Ok....but, what does it say that this game that presumably had 22k ready to go....whittled down to 5,700 so fast?
The sense is that most fans no longer want to spend money on a ticket to a game that is not at the new THF, at least for these next two games. If for some reason that THF will be unable to open at all this season, Similar to what happened with Winnipeg's IGF in 2012, then there would be some re thinking by some I would respect. The fans supported the TiCats last season at the Guelph stadium, away games at near by Rogers Centre vs the Argos, and the pre season game at Ron Joyce this year as the stadium was being built knowing that these were the option ahead of time. Now that the expecation was planned to be at THF for these games the last minute change was too much and they are going to wait till the expected August date. The 300 seats could be a lot of singles that may or may not get sold I don't know. A win this week would likely get some fans to change their mind for the next game at Ron Joyce as well
From a soccer standpoint THF will be well done ahead of the official PAN AM Soccer stadium. Also for any pre PAN AM events THF would be available to host a variety of soccer matches. Likely being a site for the CWNT match preparing for the WWC. Already CWNT had a great turnout in new IGF in Winnipeg. Hitting the new TD place in Ottawa also will be on the agenda in Ontario. As for the CFL there is much to be worried about
I would think that despite the headline that it will be ready by labour day the rumours that this is not possible and the possibility that they play the entire (or bulk of it) season at Mac.
Well they have 5 weeks to get it done by LD. with what happened in Winnipeg in 2012 and the current situtation where they were not ready on the said date that the lean to the rumors will be one of major negativity. I do not think that hardly anyone has any idea but alot can get done in a month so we will just have to wait and see
Looks like we won't know until the 28th if the Labour day game is going to be at TH. Matthew Scianitti @TSNScianitti 8m The drop-dead date we'll know if Labour Classic happens at TH Field? Aug 28 http://scratchingpost.thespec.com/2014/08/stadium-could-come-down-to-the-wire-for-labour-day.html… via @Mattatthespec & That's cutting it a bit close in my opinion but probably indicates they suspect the answer is more likely yes than no.
Falling back and just playing at MAC just to get the game played on the right time and date will not be available for Labor Day. Last year Rogers Centre was not being used on Labor Day but the Jays had a home game the day before and the turn around to convert from baseball to football would not have had the stadium ready in time for a game the next day. This time if THF is not ready everyone involved may need to prepare not just a venue move but a day and time as well. A Tuesday night 8:00 pm start at Rogers Centre may be the best option this time. This really cause alot issues with with TSN this time and for people with tickets who may not be able to make it. Then again the games at MAC caused not enough seats for tickets sold. Not sure what TSN has scheduled for Broadcast on Tues the 2nd. The football Broadcast crew will be available. The Network in which the Broadcast would be shown there may need to be some shuffling. This could be a mess. all need to get plan B in place now this time and not wait last minute
By Labour day there will be TSN TSN2 TSN3 TSN4 & TSN5 (the extras all launch on August 25).....if they can't find a home for a quick CFL reschedule then I have seriously underestimated the amount of programming they have available. So, I think, the South Carolina State tiddlywinks may have to be bumped to a tape delayed broadcast but I think they can find a slot for the Argos v Tabbies.
Oh I am sure there will be a slot expecially with the new networks launching. However having a CFL game on TSN3,4, or 5 may not meet the deal requirements with the CFL. Not sure what TSN has programmed for that tuesday night. An event that can be moved to a lower network would be ideal and then no issue.
