Update on $150m investment into Rogers Arena (Vancouver)

[LadyStanley]

Some things done (glass, boards, center display). But this summer new seats with cup holders.

Work scheduled this summer and next

Click to read more...

 

[CokenoPepsi]

How much longer does the building have? Where could a new one go in Vancouver?

 

[StreetHawk]

How much longer does the building have? Where could a new one go in Vancouver?

Narrow concourse is the only real drawback of the arena. That comes down to the viaducts that it was built between.

Land values are insane. Gas station which is 1/10 the area of Rogers in a more pricey neighborhood went for like $75 mill CAD like nearly a decade ago.

Don’t see the aquilinis moving to a new location.

Only realistic opportunity for a new arena location is if someone wants to bring the nba to Vancouver and is not looking to be a tenant in Rogers and/or that wealthier owner can’t buy the Canucks and rogers from the aquilinis because they won’t sell.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

But eventually the Canucks will need a new building, once the Flames get their new building I think only a couple buildings are older and only by a year or two.

I guess they could do mass renovations over a few years

 

[StreetHawk]

But eventually the Canucks will need a new building, once the Flames get their new building I think only a couple buildings are older and only by a year or two.

I guess they could do mass renovations over a few years

Flyers, blues, Bruins all renovated their building that were built in the 90’s. Even the coyotes old arena that the suns play in which opened in 92 got a massive renovation.

New building is great and all but there is the logistics of parking and transit for any new site. Have to be able to get 17k of people in and out of the area.

Current areas have that infrastructure in place. Rogers arena is right off the rapid transit line.

There is like maybe 1 site that can be off that rapid transit line. Whitecaps wanted to build a soccer stadium for 25k by the waterfront but were met by resistance by those in the neighborhood. And that was close to 2 decades ago.

 

[jetsmooseice]

How much longer does the building have? Where could a new one go in Vancouver?

What exactly would a new arena bring to the table? People talk about arenas like they are a carton of milk that just straight up expires after a certain period, but considering the immense costs of land and construction in Vancouver, you'd need an awful lot to justify the cost of a new building when there is already one that exists that still seems to meet the team's needs.

Back in the 90s and 00s a lot of vintage post-WWII buildings with almost nothing in the way of premium seating were being replaced. It was understandable why the old guard of buildings like the Spectrum, the Met Center, the Pacific Coliseum, etc. were no longer up to the task of hosting the NHL.

Conversely, the newer buildings from that boom era all have tons of private suites, they are all pretty much at the maximum seating capacities that the market can support, etc. So what is a new rink in Vancouver going to bring that the current one doesn't have, in a way that would justify probably well over a billion dollars in land and construction costs?

 

[StreetHawk]

What exactly would a new arena bring to the table? People talk about arenas like they are a carton of milk that just straight up expires after a certain period, but considering the immense costs of land and construction in Vancouver, you'd need an awful lot to justify the cost of a new building when there is already one that exists that still seems to meet the team's needs.

Back in the 90s and 00s a lot of vintage post-WWII buildings with almost nothing in the way of premium seating were being replaced. It was understandable why the old guard of buildings like the Spectrum, the Met Center, the Pacific Coliseum, etc. were no longer up to the task of hosting the NHL.

Conversely, the newer buildings from that boom era all have tons of private suites, they are all pretty much at the maximum seating capacities that the market can support, etc. So what is a new rink in Vancouver going to bring that the current one doesn't have, in a way that would justify probably well over a billion dollars in land and construction costs?

Main issue for Rogers is the narrow concourse. It's tight to move around pre/post/and during intermissions. That's really the main drawback.

Arenas will not be increasing seating capacity. I doubt a North American arena is going to hold more than Chicago/Montreal do at like 20K. Most are likely 18K max moving forward and will focus on the premium/luxury seats. Even the NFL stadiums, probably anything new follows LV and not go bigger than the current average. LV is the 3rd lowest capacity but generates a tonne of revenue. Now that is market specific since LV is a destination location vs most midwest/northern cites not named NY.

 

[jetsmooseice]

Main issue for Rogers is the narrow concourse. It's tight to move around pre/post/and during intermissions. That's really the main drawback.

Arenas will not be increasing seating capacity. I doubt a North American arena is going to hold more than Chicago/Montreal do at like 20K. Most are likely 18K max moving forward and will focus on the premium/luxury seats. Even the NFL stadiums, probably anything new follows LV and not go bigger than the current average. LV is the 3rd lowest capacity but generates a tonne of revenue. Now that is market specific since LV is a destination location vs most midwest/northern cites not named NY.

