nhlrefsuck Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Is Rogers Arena getting renovated VANCOUVER — When what is now called Rogers Arena was squeezed between the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in the mid-1990s, it created something of a double-edged sword for the Vancouver Canucks and their ticket-holders. The arena’s relatively tiny footprint forced rather steep viewing angles that are among the best in the National Hockey League. Even from the top rows of the upper bowl, spectators are not that far from the ice. But the flip side is a main concourse area that, to put it politely, is rather snug. It’s a very crowded area pre- and post-game and during intermissions, with fans forced to rub shoulders as they try to weave their way through what is a very narrow space. “The concourse is very, very tight pretty well throughout the arena,” acknowledges Victor de Bonis, chief operating officer of Canucks Sports & Entertainment. But that should change for the better in about a year’s time when completion of the first of three residential/office towers planned by the team’s ownership will allow the Canucks to expand their concourse areas at the southwest end of the arena . That tower, now tentatively called the West Tower, is under construction and its first five floors will connect with Rogers Arena. The first and third floors of the tower will open up to the main and upper bowl concourses at Rogers Arena. It will provide the Canucks with more concession opportunities and give their fans more room to move. De Bonis, who started with the Canucks nearly 20 years ago when the arena was just a hole in the ground, thinks the many changes the team is making to coincide with the tower will create a much better environment for fans. “We have been to some arenas where the concourses are too big and there isn’t an intimacy to the experience and we don’t want that,” de Bonis said in an interview Thursday. “I kind of use the analogy like when you are at a cocktail party and you want to have that feel. You don’t want to feel like you’re at a frat party. “We like the intimacy, but you can’t move ... We have been doing the best we can and now thanks to ownership for pursuing this project we can finally try and improve it.” The tower will also allow the Canucks to address another pressing problem with Rogers Arena: a lack of washrooms. The second floor of the new tower will connect with Level 2 of Rogers Arena and current washroom capacity will be expanded by about 25 per cent. “I am not sure that is going to solve the problem, but it is a good-faith start to try and address the issue,” de Bonis said. Those new washrooms will be accessible via staircases from the upper and lower concourse areas. De Bonis is particularly excited about plans for the fourth floor of the arena and tower, which call for what he describes as a “cutting edge sports bar concept.” That concept has three parts to it. The first will be a large sports bar, where fans without tickets will be able to hang out before, during and after games. It will also likely be open year-round on non game-days . “You can come and experience the game,” de Bonis said. “You won’t be able to see the game, but you will be in the arena.” There will be two other “pay” components to that bar area, including Loge Boxes that seat four to six people and a larger area similar to the present Best Buy Club. “It’s actually a three-part club that would have those different amenities to service everybody,” de Bonis said. “It would feel like one club. It will be like some of these clubs in Las Vegas where they have got these different sections and different services in each area. It creates an unbelievable atmosphere and that is what we will try and do there.” The fifth floor will allow creation of a party suite that will accommodate large groups. The goal is have all these changes made in just over a year. “We are very much hoping to be ready to go for the 2014-15 season,” de Bonis said. “It is a complicated project because you can’t get the occupancy until you get up to a certain level (of the tower). You can’t just get up to five floors and then operate.” About half of the 26-storey West Tower will likely have to be completed before the Canucks can begin using the first five floors. The next five or six floors are slated to be commercial/office space — the Canucks will move their corporate offices into the building -- and the remainder of the tower will house residential rental units. The Canucks’ owners, the Aquilini family, plan two other towers adjacent to Rogers Arena. “I don’t know the timing of the other towers,” de Bonis said. “But I believe there is a possibility they would start before this one is completed.” The possible removal by the City of Vancouver of both the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts complicates matters. The West Tower is scheduled to connect to the Georgia viaduct, but de Bonis said there is a contingency plan if the viaduct is removed. The Aqulinis are on record as supporting removal of both of the viaducts. http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/02/rogers-arena-towers/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I was at Rogers last night and within 5 minutes I remembered why I hate the place so much. The concourse blows, hopefully the upgrade will be as good as they make it sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus099 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 speaking of Rogers Arena, according to my friend who's worked there for 10+ years apparently it's busier there tonight than it has ever been even including playoff games because One Direction is playing there....pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 The removal of the viaducts will make access to the place soooo much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JE14 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 speaking of Rogers Arena, according to my friend who's worked