The Great Canadian Convention Centre Thread!

[Chadillaccc]

Calgary's two primary convention venues...

Telus Convention Centre - I think it's still the premier venue for the city. It's about 200 000 sq. ft. total.


http://www.sej.ca/our-projects/past-projects/



BMO Centre - Built for the Stampede, hosts many other events such as the Sex Expo, ComiCon, and others... it's about 300 000 sq. ft.


http://venues.calgarystampede.com/venues/bmo-centre/



They're both pretty much crap on the outside. Nice on the inside though at least!

[ZeDgE]

BMO centre is hideous.. Stampitecture.. or what ever the term is.. barf. Inside is fine and serves is purpose. Comic expo coming up soon. Woot! Its amazing how big the Calgary Comic expo has become, and very quickly. #nerdout

[J.OT13]

BMO Centre looks fine for a suburban facility IMO.

[Chadillaccc]

It's clearly not a suburban facility, hence "built for the Stampede", that is the problem. No one would notice it outside of downtown. Thankfully it fits in with its surroundings and purpose, there will never be modern architecture on the Stampede grounds, and that's a good thing. People don't come to the Stampede to see glass, they come to ride rides, see horses, watch the parade, get hammered, see concerts, and experience exagerrated, sensationalized historic western culture.

Originally Posted by ZeDgE

BMO centre is hideous.. Stampitecture.. or what ever the term is.. barf. Inside is fine and serves is purpose. Comic expo coming up soon. Woot! Its amazing how big the Calgary Comic expo has become, and very quickly. #nerdout

I know, I was surprised about it too. It has over-maxed the capacity of BMO Centre for at least the last two years. Last year, they had to turn ticket-holders away at the door!

[VIce]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

BMO Centre looks fine for a suburban facility IMO.

BMO isn't suburban though. Its about 5 blocks away from the Telus Convention Centre.

[VIce]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Calgary's two primary convention venues...

Telus Convention Centre - I think it's still the premier venue for the city. It's about 200 000 sq. ft. total.


http://www.sej.ca/our-projects/past-projects/



BMO Centre - Built for the Stampede, hosts many other events such as the Sex Expo, ComiCon, and others... it's about 300 000 sq. ft.


http://venues.calgarystampede.com/venues/bmo-centre/



They're both pretty much crap on the outside. Nice on the inside though at least!

Calgary's Iron Ring ceremonies were in the Telus Convention Centre, right next to the big window overlooking Olympic Plaza. It was left naturally lit, and the view was very nice. I did like the venue.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

It's clearly not a suburban facility, hence "built for the Stampede", that is the problem. No one would notice it outside of downtown. Thankfully it fits in with its surroundings and purpose, there will never be modern architecture on the Stampede grounds, and that's a good thing. People don't come to the Stampede to see glass, they come to ride rides, see horses, watch the parade, get hammered, see concerts, and experience exagerrated, sensationalized historic western culture.

Woups! Should have Google maped it first. I can see it is in fact right outside downtown.

Anyway, still a decent looking building. Serves a purpose for Stampede and large conventions needing one huge, continuous floor.

[ZeDgE]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

It's clearly not a suburban facility, hence "built for the Stampede", that is the problem. No one would notice it outside of downtown. Thankfully it fits in with its surroundings and purpose, there will never be modern architecture on the Stampede grounds, and that's a good thing. People don't come to the Stampede to see glass, they come to ride rides, see horses, watch the parade, get hammered, see concerts, and experience exagerrated, sensationalized historic western culture.




I know, I was surprised about it too. It has over-maxed the capacity of BMO Centre for at least the last two years. Last year, they had to turn ticket-holders away at the door!

Largest in the country now?

http://www.calgaryexpo.com/

The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo is Canada's largest Canadian owned pop culture event with an attendance of over 60,000 people in 2013. - See more at: http://www.calgaryexpo.com/#sthash.kToBdsYn.dpuf

Cast of Aliens together first time ever this year.

Sorry going off topic now.

[SignalHillHiker]

I had to work a convention in the BMO Centre before. Downtown was only on the other side of the parking lot.

[Barnes]

The BMO centre is a pretty horrible convention centre. Most of it has a low roof to low for large booths to put up hanging displays and there are support posts everywhere. The new halls are pretty good but there is still zero room for any kind of decent reception and it's a total cluster for any pre and post lectures and/or ballroom events in the newer halls.

The Telus Convention Centre is nicely laid out but it's too small.

[TallBob]

Yes to the above!! But Druh says expansion is a "waste of money", therefore it must be!

[J.OT13]

Pitching an idea here; would it be possible to build one huge Convention Centre serving the purpose of the Stampede, large exhibitions and high class conferences to replace both Telus and BMO?

[Chadillaccc]

The BMO centre is relatively new and just saw an expansion, so there is no chance that it will be replaced any time soon. Plus there's no land near the Stampede that could accomodate it that isn't already earmarked for something else.

[Cyro]

Winnipeg's RBC Convention Centre Expansion: April.4.2014 Update

http://www.wcc.mb.ca/construction-ca...am-april-2014/

Originally Posted by pegcityfan

From the Convention Centre site. Looks like the blue light screen thingy is missing above the street from previous renders:


http://www.wcc.mb.ca/

Excerpts/Photo from: http://www.wcc.mb.ca/cranes-landed/

By the end of April, 40% of the third floor exhibition hall roof trusses will be in place.

The underground parkade is being prepped for concrete and plumbing work that will start this month.

Ongoing demolition and steel frame of the new skywalk. This skywalk will extend across York and attach to the new building to the south.

North and northeast side of the building along St. Mary Avenue, you’ll notice preparations have started for the installation of new external signage which should be shining bright by the end of the month.

The construction project is on target to have a substantial completion by the end of 2015 and on target to open first quarter of 2016.

[Boris2k7]

I don't have problem with the BMO Centre so much as a I have a problem with the goddamned giant parking lot in front of it.

[Chadillaccc]

Any chance of Calgary expanding our convention centre in the near future was just killed by city council. What terrible news.

[LeftCoaster]

It's tough enough finding hotel rooms in the city now, let alone with a larger convention centre business. Probably not a big deal for the time being.

[Chadillaccc]

Yeah, still sucks though. Also sucks that none of our hotels have broken ground yet. Though the developers of the Marriott ClubSport did say they'll be starting in July, and the East Village Hilton looks close to starting. There's also the Marriott Residence Inn, Sutton Place, City Centre II, International Hotel II, and Eau Claire Redevelopment hotels on the books, hopefully most can get built eventually.


EDIT: Oh yeah there is one new hotel downtown, they converted an old apartment into a Marriott, should be open by summer.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Yeah, still sucks though. Also sucks that none of our hotels have broken ground yet. Though the developers of the Marriott ClubSport did say they'll be starting in July, and the East Village Hilton looks close to starting. There's also the Marriott Residence Inn, Sutton Place, City Centre II, International Hotel II, and Eau Claire Redevelopment hotels on the books, hopefully most can get built eventually.


EDIT: Oh yeah there is one new hotel downtown, they converted an old apartment into a Marriott, should be open by summer.

I have a little more confidence in the Residence Inn being built over the ClubSport. But that's just me.

[Chadillaccc]

Awe I want to see both of them get built, they'd both have a major impact on their respective areas and eat up more vacant lots.