I've been to Rogers Arena multiple times and I agree that the concourse is tight. But you know what, I've never been to a NHL arena where the concourses WEREN'T cramped during intermission to some extent. I fully expect that a new arena in Vancouver will have cramped concourses, especially given the costs of land there. So what is the point of spending a billion+ dollars to sort-of fix the problem?

 

[Yukon Joe]

I've been to Rogers Arena multiple times and I agree that the concourse is tight. But you know what, I've never been to a NHL arena where the concourses WEREN'T cramped during intermission to some extent. I fully expect that a new arena in Vancouver will have cramped concourses, especially given the costs of land there. So what is the point of spending a billion+ dollars to sort-of fix the problem?

I mean Rogers Place concourse is at least decent enough to move around in.

But yes - you're talking about the ability of people to mill around for 10 minutes in between periods. That doesn't sound like a billion dollar problem. I completely agree with you.

 

[objectiveposter]

are they still currently using the chairs that were installed in 1995? what are they going to do with them after the new ones are installed? I wouldnt mind buying a few of them....cool piece of history.

 

[tank44]

Flyers, blues, Bruins all renovated their building that were built in the 90’s. Even the coyotes old arena that the suns play in which opened in 92 got a massive renovation.

I believe there were some renovations done in 2009-2010 in time for the 2010 Olympics. So it's not like it has not been updated or touched in 28 years.

 

[StreetHawk]

I believe there were some renovations done in 2009-2010 in time for the 2010 Olympics. So it's not like it has not been updated or touched in 28 years.

I believe they had at least $50-$80 mill in renos up to around 2015 give or take. Small iterations vs one massive one time as you do need to time when you can complete them to not overlap the really busy arena period of Sept - April. Only so much you can do in a 3 month window.

I think most arenas from the 90's the bones are good enough to allow for renovations and continue to use the current arena for a couple more decades.

In Phi and Bos, the nba team has no equity of stake in either the building or management agreement. Sixers have applied to build a new arena. Was talk a few years ago about the Celtics doing that too near a casino area. haven't heard anything since.

 

[Golden_Jet]

But eventually the Canucks will need a new building, once the Flames get their new building I think only a couple buildings are older and only by a year or two.

I guess they could do mass renovations over a few years

It’s a year newer than Chicago’s.

There were 18 buildings opened in 90’s
Here is a list of teams and opening dates.
Article is 5-6 years old , but still applies

NHL Arenas Oldest to Newest - Arena Digest

To look at where things stand in the National Hockey League entering the 2018-2019 season, we present a list of NHL arenas oldest to newest.

arenadigest.com

 

[BKIslandersFan]

They can always tear down Pacific Coliseum and build one there.

 

[Golden_Jet]

They can always tear down Pacific Coliseum and build one there.

Where did you play for 3 years

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Where did you play for 3 years

They would play at Rogers arena.

But no way would they leave dt

 

[StreetHawk]

They can always tear down Pacific Coliseum and build one there.

No rapid transit available near that site.

 

[jetsmooseice]

It's hard to imagine the Canucks ever seriously considering the PNE site. When you're by the Pacific Coliseum, If you didn't see the mountains on the north shore off in the distance, you would think you were in Saskatoon. It's somewhat hard to believe that they ever played around there.

 

[Stumbledore]

I'm so old I remember when $150 million bought you a new, state-of-the-art arena.

 

[Yukon Joe]

I'm so old I remember when $150 million bought you a new, state-of-the-art arena.

That's pretty damn old...

 

[Stumbledore]

That's pretty damn old...

Definitely. But it always beats the alternative.

 

[Dingo44]

Bring back Coca-Cola.

 

[StreetHawk]

I'm so old I remember when $150 million bought you a new, state-of-the-art arena.

That was close to the price tag of GM Place (before the name change). Like $160 mill and I think that might have even been in CAD.

 

[Rpenny]

How much longer does the building have? Where could a new one go in Vancouver?

It is just 30 years old. It should have 20 to 30 years left

 

[StreetHawk]

It is just 30 years old. It should have 20 to 30 years left

90’s buildings should have plenty of runway remaining. Not adding more seats. More likely to remove regular ones and go premium ones instead.

Moda Center in Portland opened a year earlier and that’s perfectly fine.

Indoor facilities will last much longer than open air ones.