I am sure the CFL deal is not so strong that they could decide (for whatever reason) to move the date of a game and then squawk at the netowrk for pushing it down to a lower channel
TNN2 would be reasonable with that already being in most packages already. The newer networks not so much
A more recent update: Lloyd Ferguson talks about completion date for Tim Hortons Field Quotes from Ferguson: - He has complete access to site - Field is ready, lines are done by city staff before the game - Seats are ready - West side washrooms are functioning, east side need fixtures, not a big job to bolt them on and hook them up so they should be ready - Lights are up, not connected but won't be needed for first game (afternoon) Areas that give him trouble: -Forecourt (main entrance on Cannon street - lots of work to be done) will be fenced off but they tell him it will be fenced off to allow people to come in safely - The key issue is to make the site life-ready (building dept has to certify it is safe) as does fire and health - Concession stands will not be ready, health department will oversee temp provisional setup - Fire department will make sure proper exits are in place - He think the issues will be with handrails - He says nobody is playing the blame game, they are focusing on how to get it ready - To get a partial occupancy permit it will need a lot of work and creative solutions - His best guess from walking through there is a 60-70% chance it will be ready - Providing there is no trip hazard, the forecourt not being completed is no big deal. Can't be walking across gravel. Bill Kelly talks about how it didn't seem to be reported that TD Place (Ottawa) wasn't completely ready for the first game. There were still construction areas that were fenced off and they didn't have snack bars and refreshment stands ready. Ferguson reiterates that it has to be life ready and safe. The concession booth won't be open, air conditioning won't be working, lights probably won't be ready but it doesn't matter. It's a formal process to decommission a construction site and make it life ready for occupancy. They are applying for partial occupancy and expect the application to be on the desk by Monday to start inspections and try to get it ready. Kelly talks about elevators being ready, Ferguson mentions getting one ready and hopefully a second, all the exit stairs have no railing yet and that has to be completed. The main scoreboard has yet to be completed (and may not be ready) but the smaller community scoreboard is ready. He wants the next committee update (open to the public) to be held at the stadium. He's not 100% sure but 60-70%. Billy Kelly: Most of the work is being done inside Ferguson: There is an army under the seats and the big push is mechanical, electrical done in the control rooms underneath the seats
Crucial stadium inspection will take five days Ticats have no obvious Plan B for Labour Day Matthew Van Dongen thespec.com August 19/2014 The city building department expects to spend five days inspecting the city's new football stadium before pronouncing it ready — or not — for a fast-approaching Sept. 1 game. That timeline adds to the deadline pressure facing the beleaguered builder of the $145-million stadium as well as the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The team doesn't have a local backup venue for the much-anticipated Labour Day classic. Chief building official Ed VanderWindt said Monday he has two inspectors "on call" to begin a marathon study of the 22,500-seat stadium as soon as the contractor applies for an occupancy permit. "There is a lot of ground to cover … It's not just one big walkabout and you're done," said VanderWindt, who has scheduled five days for the inspection. While inspectors could eyeball the stadium in two or three days, the city's building boss said the extra time accounts for document review and any required repairs. The two inspectors will roam the city-block-sized venue dozens of times, said VanderWindt, because each critical element — sprinklers, fire exits or hand rails, for example — requires a dedicated walk-about. VanderWindt said it's not practical to assign more eyes to the stadium because not all parts of the building will be ready to inspect at the same time. But he noted a team of in-house engineers will simultaneously be reviewing documents certifying everything from electrical work to structural integrity to fire safety. The chosen inspectors — whom VanderWindt declined to identify — have a history with the building, including one dedicated to the stadium full-time. "What I can say is our staff feel very privileged to be part of this project. I think everyone recognizes the pressure there is to make sure everything is done on time, but for our part I can say we're keeping on top of it and looking forward to getting it done." The contractor, Ontario Sports Solutions, maintains the building will be ready for Sept. 1, but the building department hadn't received an occupancy permit application by the end of the business day Monday. But VanderWindt said building inspectors will work weekends if necessary, meaning a permit could still be granted by next Monday. Ticats officials have said they need at least five days to make the stadium game-ready. The city also needs about a week to orient maintenance staff, line the field and test equipment, said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson. The contractor could request either a partial or full occupancy permit. The latter option requires a plan approved by VanderWindt outlining how an unfinished stadium would be made safe for public use. It's not yet clear what the Tiger-Cats will do if the stadium isn't judged ready. The team has played its last two home games at Ron Joyce stadium, but McMaster University has so far said the venue is not available Labour Day because of a conflicting game and move-in day for residence students. Pan Am stadium: next steps - If the contractor applies for partial occupancy, it must prove the unfinished stadium is safe to use. For example, that could include implementing a fire watch if alarm systems aren't ready, setting up portable toilets if washrooms aren't done or walling off areas still under construction; - If the city approves that plan, two inspectors would tour the stadium over several days, looking at all critical requirements listed in the Ontario Building Code, such as hand rails, sprinklers and structural integrity; - They don't need to sign off on the field of play, the paint job or even the HVAC system, since heating isn't considered a critical requirement until October; - Project engineers, architects and even sub-contractors must certify their work — and city engineers must review all the documents. That includes the big stuff — structural, mechanical, geotechnical and electrical work — but also details like fire alarm and elevator tests; - Inspectors will list any deficiencies and return within days or even hours to see if they've been fixed. It's common to find things that need a last-minute fix, like wrongly installed sprinkler heads or dark exit signs. The stadium must also be clear of debris or tripping hazards — even if it is still under construction.
