Niagara Falls Four Pad Complex

[AlphaDog]

I case anyone wants specifics on it....

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/city_hall/departments/clerks/supply_and_services/tender_attach/P61-2007/P61-2007-Restaurant-Concession-Operations-4-Pad-Arena.pdf

Site plan:
http://www.niagarafalls.ca/city_hall/departments/clerks/supply_and_services/tender_attach/P61-2007/Dwg-A101-SITE-PLAN.pdf

[WellandDogsFan]

Interesting read, but according to the drawings, there really isnt much seating at any of the rinks.

[AlphaDog]

Interesting read, but according to the drawings, there really isnt much seating at any of the rinks.

NOpe! I breathed an internal sigh of relief that I saw only 2,000 seats at the main pad (they won't be moving the IceDogs!! :D I think I'd still go to the games if they ever DID move to the Falls, except the bad-weather days. Just makes me realize - it's easy for me to say "all of Niagara needs to get behind this team" when it's in the same city I live in. I might be piping a different tune if it were somewhere else.

[WellandDogsFan]

NOpe! I breathed an internal sigh of relief that I saw only 2,000 seats at the main pad (they won't be moving the IceDogs!! :D I think I'd still go to the games if they ever DID move to the Falls, except the bad-weather days. Just makes me realize - it's easy for me to say "all of Niagara needs to get behind this team" when it's in the same city I live in. I might be piping a different tune if it were somewhere else.
I'll go anywhere in the region, even on the bad weather days...Honestly I think it needs to be in a centrally located. Doesnt necessarily need to be IN a city.

[AlphaDog]

I'll go anywhere in the region, even on the bad weather days...Honestly I think it needs to be in a centrally located. Doesnt necessarily need to be IN a city.

True - good for the fans, but that's IT. Try to get non-hockey fan taxpayers to shell out cash for an arena out in the sticks :o There's no way the 2300 fans coming out to the games are going to be able to decide the fate of the other 400,000 taxpayer's money by wanting a new arena.

Truthfully, with St. Catharines/Niagara not being a rich area, I can't see a new arena ever being built. Not without almost all the cash coming from the private sector. It would have been a different story back when GM was in it's hay-day in the 80's.

[myleslong]

What I think is needed here is a multi-use facility,so that the demand to create it can be (and appear to be) from a much larger constituency, The arts, Brock University/Niagara College,and sports groups. Financing must be a co-operation between Federal,Provincial,Regional governmentsand the private sector.Land in the area is plentiful,the dollar is strong, interest rates are relatively low.While the Dogs,I understand,have five-year lease at the Jack,then what? True, it's not going to happen overnight,but I feel it.s not too early to plant the seeds.All local politicos,MPP's,MP's need to know that there is interest.While.it is most important to the Burkes" who have their money on the line,we.too are building an investment in the team.if only an emotional one. I don't know much about FaceBook,MySpace,YouTube,et al. But am sure you internet v eterans do,but it's clearly w ay to get the word out, and to build the consensus that we need.GO DOGS!

[AlphaDog]

What we need to do, when the municiple elections are going and you have all your councellors/aldermen/etc.. coming around to our houses - mention that a new rink for our IceDogs is very important. If they hear it from a person or two each time they go out to canvass, at least it'll be on their minds.

[strohs]

Yes, its been well documented that niagara was only building an arena with 2,000 seats...I am not surprised at seeing that.

That basically tells me two things:
(a) the niagara region is not serious about long term ohl hockey aspirations...st. kitts and now niagara will both have brand new four pad complexes, and the main arenas in each are nowhere near large enough to support a jr.a team, and too big for jr. b.
(b) enjoy the dogs while they are here, because, unless a miracle happens, I cant see a brand new stand-alone ohl calibre arena being built in the niagara region....so unfortunate!

[Ref]

I heard the other day that the convention center on Murray St would be putting in a 5000 seat arena. I've heard this from a couple of sources and that the hotel association is behind it.

Has anyone else heard about this?

Just wondering

[AlphaDog]

Yes, its been well documented that niagara was only building an arena with 2,000 seats...I am not surprised at seeing that.

That basically tells me two things:
(a) the niagara region is not serious about long term ohl hockey aspirations...st. kitts and now niagara will both have brand new four pad complexes, and the main arenas in each are nowhere near large enough to support a jr.a team, and too big for jr. b.
(b) enjoy the dogs while they are here, because, unless a miracle happens, I cant see a brand new stand-alone ohl calibre arena being built in the niagara region....so unfortunate!

And it doesn't make any sense to build all this ice space for the kids, when their only hope of playing at higher levels will be somewhere else. We need a good/big/permanent arena here so kids growing up playing hockey can go to the games and say "I wanna play here some day." But dumping too much money into small rinks around the region is just killing that possibility.

[VERBATIM]

The convention center is a possible option but so far just the infastructure for the ice surface not the mechanical just the piping. Maybe ?

[Chooch]

I don't know why this rumor keeps coming up but there is absolutely zero interest from anyone for an ice pad anywhere in the tourist area of Niagara Falls. I'm thinking that because the casino is making loads of money that people think that they should build something suitable for junior hockey, but the casino has absolutely nothing to gain from it, neither does a convention center, and believe me they will always be thinking of their bottom line first. It's just too small potatoes for them.

I think that because no city council in the region will want to spend money on a new rink, regardless of fan support, that the only way it will happen is with private money. The Burkes might have to team up with others to get something done down the road. I really want it to happen, and I'm hoping to see a nice 4500 seat building right along the QEW somewhere, or rip down the entire Gatorade Complex and build the rink there, along with a parking garage. Two major problems solved. Just don't keep expecting city council to do it.

[GoDogsGo]

kids are saying that about the jack now... Hey coach I wanna play here with the dogs.... thats all i hear during practices.. LOL...yeah a new arena would be nice... was there a vote for the 4 pad....still happened didnt it....no reason a new arena cant...i am tired of spending (team behalf) $155 for practice ice for 50 mins and $195 for a game (50 mins) for the kids... (includes refs)... then we wonder we kids are asking for sponsors and hownding us at the stores for donations... a new arena would help all the leagues in the city region....

[VERBATIM]

I don't know why this rumor keeps coming up but there is absolutely zero interest from anyone for an ice pad anywhere in the tourist area of Niagara Falls. I'm thinking that because the casino is making loads of money that people think that they should build something suitable for junior hockey, but the casino has absolutely nothing to gain from it, neither does a convention center, and believe me they will always be thinking of their bottom line first. It's just too small potatoes for them.

I think that because no city council in the region will want to spend money on a new rink, regardless of fan support, that the only way it will happen is with private money. The Burkes might have to team up with others to get something done down the road. I really want it to happen, and I'm hoping to see a nice 4500 seat building right along the QEW somewhere, or rip down the entire Gatorade Complex and build the rink there, along with a parking garage. Two major problems solved. Just don't keep expecting city council to do it.

From city of Niagara falls report

Based an utilizaion in 2005 and 2006 97 of events held at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena required less than 2000 seats
Most of the events that exceeded the need for 2000 seats were non ice events The proposed convention centre is expected to provide up to 10 000 seats and is proposed to serve the non ice market currently using Niagara Falls Memorial Arena including special events and concerts The convention centre is also expected to have the ability to bring in temporary ice for large community special events