City of Ottawa November 8, 2013 - Work continues to put up the vertical beams in the Veil at the south stands. - The new stair cases at the east and west end of the stands are being built. - Inside the new south stands, team offices, locker rooms and mechanical rooms are being finished. - At the north stands, the contractor has started work to build new concessions on the lower concourse. - Seats continue to go in. - The new roofing membrane is being installed over the stands.
City of Ottawa November 15, 2013 - The new main staircases at the east and west end of the south stands are now in place and waiting for railings to be installed. - The vertical beams of the Veil continue to be put up. - Inside the south stands, the new offices and locker rooms are being built. - At the north stands, many of the new seats have been put in. - Work on the new roof over the north stands continues
City of Ottawa November 22, 2013 - Work has now started to shape and form the field level seating bowl at the front of the south stands - Over half of the vertical ribs of the wooden surround for the new south stands have now been put up - At the north stands, the contractor is almost finished installing the new roof - A new railing is being installed around the north stands - At the lower concourse level, new concessions are now being built A roller packs the base of the seating bowl near centre field at the south stands At the east end of the south stands, formwork is already in place for the first section of the field-level seating bowl From the air, the stadium is coming together – seats are installed in the north stands and the Veil can be seen behind the south stands Work continues to install the vertical beams in the wooden surround at the south stands From Bank Street, the stadium rises above the last piece of the parking garage and the first walls for the new residential tower
So why are the fury using the lower uncovered stand instead of the covered stand? Because of the suites? There'd be a better atmosphere under the roof.
City of Ottawa November 29, 2013 - The new roof on the north stands is almost complete. - Footings are being dug for a new pedestrian bridge on the east end of the stadium that will span from the main concourse to the berm. - At the south stands, work is underway to form and build the base for the seating bowl at the front of the stands. - Work continues to assemble the Veil that wraps around the stands. - Work continues inside the stands to install all the drywall, electrical and plumbing. At the service level, office spaces have been built and some of the walls have been painted. A worker is lifted to the top of the Veil behind the South stands to adjust the brackets connecting the wooden structure to the stands From the west end of the south stands, the new stairs are in place and the shape of the Veil is now apparent The tower crane at the west end of the field was taken down last week. A new crane for the building construction in this location will replace it At the front of the south stands, work is underway to build the field level seating bowl
I might have to drive up to Ottawa to take in a Fury match just to see this handywork once it's complete.
IT does most likely have to do with the suites and it being the brand new stands. From a stand point of the suites selling suites to a corporation OSEG would probably want the corporation to buy for all games both CFL and NASL games and even possibily for all three OSEG teams 67's, RBs and Fury. I do not know how many seats the lower level on the new side but probal having fans of about 10K on both sides would be a goal for the NASL Fury. JMO
I take it that the plan is for turf instead of grass, but could grass be put over top for important games? I'm thinking it would be a good spot to hold at least some CMNT games. First, it's our national capital, two, Montreal is only two hours away and some passionate fans would make the trip from Toronto, thus giving a greater chunk of the population the ability to attend and three it would help promote the sport in Ottawa.
Could turf be put over the artificial surface? Yes. Will it? No. Prohibitively expensive to do for a one off. Aside from CMNT fans (the Voyageurs and local supporter clubs), I would doubt that many Torontonians or Montrealers would make the trek to Ottawa. It's hard enough to get a good crowd out in either of those two cities for the NT. It's real simple, if they want to grow the game, they'll have to play on plastic, like the more nationally known (and popular) women's team does.
Putting grass on turf is certainly doable and has been done elsewhere for the same reasons, but it's never been very successful. It's always uneven or of low quality and almost always draws complaints from users. The only proven way to switch back and forth from turf to grass is via modular trays, but it's an expensive solution that's only done in a few NFL stadiums.
