New Arena for Downtown Edmonton?

[BLACK STAR]

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

^ Don't assume Calgary won't build a new NHL arena. They've been talking about it down there for a while, and are likely just in a wait & see mode until ours is done. Not only is Calgary's current arena getting old, but they've been losing out on major touring acts because the Saddledome is unable to accommodate their stage equipment. That's why an act such as Lady Gaga will play 2 nights in Edmonton instead of 1 gig per city. In fact, I have this irrational fear that some of these acts would likely skip Edmonton altogether if they can just play in Calgary because of geography, travel and the ongoing perceptions of each city. Which is why we need our downtown arena ASAP.

Where Calgary would build theirs is another matter. Does their downtown have a large plot of empty lots to build on?

That's all it is...Irrational fear! We might not get two concerts from the same act if Calgary gets a new Barn.. but the concert circuit understands the value of this region to generate $$$.

P.s Cant wait for Van Halen...and Kool and the Gang!!!!

[roryj]

Originally Posted by hilman

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...996/story.html

Very cool! reminds me of the lighting on Allianz Arena in Munich at night

[bigcitydude]

^^ i really like this look! very unique to Edmonton and doesn't look exactly like most of the other new arenas out there!!

[itom 987]

I love it! I hope the building will have retail bays facing the street on all sides though.

[MrOilers]

Originally Posted by BLACK STAR

We might not get two concerts from the same act if Calgary gets a new Barn.. but the concert circuit understands the value of this region to generate $$$.

Exactly. Edmonton is solidly an established part of the arena & stadium concert circuit. Nobody loses money by coming through here.

If anything, Calgary having a new arena might make it MORE desirable for some acts to come through to play both major cities in Alberta.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by itom 987

I love it! I hope the building will have retail bays facing the street on all sides though.

Negative.

The south will have broadcast facilities, an entrance (SEC), the oilers dressing room and some office/active use on the SW/W sides. The east/NE will be the community rink with the north being a bit constrained due to the LRT porthole. The main floor will have a lot of glass and activity, but not retail per se. That will be on the south side of 104ave primarily.

That said, this is still early in the design process and we, DECL, will be advocating for the most active and transparent at grade portions as possible.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Negative.

The south will have broadcast facilities, an entrance (SEC), the oilers dressing room and some office/active use on the SW/W sides. The east/NE will be the community rink with the north being a bit constrained due to the LRT porthole. The main floor will have a lot of glass and activity, but not retail per se. That will be on the south side of 104ave primarily.

That said, this is still early in the design process and we, DECL, will be advocating for the most active and transparent at grade portions as possible.

there needs to be some retail space that brings animation to the north side of 104 ave during non game nights IMO.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Hardhatdan

there needs to be some retail space that brings animation to the north side of 104 ave during non game nights IMO.

Don't disagree with you there. Not to mention that is the patio side of things. It will be interesting to see and yes, we will be pushing for that.

[cdnklc]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Don't disagree with you there. Not to mention that is the patio side of things. It will be interesting to see and yes, we will be pushing for that.

patio side yes but it's still under the pedway is it not?

[Coldrsx]

^a portion of it yes, but not all by any means...

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by MrOilers

Exactly. Edmonton is solidly an established part of the arena & stadium concert circuit. Nobody loses money by coming through here.

If anything, Calgary having a new arena might make it MORE desirable for some acts to come through to play both major cities in Alberta.

I would hope this as well. Having 2 major money making stops would be ideal for a lot of touring bands and shows.

[ue]

^ I do have a feeling that acts that don't have the time/money to hit both cities will 8/10 times pick Calgary over Edmonton. Sad, but true. You guys are more desirable of a city generally. I think in reality that both Edmonton and Calgary, trying to be unbiased, are about equal in desirability, with some benefits over the other and vice-versa. However, Edmonton does a pis-poor job showing off the good stuff (except for a fucking mall), whereas Calgary promotes itself to death as a cosmopolitan destination of travel with many events, sights, and activities. Oh, and Banff being 1 hr away and having the bigger airport is a HUGE plus. I really don't see why events like the Fringe, Folk Fest, Works, TOE, and Heritage Fest don't get the coverage of the Stampede or the 1001 events that get talked about nationally that occur in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto (Vancouver to a lesser extent).

[MalcolmTucker]

Stampede is very unique and the scale just blows other things out of the water. Only thing as big is pride in Toronto, F1 in Montreal, the Fireworks in Vancouver (not sure if it is as big any more).

Helps that there is usually no real news around that time.

Just need something unique and huge to promote Edmonton around. Unfortunately hard to create something like that out of thin air - even if stampede was created the same way in its first year there was lots of cross promotion and the like with CPR and others.

[christopherj]

Originally Posted by ue

^ I do have a feeling that acts that don't have the time/money to hit both cities will 8/10 times pick Calgary over Edmonton.

While I think that is true if they can only hit one... I think more often many skip Edmonton altogether as the Saddledome isn't great for concerts, and it is too expensive to come here for just 1 show.

[oiler-dude]

I dunno, seems pretty well every major music act comes through Edmonton. Hell, Coldplay started their latest tour here. The music market is one I'm not worried about here. Edmonton has always been a strong concert city.

