be reversing a North American trend toward building downtown," one post says. "Suburban stadiums are so '60s."

Another fan says Vancouverites who don't go past Main Street "unless a tsunami warning is issued" need to realize Greater Vancouver is turning into "Greater Surrey."

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says the city is looking at a possible mid-sized arena, but she hasn't had any discussions about a stadium of B.C. Place's stature.

She doesn't rule it out, however.

"My door is open," she said. "It's something the city couldn't fund by itself. So the necessity to have partners is quite significant and having the province as a partner would be crucial."

Coun. Tom Gill is strongly in favour of a B.C. Place replacement coming to the Scott Road lowlands, adding there's been some talk among council members.

"It could change the face of the northwest side of Surrey," he said. "That particular area of Surrey really needs to have a facelift and this could be the catalyst."

He said the city would have to exercise caution.

"The business case scenario has to make sense," Gill said. "Who's going to pay for it?"

Rennie says he doubts a site as far as Surrey is a good idea.

"My gut says we need a larger facility closer to town," he said. "For those larger events when the Pope and the Queen come to town."

With the dome now re-inflated, there's no rush and no sign the demise of Vancouver's signature stadium is imminent.

Bookings are still being taken for B.C. Place events in 2012.

That's also the year the combined population of Surrey and Langley will reach 630,000 and pass Vancouver's for the first time.

Hagen says he has given Pavco, the Crown corporation that runs the stadium, no firm deadline to decide its future.

A sale to the private sector – which could either renovate or rip it down – is another option, he said, noting the Lions owners are interested in at least operating and possibly buying the building.

Some sort of major facility would be needed if B.C. Place did come down, Hagen said.

A replacement could have a range of private sector involvement, he said, along with other potential partners.

"If Surrey said 'We're prepared to build a stadium', we'd have to look at that," he said. "We're ready and willing to look at all of the possibilities."

INSIDE B.C. PLACE

- Built in 1983 for $123 million.

- 60,000 seats and 247,000 square feet for exhibition space

- Largest air-supported dome in the world, kept aloft by 16 jet engine fans.

- Built to host baseball, soccer and football teams, it only became a permanent base for the B.C. Lions.

- Will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics and nightly medal ceremonies.

- Visitors/events have included: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, the Rolling Stones, U2, Pink Floyd, Expo '86.

- In use 200 days per year, including Lions games and B.C.'s largest trade and consumer shows.

- Generates $34 million in economic spinoff business and $14 million in taxes per year.

- There's enough concrete in B.C. Place to build a sidewalk from Vancouver to Seattle.


http://www.surreyleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=73&cat=23&id=823767&more=

[Distill3d]

if Surrey wants a stadium so bad, why doesn't Surrey apply to get a pro sports team? i mean they only have like 400,000 people, with a metropolitain area of 2.2 million people. so, explain why the need to worry about a team like the Canucks or Lions moving in and building a stadium?

and last i checked, the Lions practice field was in Surrey. its between Gateway and Surrey Central Station (closer to Gateway) on the Expo Line.

[crazyjoeda]

^ The reason that there is talk of this is because the BC Lions may need to relocate after 2012. If a new stadium needs to be built Surrey is a resonable option because of Skytrain, good road infrastructure and avalible land.

Personaly I think BC Place should stay and be renovated for 2010, the goverment should make a decision about it now! If its going to be around after 2010 it will need a reno anyway why not invite the world to a nicer stadium.

[mr.x]

Personaly I think BC Place should stay and be renovated for 2010, the goverment should make a decision about it now! If its going to be around after 2010 it will need a reno anyway why not invite the world to a nicer stadium.


Same thoughts....might as well do it now in time for 2010. I think they said they'll have a decision within a year.

[hollywoodnorth]

That's also the year the combined population of Surrey and Langley will reach 630,000 and pass Vancouver's for the first time.


what a fucking stupid thing to say...............


The Vancouver stats.......SHOULD but Don't count the UEL/UBC..............also if your adding Langley to Surrey..........why not Burnaby to Vancouver?

DUMB DUMB DUMB news reporting. :koko: