BC Place: Stadium Refurbishment | Completed

[Overground]

If Seattle is playing in a 70k Qwest Field without a tractable roof, and on fake turf no doubt, with the upper stands tarped off to leave 24k seats to watch Sounders matches, I think BC Place for the Caps should be totally suitable for MLS, perhaps more so than Qwest Field. With the Caps even further offering to build a specific stadium down the road, you would think that this is no-brainer for what MLS wants.

I think the pitch is still going to be fake turf as it needs to be used for the Lions as well as conventions. Also, I think a real grass turf needs proper sunlight on the full pitch which the proposed roof will not offer, unlike Commerzbank or Wembley which does.

[mr.x]

^ tell that to trueviking in the Canada forum thread on the stadium:

Originally Posted by trueviking

BC place is not an acceptable stadium for MLS....the league requires soccer specific stadia with no football lines and natural grass....they want them in the 20 000 seat range....TFC was lucky to be admitted with plastic, but they would not have gotten a franchise if the plan was skydome.

the new franchises of MLS come with new stadia of this type, or a concrete promise to construct one...if vancouver thinks that this move will secure them an MLS franchise, they are dead wrong...it will do the exact opposite.

where do you see that this is a temporary move?


http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...e834b57a49&p=2


"Lenarduzzi said moving into 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium is not an option for the Whitecaps, even on a temporary basis as negotiations continue on the waterfront stadium.

"BC Place Stadium is not an option, both financially and as a proper facility," he said. "First impressions with the public are very important. We want a stadium that our fans can identify with, and be comfortable with, from the very first game."





doesnt exactly sound like MLS are thrilled with the idea.....its exactly what i said...if the other stadium is concrete they would allow BC place, but do the people in vancouver see it as temporary?.....i still dont see where it says that is the plan....until the mayor or the people involved in the waterfront stadium actually say they they percieve this as a temporary move, i wont believe it......can you imagine the USL whitecaps playing on a plastic field with football lines and 52 000 empty seats...that will be awesome.

renovating BC place is a great thing, but i would be very surprised if this moves the city into MLS's sights....there are several cities now with appropriate venues (montreal included), looking for franchises.

MLS isnt exactly clamouring to get into vancouver...this will not woo them, unless the waterfront stadium is more real as a future project.

MLS was very interested in seattle and their ownership group...thats why they allowed a substandard venue...vancouver has to compete with larger cities that are ready now...not possibly in 10 years...

MLS will not move into BC place....guaranteed....not without a solid plan in place for a move to an appropriate venue.

the whitecaps should distance themselves from this because it will only slow progess on a real stadium...public perception will be why allow another stadium when we are spending 200m on BC place...why cant they play there?

NOTE: the article he mentions is from November 2007.

[Overground]

Especially when Lenarduzzi said this in the last couple of weeks....

Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said Tuesday the club is still 100 per cent committed to building a soccer-specific, natural grass stadium on the Vancouver waterfront, but would consider B.C. Place as a temporary venue if major renos are announced shortly as expected.

"Our priority is still the waterfront stadium, but given that it's taking as long as it has, we need to have alternatives if the opportunity to move to a higher level is available," said Lenarduzzi.

"It would be a short-term solution, as we're looking at the waterfront stadium being our permanent solution but of course we're mired in that process right now."

[raggedy13]

Great news all around today. I'm a bit surprised about the VAG location announcement, especially after just reading an article a day or two ago about how the Edgewater Casino has been doing really well and wants to expand.

Anyways, if the VAG does go to False Creek, it would give us a great opportunity to create our own Sydney Opera House of sorts. I'm sure a location like that could inspire some amazing designs in an international design competition.

[mr.x]

Look at stadium roof in post-Olympic light

Miro Cernetig, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, May 16, 2008

Now that we're putting up a retractable roof costing as much as $200 million over BC Place Stadium, the prudent question for the provincial cabinet is, well, what's really the point now?

Let's face it. The provincial government didn't get its act together quickly enough to get this job done by 2010. Now, with about 600 days to go until the Olympics, a new roof won't happen until after the Games, when the international spotlight has moved on.

Won't, one might ask, the great moment have passed to justify such a major expenditure?

Actually, no.

Yes, the argument for a $200-million roof seems hard to make at first beyond the Olympics. There are only a handful of B.C. Lions games in a year where the roof would be open. Even factoring in a few trade shows that might want to be open air and some events -- maybe the monster-truck rally or a mega rock concert in the summer -- and you wonder when else would that mega roof be cracked open in the city of rain?

One of the important rationales for the retractable roof was always to have a more modern-looking stadium up and ready for the 2010 Olympics. An architectural statement for the world to see. That chance has been lost, at least for the Olympics.

There was also the additional benefit of an open roof making it less problematic to put the Olympic flame inside BC Place. Now there will likely need to be a multimillion-dollar ventilation system built to keep the air clean and cool.

But you have to look at this mega-roof in the post-Olympics light. Nobody knows what this city will be like in the next 30 years, the length of time by which this renovation will extend the life of BC Place. Perhaps by then our metropolitan economy, with one million more residents, will finally be big enough for Triple A or major league baseball? Will there be a push -- with Seattle and Vancouver joining forces -- to host soccer's World Cup? Or maybe even a Summer Olympics? Don't forget there was a move a few years ago for a cross-border bid for the 2008 Olympics, with Seattle and Vancouver as joint hosts.

It's not such a crazy notion. Neither West Coast city is big enough to host those events, which are a quantum leap larger than the Winter Olympics, on their own. But together they could host the Cascadia Games, fitting in an age when boundaries and nationalism matter less and less. In fact, that dual-city idea is taking flight.

Both Tourism Vancouver and the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau have floated the idea of another run at the International Olympic Committee for the 2028 Summer Games. They have also talked about a bi-national bid for the 2020 World's Fair and maybe even soccer's World Cup in 2018 or later.

In the shorter term, we'll get a taste of just how useful BC Place might be when the Vancouver Whitecaps start playing there. The soccer team's quixotic attempt for a waterfront stadium continues, but in the meantime a revamped BC Place will give them a home -- one eventually with a retractable, translucent roof that will mean they can have natural turf. (That grass may take root even sooner. The plan is to take down the inner lining of the stadium to let more light in.)

So our mushroom in bondage, as BC Place has been aptly called, will soon be a memory. So will all the empty parking lots surrounding it. This is going to spark the biggest change to downtown Vancouver since the redevelopment of the old Expo 86 lands in the old industrial lands around False Creek.

The stadium's new top will come with a multibillion-dollar real-estate development. That's because the plan is to sell all those parking lots around the stadium to developers, who in exchange for the right to put up new towers are expected to pay for the retractable roof and other amenities.

That means there's an enormous planning challenge ahead for the City of Vancouver, too. There will have to be new roads, parking and parks for the thousands of people who will be living around BC Place after the Olympics.

There's already grumbling from people in Yaletown who feel they are living too dense a lifestyle. Another 5,000 or 10,000 neighbours will raise urban stress big time. This may be the spot where Vancouver's EcoDensity debate is really fought out.

But that's all a few years away. Until then, the big concern is keeping that roof up until the Olympics are over. The man responsible for that is David Podmore and he's got to have this recurring nightmare: the old BC Place roof ripping and deflating again during the Games, while the world watches.

The engineers say it's unlikely. But Podmore is taking no chances. He's flying in reams of extra material, so if disaster hits, he'll at least be able to sew BC Place back together again.

mcernetig@png.canwest.com

[WarrenC12]

Make no mistake, the MLS is pissed about the Qwest field debacle, and they likely won't grant another MLS franchise to a city that doesn't have firm plans to build the kind of stadium they want. Remember its not the MLS looking for expansions, there are 6 cities looking for 2 spots. For Vancouver its probably us or Montreal... tough competition.

I'm all in favor of both the "new" BC Place and a waterfront stadium. It would be great to have everything in place by 2014 or so. The Whitecaps are committing to a 5 year lease through 2016, but maybe there are provisions for getting out of it.

[Pinion]

Is Edgewater Casino gassed in that location for sure now? I'm a bit surprised considering how well they were doing despite being in a building with almost no parking near it. They were spending money on the building like they expected to be there for decades. Will they get bribed with a new location to end their lease early? (Maybe the current VAG building? jk)

I'm surprised Plaza of Nations news was tied in with the BC Place announcement.

[mr.x]

what it should look like in 2010.....but it won't:

[jlousa]

^^wow I'd figures the TV towers would be done by then

Too many posts all over the place about this, figured this one is probably the main one. Glad to see the renos planned and the roof looks good (I still think it's a waste though). I'm really suprised by the VAG annoucement though and have a feeling not everything annouced is going to come to fruitation ala clamshell. For one thing that city is in charge of zoning the land around the stadium not the province, and they have been very vocal about it being officespace and only officespace.
The city has also spent alot of time and money on their cultural district plan which this new location doesn't fit into, sure plans can change but there is an awful lot going on here. (CHMC donating land for the VAG in exchange for future zoning???? The province has no say in that)

Anyways happy about the stadium, shocked about the VAG.