The stadium in Ottawa will most likely be a destination for the CMNT and CWNT to play matches to grow soccer into another city in Canada. Of course grass is preferred but the WWC will be played on FIFA highest level of sanctioned turf. As FIFA is learning that growing the game in other places in the world that having all Natural grass fields is sometimes not as easily to upkeep in certain climates and financiallly able to be up kept around the different regions around the World. The WWC will be played on these fields in Canada with the top graded FIFA artificial turf. The Field turfs are much better than the old astro turf that many think about and we wont see this as a norm in our lifetime but somewhere someone is trying to make an artificial turf that is as good as if not better than a natural grass turf. Until then change will be slow and some of the worlds top clubs and NTs will be able to pick and choose but others will begin to come to the modern artificial turfs if it is deemed safe and a good pay day and some promoting of the team
Modern artificial turf is as safe as any turf field. The problem is historical biases and money. As you said, provide a good enough payday and people will play on it. If the CMNT prima donnas want to limit themselves to two turf fields in Montreal and Toronto then they're just hurting themselves by not growing the game in other parts of the country in the great new facilities that we have. I don't know who's getting the money in the sponsorship deals the CSA is signing but it was the women who thanked the sponsors, not a male to be found.
Well the Women's team and the WWC is going with the fields as is so far and doubt that will change. If the men want to promote themselves around Canada they will need to do the same. Now bringing top International teams or Club teams will be something out of their control but for the right price and for Fifa wanting to expand in Norht America not just in the US but Canada as well the mindset will change for some.
City of Ottawa December 6, 2013 - At the south stands, work on the interior is advancing. In the service level, final paint and fixtures are being installed. - At the suite level, stud walls and finishes are being put up. - Work is proceeding to build the field-level seating bowl at the front of the stands. - At the north stands, work is beginning to prepare the base for the new field-level seating. - Work to form and reinforce the structure for the two new staircases into the Civic Centre continues. Excavation for the base of the new field level seating at the north stands is underway At the south stands, the seating bowl at the field level is being formed, and the media box has been enclosed The vertical beams of the Veil are secured by metal posts to the back of the south stands Inside the south stands at the suite level, drywall studs and interior finishes are being installed
City of Ottawa December 17, 2013 - At the south stands, work on the interior is advancing. The suites are being built on the second level and the media box at the top of the stands is being enclosed - All the vertical beams of the Veil behind the south stands have now been installed. Fine adjustments are being made to ensure the structure is perfectly aligned - At the north stands, work is starting on the foundations for the new field-level seating The vertical beams of the Veil are now in place behind the south stands Overlooking the north stands, from the Bank Street Bridge. The columns and walls for the first floor of the new condominium tower next to the bridge are now being built Masonry walls are now built for the player’s entrance at the back of the south stands Workers use a large crane to carefully position remaining vertical pieces of the Veil
What a great stadium. It is a shame that a city like Ottawa now will not be considered for an MLS franchise. I certainly would love to see them be a NASL new team that can get 10K a game filling the lower level. Also with the field doubling as a Canadian Football stadium several sections will be on the side that would be behind the goal line for soccer could as well be covered opening seats from goline to goaline. If the OSEG is able to sell 6K plus for the Junior hockey 67's 10K for the Fury would not be out of the question.
If the Fury should get past FC EDM that would set up a voyager cup showdown with Montreal. Hopefully the stadium will be ready for that round of the voyagers cup. The 67s ticket and promotion have done a masterful job of promoting the OHL in Ottawa. I can see the same being done for a Voyagers cup semi at the yet to be named Landsdowne stadium
I, too, would really like to see NASL soccer succeed in Ottawa in the stands. D2 is the next major growth area for Canadian club soccer. We need D2 teams that draw 5 to 10 k.
Well Hamilton will make three as it looks it will happen after the 2015 season. Sportnet 360 is carrying the NASL games. Although the lesser of the sportnet family it could have the Flames LP look to add an NASL team torecently acquired indoor lacrose and CFL.
Do you have a link for this? Last I heard, a move of the Lynx to Hamilton as TFC's USL Pro affiliate was seeming more likely.
Sorry i will search but there were several news stories with Bob Young stating such possiblities for the future but will not happen until after the WWC. As for the Lynx yes they have approached the city of Hamilton about using the stadium for a price of course. Bob Young AKA caretaker frequents fan Forums as well as plenty now that the Grey Cup is over. Here is a quote taken from a Forum that was taken from a news Article. " Lots of Percalation. Nothing is the least bit decided yet but there are lots of interesting conversations going on. It will probably take a while for things to firm up enought to make the news. It is a soccer stadium after all..." This is from July. there have been more qutes and such since.