Red Hot Chili Peppers just added a second Edmonton show because we sold out so fast. Taylor Swift did a double show. Etc, etc, etc.

Even looking at when Muse came through Alberta. I went to both the show here and in Calgary. Probably 2-3,000 less in Calgary than here.

The musicians don't care how nice our downtown is compared to Calgary. In these parts it's the bottom line which Edmonton provides a solid base too. They'll do their relaxing when they stop in Vancouver, LA, etc.

[ue]

^ It isn't about who has the flashier Downtown. Calgary has better air connections, is closer to other markets for those touring by land, and just simply is more well known. Edmonton is a bit of a forgotten place. It's amazing how much more Calgary is mentioned even on these very forums, even when Edmonton is closer (like the S'toon forums).

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Stampede is very unique and the scale just blows other things out of the water. Only thing as big is pride in Toronto, F1 in Montreal, the Fireworks in Vancouver (not sure if it is as big any more).

Helps that there is usually no real news around that time.

Just need something unique and huge to promote Edmonton around. Unfortunately hard to create something like that out of thin air - even if stampede was created the same way in its first year there was lots of cross promotion and the like with CPR and others.

1. No real news as opposed to the fantastic and 'huge' events that Edmonton pulls off at the same time as the Stampede?

2. If the Stampede is "unique" then the Fringe, Folk Fest, et al are heaps more unique. And it isn't just Pride or F1 that get huge promotion across the country, like I said, it seem like any significant festival that occurs in those cities makes national news. Fringe? Nah. I mean really, let's talk about a street sale in Toronto (which may be huge) but not the 2nd largest Fringe fest in the world. Nah.

[hilman]

+1 oiler-dude

^ what do better air connections have to do with concerts?

[MacLac]

Originally Posted by ue

^ I do have a feeling that acts that don't have the time/money to hit both cities will 8/10 times pick Calgary over Edmonton. Sad, but true. You guys are more desirable of a city generally. I think in reality that both Edmonton and Calgary, trying to be unbiased, are about equal in desirability, with some benefits over the other and vice-versa. However, Edmonton does a pis-poor job showing off the good stuff (except for a fucking mall), whereas Calgary promotes itself to death as a cosmopolitan destination of travel with many events, sights, and activities. Oh, and Banff being 1 hr away and having the bigger airport is a HUGE plus. I really don't see why events like the Fringe, Folk Fest, Works, TOE, and Heritage Fest don't get the coverage of the Stampede or the 1001 events that get talked about nationally that occur in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto (Vancouver to a lesser extent).

Are you for real? What does the size of the an airport have to do with anything. These bands fly with their own planes. Banff? The bottom line is bums in seats.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by ue

^ I do have a feeling that acts that don't have the time/money to hit both cities will 8/10 times pick Calgary over Edmonton. Sad, but true. You guys are more desirable of a city generally. I think in reality that both Edmonton and Calgary, trying to be unbiased, are about equal in desirability, with some benefits over the other and vice-versa. However, Edmonton does a pis-poor job showing off the good stuff (except for a fucking mall), whereas Calgary promotes itself to death as a cosmopolitan destination of travel with many events, sights, and activities. Oh, and Banff being 1 hr away and having the bigger airport is a HUGE plus. I really don't see why events like the Fringe, Folk Fest, Works, TOE, and Heritage Fest don't get the coverage of the Stampede or the 1001 events that get talked about nationally that occur in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto (Vancouver to a lesser extent).

Stop rambling about something you know nothing about. Bands go places they can make money and promoters have years of data to base these decisions on. Full stop.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by ue

^ It isn't about who has the flashier Downtown. Calgary has better air connections, is closer to other markets for those touring by land, and just simply is more well known. Edmonton is a bit of a forgotten place. It's amazing how much more Calgary is mentioned even on these very forums, even when Edmonton is closer (like the S'toon forums).



1. No real news as opposed to the fantastic and 'huge' events that Edmonton pulls off at the same time as the Stampede?

2. If the Stampede is "unique" then the Fringe, Folk Fest, et al are heaps more unique. And it isn't just Pride or F1 that get huge promotion across the country, like I said, it seem like any significant festival that occurs in those cities makes national news. Fringe? Nah. I mean really, let's talk about a street sale in Toronto (which may be huge) but not the 2nd largest Fringe fest in the world. Nah.

To get a story on the news it has to be interesting and timed correctly. Local fluff pieces from Toronto end to filter up into national news more because a good portion of the population of the country is in the GTA and there is more local news to begin with there, so when the national is running short, what gets the late add?

I am sure Fringe is great, but it certainly doesn't have the perception of a sort of mass event that envelopes the city. Lots of complaints in the local media about its relative decline compared to the past even.

I remember as a kid hearing about fringe, and it seemed great, but was there nearly as much experimental theatre spread around accessibly locally outside of festivals even in the mid 90s? Perhaps the concept is just too normal now.

Now if the festival brought it some very crazy acts, generated some controversy, that might be different.

But back to the arena, if the Band/singer/anything is coming to Alberta once Calgary has the new barn up I would guess there will be a lot more 1 night in each city type tours. I doubt they will be back to back however. (my understanding is the huge acts tour with multiple stages, to bring two stages to Alberta would be pretty wasteful. Would hopefully result in better dates for shows, but we can only hope)