[twoNeurons]

I think if we got a retractable roof for the Olympics, it would end up being overpriced and underwhelming.


Seriously, what are we really trying to prove? I hate that attitude. Do things that make sense because they make sense, not because a bunch of people on TV are going to see.

Saying all that, the Olympics were undoubtedly the influence behind this change, whether it happens before or after, despite what the papers say.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by tintinium

I think if we got a retractable roof for the Olympics, it would end up being overpriced and underwhelming.

Well, all of the 56 multicoloured columns and the multicoloured glass panels (with the Winter Games sport symbols), as well as the new exterior glass facade, will be completed in time for 2010. Everything shown in the stadium's exterior renderings will be done by 2010.

It's interesting to mention that yesterday, on Team 1040, an insider leaked out exactly what would be happening today and the plans for BC Place. He also mentioned that the province had a "Plan A and Plan B". Plan A was to build the retractable roof after 2010; Plan B was to build the retractable roof in time for 2010 - as a decision to be made at a later date if there is enough time.

Though it's probably unlikely, especially since we don't know the credibility of the phone caller (though he was quite convincing, and they had him on for 5 minutes!), it's possible that the province and Pavco are keeping these plans behind doors. Also consider that VANOC needs to know what type of venue they'll be working with for the ceremonies sometime this summer.


I don't see how it would be underwhelming...it would still be the same design, though possibly at a higher cost.

[johnjimbc]

I don't understand the last post. The announcement just talks about internal improvements, yet Mr X just mentioned that all the colored columns and glass panels on the exterior will be in place by the Olympics (if I understood that post correctly).

So, does anyone have any idea what the exterior will look like DURING THE OLYMPICS?

I ask because I have long thought that it wasn't the roof that looked dated to me . . . it is the dark, dirty, scummy looking 25-year old concrete structure below the roof. You know, the building itself?

So I'd be thrilled if some of those sleek (very Olympic looking) panels were in place for 2010. But I'm not sure I'm getting that from the announcement . . . it just seems implied in some of the posts since the announcement.

If anyone can clarify, would love to hear it. Thanks.

[Overground]

What X said before. So in a nutshell what I've gathered from everything is that the outside will be done in 2010(glass facade etc), including the structural work for the roof except the actual roof placement and it's parts(beams?) won't be done and in place until 2011.

[GMasterAres]

They said on the team 1040 today that it will be completed by Summer of 2010 minus the roof, not by 2011. 2011 is when the Whitecaps start in the statiums. That would lead me to believe that there is a good chance that all the external changes WILL be completed by the Olympics aka the grey ugly around teh building.

And all the internal upgrades will also be upgraded by then.

I also think the above is correct in that they have Plan A and Plan B, Plan B being to complete it by the Olympics. It's safe to say to the public that it will happen after just in case it doesn't work out, but imagine if they do work it out and say "Oh btw we will complete it in time for the Olympics."

My only concern is that it takes quite a while to plan the opening and closing cerimonies for the Olympics. Given it is a closed dome right now I would imagine they are putting a lot of thought and effort into using that to their advantage. If they get through the process near the Olympics and suddenly the roof changes, it could be risky for the cerimonies which, let's face it, are the most visible portion of the Olympics from a world standpoint.

Most people watch the Olympics for those 2 events only.

[johnjimbc]

I do understand a bit better now (and am somewhat relieved). I think this is an incredibly positive announcement overall. Sounds like they were trying to make sure they didn't over promise, but were clearly trying to do what they could to developer a plan for a quality venue for the ceremonies.

I think they've said what they can at this point, and the announcement is a good way to rally the powers that be . . . and the public . . . to the cause of having the venue look as good as it can given the constraints.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

Well, all of the 56 multicoloured columns and the multicoloured glass panels (with the Winter Games sport symbols), as well as the new exterior glass facade, will be completed in time for 2010. Everything shown in the stadium's exterior renderings will be done by 2010.

