Core Entertainment Updates
 

Figured I make a thread for all events related to HECFI, such as upcoming concerts for Copps, events Convention Centre, or renovations.

HECFI puts 2 million dollars into buildings

Ken Mann
5/6/2008

Hamilton's city-owned entertainment venues are getting some upgrades.

HECFI announcing plans to spend two million dollars on capital improvements this year.

They will include a new sound reinforcement system and three thousand replacement seats at Copps Coliseum.

The studio at Hamilton Place has received a premium sound system. A partial replacement of the facility's main roof is also in the plans.

What is the status of the seating at Copps...I seem to recall a plan to get rid of the Indian-corn colors once and for all.

Whenever HECFI gets money they've been replacing the seats, another 3,000 will be replaced this year. Think this year at least all (or a big majority) the lower bowl will have the seats replaced. It'll probably take 2 to 3 years to completely replace all seats at Copps.

I like the Indian-corn colours. You can almost always identify them on TV... the only other place that I have seen with a similar colour scheme is the Omni in Atlanta and perhaps the Philips Arena in the same city.

amen brother...I agree with you 100%.
Generic blue is boring and just like every other arena.

I hate the generic blue as well... plus the new blue seats seem pretty cheap.

Something must be wrong with my opinion if it matches yours. I will have to re-think this whole thing.

Lol...I agree (oops, I did it again).
You should stick with the blue.

Rest assured I prefer the blue. Did OMNI have the seats? I know the Met Center in Bloomington did--the Stars left town and it was blown up to make room for Mall of America to expand.

The blue seats in Copps are a fair compromise--after all, The Great Hall has kept it's 70s orange, has it not? I remember a plan awhile back to go with a deep red for Hamilton Place--they had a tough time coming up with anything that would work in the space because it is all 70s earth tones. Garwood-Jones did incredible work back then--Hamilton Place is still a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned--the lobby spaces are incredible. The brutalist exterior and subterranian entrance don't please everyone--but the inside is stunning. Although I was too young to notice details--I know Copps was completed on the cheap with plans to 'finish' it once a franchise was secured--have always thought the building suffered as a result.

quite a number of the Copps seats were replaced months ago.

You guys are scaring me. :sly:

Anyway I'm not a fan of the silly colors to be honest, but I don't really care that much. I suppose it gives the place a unique identity which is a good thing for any Hamilton establishment.

...and the press release:

HECFI ANNOUNCES OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

(HAMILTON, May 6, 2008) – In a continued effort to provide exceptional customer experiences, HECFI plans major renovations this year for Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Place and The Hamilton Convention Centre. Over two-million dollars in upgrades are currently underway and scheduled to be completed over the next year. These renovations will help these facilities better serve concert goers and also meeting clients.

The Hamilton Convention Centre will be receiving an upgrade of the sound systems in the Albion and Webster Rooms. The Chedoke Room will experience refreshment of its décor. There will also be renovations to the Convention Centre washrooms. Hamilton Place will be receiving a partial replacement of the main roof and a new premium sound system has just been installed at The Studio at Hamilton Place. Copps Coliseum will receive a replacement of the sound reinforcement system. The QSC Wideline Technology will replace the present system and provide audiences with a superior quality surround-sound environment. As well, Copps Coliseum will receive 3,000 more replacement seats in 2008 to compliment the 1,650 that it received in 2007. A new artist’s “Green Room” has been added, as well as revamped promoter’s offices.

HECFI CEO Duncan Gillespie said, “The renovations to our facilities are part of our overall commitment to provide the very best to The City of Hamilton and our patrons. We feel these improvements will assist us in continuing to attract top quality entertainment, consumer shows and conventions.”

Since Gillespie has taken over he's done a great job. Even got the Bulldogs a nice modern locker room at Copps too. Two thumbs up for Gillespie.

If I remember right, I think the reason they said they used multi colours when it was built was that if an event didn't sell out a lot of seats, it wouldn't be as noticeable how many empty seats there were. I guess their logic was a sea of one colour was much more obvious or something like that.

Seems like a typical Hamilton approach. :(

I can think of one example they probably had in mind. Our hockey team(s). At the time I believe it was the Steelhawks. All the other teams in the league were (and still) playing in smaller arenas. I think at the most they sold about 7,000 seats. So in an arena holding almost 18,000 you can imagine how empty the place would have still looked. Of course eventually they just closed off the upper deck of seats.

Yes...as mentioned by myself and others the colors were not unique to Copps--there were a few rinks of similar vintage (actually older) that employed the same arrangement--and indeed it was to make empty seats appear less obvious--particularly during televised events. Of the few that existed Copps was likely the last one built with those seat colors.

Good article in the Globe&Mail today about the movement to replace/rebuild facilities in the CFL--the Tiger-Cats are a major component of the article--along with Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa.

complement. Silly press release.

The Steelhawks sold 12,000+ on occasion with special pricing deals, etc.

The Omni's seat colours were/are very similar to those of Copps. The Met Center was blue, green, white, or something like that, so you couldn't quite call it "Indian corn."

Good recollection BC--I suppose OMNI's color-scheme complimented the Hawks, and the Flames to an extent--as Met Center's somewhat complemented the North Stars. The Met lived from 67 to 94, and the OMNI from 72-97. No idea if the seats were original in either venue--but Copps didn't come along until 15 years after OMNI.

Spot on on the Steelhawks also--during the Bill LaForge era they sold well--on the odd occassion selling seats in the upper level. Saw some great fights as a kid--including the infamous Steelhawks-Wolves brawl which unfolded pre-grame right in front of our seats in Section 121...'87 or so I'd guess. Great era in the OHL--remember seeing Shanahan when he played for the dreaded Knights.