there for 10+ years apparently it's busier there tonight than it has ever been even including playoff games because One Direction is playing there....pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 speaking of Rogers Arena, according to my friend who's worked there for 10+ years apparently it's busier there tonight than it has ever been even including playoff games because One Direction is playing there....pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Considering it holds more for concerts, it's to be expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucks#01fan Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 1D > Canucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THERETOOL Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 more proof the aquilinis only care about making money through their real estate ..gross family ... hockey and the fans are a distant care for these owners ... please god , let a local owner who actually has a passion for hockey buy this franchise ... giants owners should make a bid ,if and when its for sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckRow Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Guess they can't afford to lower tickets, hey? They"ll just continue to raise prices and take advantage of us year after year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John.Tallhouse Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 speaking of Rogers Arena, according to my friend who's worked there for 10+ years apparently it's busier there tonight than it has ever been even including playoff games because One Direction is playing there....pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 more proof the aquilinis only care about making money through their real estate ..gross family ... hockey and the fans are a distant care for these owners ... please god , let a local owner who actually has a passion for hockey buy this franchise ... giants owners should make a bid ,if and when its for sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred65 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 That expansion my be great who know. This much I do know from my section I'll never make it there because the concourse is that jammed. By the way just a point it would nicer for every one if the idiots who suddenly decide to have a group meeting of friends and family didn't do it right in the middle of the concourse and shifted to one side...it would help. If you want to have a beer and scratch various parts of your body move to the side....thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFergy Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 What is upgrate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7thMan Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 more proof the aquilinis only care about making money through their real estate ..gross family ... hockey and the fans are a distant care for these owners ... please god , let a local owner who actually has a passion for hockey buy this franchise ... giants owners should make a bid ,if and when its for sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldBrashear Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Cool upgrades. Unfortunately, this is ultimately going to end up increasing demand to Canucks games. These upgrades basically confirm that Rogers Arena is only at the beginning of its lifespan. So there likely won't be a new arena built for at least 30 to 40 years at least. In other words, no more added seating capacity, maxed out at about 19,000 seats total (including suites). If they'd had more room (not squeezed between viaducts), then Rogers Arena probably could have had close to 21,000 or 22,000 seats (like Montreal's Bell Centre, which was built at the same time as Rogers Arena). It's a shame, because now the viaducts will come down. The big issue is simply Vancouver's population. It's growing at a high pace, and basically figured that by 2040, there will be an extra 1 million people in Vancouver. So demand continues to go up for things like this, yet there's not enough product. Same thing happens in big football cities. The Maple Leafs are dealing with the same issue. However, unlike Canucks fans, Leafs fans have options. They can drive to away games to see their team play. Cities like Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Montreal are only a few hours away from Toronto. Unlike Vancouver, where the closest cities are Calgary, Edmonton or San Jose (all 10 to 15 hour drives away). Some bright spots though? #1) We may see an NHL team in Seattle in the next few years, which could cause prices to drop slightly as some fans choose to commute there,#2) A lot of Vancouver's population growth is from immigrants, who may not have the same hockey addiction as people born in Canada, since hockey is not as popular in other countries, and #3) Multimedia continues to improve. It used to be you'd have to listen to a game on the radio, or watch it on a crappy small TV. Now we have super high definition 3d televisions with surround sound, and all the games are free. If the at home product continues to improve, people may be less inclined to physically go to a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schlaBAM Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 "soon to be developed"? This article was posted 528 days ago. Has the process been greatly stalled, err..? First I'm hearing about all this as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugar baby watermelon Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Upgrate?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skolozsy2 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 What is upgrate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuck nit Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Apparently,the upgrate has been a set back with first round exits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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