I doubt that - the columns are steel and their erection would carry a high construction cost - the cost escalation that is being avoided....
I could see the panels being erected for the games, as long as the phasing allows it (i.e. they don;t get in the way of tower erection). BTW - note that those blue and green panels are all above the current rim of the dome.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by jhausner

They said on the team 1040 today that it will be completed by Summer of 2010 minus the roof, not by 2011. 2011 is when the Whitecaps start in the statiums. That would lead me to believe that there is a good chance that all the external changes WILL be completed by the Olympics aka the grey ugly around teh building.

And all the internal upgrades will also be upgraded by then.

I also think the above is correct in that they have Plan A and Plan B, Plan B being to complete it by the Olympics. It's safe to say to the public that it will happen after just in case it doesn't work out, but imagine if they do work it out and say "Oh btw we will complete it in time for the Olympics."

My only concern is that it takes quite a while to plan the opening and closing cerimonies for the Olympics. Given it is a closed dome right now I would imagine they are putting a lot of thought and effort into using that to their advantage. If they get through the process near the Olympics and suddenly the roof changes, it could be risky for the cerimonies which, let's face it, are the most visible portion of the Olympics from a world standpoint.

Most people watch the Olympics for those 2 events only.

if only they had worked faster with this planning process, and announced the whole thing 6 months ago. There would not have been a problem with completing it in time for 2010.

I think it's brilliant that they left themselves a crack in the door to work with, just in case things go smoothly. If they can get the roof up from April 2010 to the summer of 2010, in just a few months, they should definitely try their absolute best to do it before 2010.



---------

With regards to the ceremonies planning, I have to say that so far, I am disappointed with the whole process. Athens started planning for their shows 7 years before the Games, Beijing 5 years, Torino 4 years, Vancouver 2.5 years.

Not to mention that the ceremonies budget....they originally projected that it would cost $40-million to stage the opening/closing and the money would come from the private sector/sponsorships. Then they got $20 million from the feds to spend on the ceremonies, but the budget still remains at $40 million. Shouldn't the 2010 opening/closing ceremonies budget be $60-million?

In comparison, Athens spent $100 million. Beijing will be spending around the same amount. Torino spent $40 million (btw, their ceremonies were just awful). And Sydney and Salt Lake spent between $25-30 million.

[excel]

wow great news all around, thanks.

[mr.x]

VANOC welcomes BC Place Stadium plans: Upgrades for 2010 and retractable roof post-Games for premiere Olympic venue

May 16, 2008
VANOC Release

Vancouver, BC — The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) welcomed today the Province of British Columbia’s decision to upgrade BC Place Stadium facilities before the 2010 Winter Games, and to move ahead with a retractable roof, in the facility’s life beyond the Games.

The announced pre-Games upgrades — including renovations to suites, seating, washrooms and concession stands, and the enhancement of the existing roof liner — will ensure the facility is in top form in time for the 2010 Winter Games. VANOC’s financial contribution towards the stadium upgrades will be used in large part to upgrade access for people with disabilities. The new retractable roof, to be constructed after the Games have concluded, will ensure BC Place remains a premium venue long after the Games are over.

“BC Place Stadium has always been the perfect stage for spectacular ceremonies in 2010, offering the opportunity to stage special effects and spectator comfort unique to these Winter Games. The upgrades announced today will help ensure a great spectator experience," said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. He also commended BC Premier Gordon Campbell and PavCo (BC Pavilion Corporation) for plans to complete a retractable roof at BC Place after the 2010 Winter Games. “We support the decision to complete the new roof after the Games, and are very familiar with the savings that can be found when construction is undertaken under the right timing.” Continued Furlong, “Outside of the sport venues, BC Place Stadium is where many of the most spectacular and inspiring moments of the 2010 Winter Games will happen. Memories will be made there and BC Place Stadium will permanently gain a special stature as a premiere Games venue. With the global exposure afforded by the 2010 Winter Games, a new retractable roof, post-2010, and as home to the Vancouver Whitecaps and the BC Lions, BC Place Stadium will clearly attract world-class professional sport and celebration events for years to come.”

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony will take place in the 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium on February 12, 2010. The Closing Ceremony, to take place on February 28, 2010, will also be held at BC Place Stadium. During the Games period, Nightly Victory Ceremonies will also be held there. This will be the first time in Olympic Games history that the Olympic Ceremonies will be staged in the comfort of an indoor venue. The Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony will be held at BC Place Stadium, on March 12, 2010.

In addition to the in-stadium spectators, an estimated three billion television viewers are expected to watch the Opening Ceremony on February 12.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com

[hollywoodnorth]

I think its about time for a

Go GORDO Go! the man sure knows how to get it FUCKING DONE!

I`m in awe............