TTP Community - View Single Post - Friends of Soccer issues invitation to All Mayoral Candidates

FriendsofSoccer · 05-12-2008, 05:21 AM

Just to answer some of the questions raised:

The City of Vancouver rejected the Empire Stadium site because city planners have already developed a complete planning policy for the area. They spent many years and millions of dollars developing this, and nearly a decade in the public consultation process. The site was briefly considered by the City, but quickly rejected before it could even get to the proposal stage.

As for the Stadium being a business venture or philanthropic question, consider this: Greg Kerfoot owns 60,000 square meters of developable land downtown. Stadiums are incredibly expensive to build, and contrary to popular belief, yield little return. In fact, most stadiums post operating losses. If this was purely a business venture, Mr.Kerfoot could build office towers or residences on all of the land; something that would be far more profitable and much easier to pass through council. So, if this is purely a business development venture, why build a $75-100 million stadium at all?

As for the City of Vancouver operating the stadium? Consider their history:

Callister Park was the home of soccer back as late as the 60's. It was privately built and then donated to the PNE and the City in the 1940s. They let it deteriorate, but it could have been saved in 1969 for $100,000. They tore it down without replacing it in 1970.

Empire Stadium was allowed to decay to the point that it was condemned in the 1990s. Despite calls from the soccer community to save it, it too was torn down.

In the late 1990s, the City was planning to permanently remove the ice making facilities from the Pacific Coliseum...equipment that would have cost millions to replace. Only the Giants and the Olympics stopped it from happening.

Two years ago, the City considered tearing down Nat Bailey Stadium. The new owners of the Vancouver Canadians had to move fast to strike a deal with the Parks Board to save it. In order to do it, the new Canadians owners had to pump millions in renovations to keep it going.

As for the current stadium site, it's worth remembering that it was the City of Vancouver, through Mayor Larry Campbell, who asked the Whitecaps if they would be willing to build a stadium. It was also the City of Vancouver, through Larry Beasley, who directed the Whitecaps to the current site.

05-12-2008, 05:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
FriendsofSoccer Member Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22 TTP Friends: (0)	Re: Friends of Soccer issues invitation to All Mayoral Candidates Just to answer some of the questions raised: The City of Vancouver rejected the Empire Stadium site because city planners have already developed a complete planning policy for the area. They spent many years and millions of dollars developing this, and nearly a decade in the public consultation process. The site was briefly considered by the City, but quickly rejected before it could even get to the proposal stage. As for the Stadium being a business venture or philanthropic question, consider this: Greg Kerfoot owns 60,000 square meters of developable land downtown. Stadiums are incredibly expensive to build, and contrary to popular belief, yield little return. In fact, most stadiums post operating losses. If this was purely a business venture, Mr.Kerfoot could build office towers or residences on all of the land; something that would be far more profitable and much easier to pass through council. So, if this is purely a business development venture, why build a $75-100 million stadium at all? As for the City of Vancouver operating the stadium? Consider their history: Callister Park was the home of soccer back as late as the 60's. It was privately built and then donated to the PNE and the City in the 1940s. They let it deteriorate, but it could have been saved in 1969 for $100,000. They tore it down without replacing it in 1970. Empire Stadium was allowed to decay to the point that it was condemned in the 1990s. Despite calls from the soccer community to save it, it too was torn down. In the late 1990s, the City was planning to permanently remove the ice making facilities from the Pacific Coliseum...equipment that would have cost millions to replace. Only the Giants and the Olympics stopped it from happening. Two years ago, the City considered tearing down Nat Bailey Stadium. The new owners of the Vancouver Canadians had to move fast to strike a deal with the Parks Board to save it. In order to do it, the new Canadians owners had to pump millions in renovations to keep it going. As for the current stadium site, it's worth remembering that it was the City of Vancouver, through Mayor Larry Campbell, who asked the Whitecaps if they would be willing to build a stadium. It was also the City of Vancouver, through Larry Beasley, who directed the Whitecaps to the current site.