looking more and more like the place will open on Labour Day .....but with only 18k seats: http://www.thespec.com/sports-story...im-hortons-field-on-labour-day-is-not-24-000/
Choices are very limited for the CFL Cats and Labor Day game. Getting their season ticket holders in a seat, suite, or other premium seat options. Not ideal to cut out the rest but so far those season ticket holders have been left out for 2 seasons now to be at a venue all at the same time. If not the moving of the game date is likely with their current site of Ron Joyce booked for MAC University football. Dare I say it but probably the tues night after Labor day at RC is the next best option. Season ticket holders and others with tickets will have a venue to accommodate them. From a soccer standpoint there are no issues and will be ready well ahead of the Pan AM games. Also will be available for the incoming mass of Woman's National teams coming for the June World cup. Also a likely site for CWNT early friendly since there will be no WC matches in Southern Ontario. Better venue for fans than BMO with modern suites, club, Patio, and Lounge areas. CMT would need to find a country willing to play on turf for pre Gold Cup and World cup qualifier friendly matches.
I am aware. I am also aware that BMO is being reno'd to improve the fan experience in every area. Including upping the current barely 20K capacity as well as improving upon the premium seating that is currently available. Reason I mentioned that unlikely that the CMT would be able to make much use of THF with the artificial turf. Where as almost every venue in the 2015 WWC will be on FIFA approved field turf. For pre WWC matches THF is wide open for scheduling with TFC at BMO and will already be without a home field for over a month. Likely adding to a couple more home games in may
Nearly....the expansion/improvement is not going to change much in the club (it is on the west side at midfield) other than an expansion which they tell us will allow all 500 club members to actually get in there at one time (current fire capacity is 300) nor the currently existing boxes....also on the west side and of quite a good quality. There will be more boxes added, and I imagine possibly an additional club on the east side. Current capacity is 22,591...which I think is right around what THF is...right? Next season is gonna be a very frustrating one for TFC and their fans from a scheduling perspective. Because of the off season expansion, there will be no home games for the first 4 or 5 weeks of the season....then they will be home for a spell....then shut down again for about 4 weeks for the Pan Am rugby tournament......there will be long stretches of no home games followed by long stretches where it will seem like they play at home every other day.
That will be tough for TFC. Especially the early season Reno's, hope they get completed on time. I guess the possibility of getting a home game at RC in that early part of the season. Against an opponent that may be a huge draw and be able to have the roof closed with the early part of the season a bit cold in Canada. RC has field turf I know but there are other clubs who use field turf and it will be for just the one game. Kia Training center will be helpful with practice with having a main natural grass pitch.
Not that it matters much but THF is a 24K plus capacity and has the popular patio seating as well as lounge seating area
Thanks....I thought it was 22,500 seats with 1,500 standing room on the patio. If that were the case, it would be almost identical to BMO where they sell 22,591 tickets but there is no formal standing room.....in other words you need a ticket to a seat to get in but may just choose to watch the game standing on the patio.