99 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

I have heard that they plan to expand it to 12,000 for the game although that number includes standing room only. 

 

Having spoken to a few people since the announcement it sounds like there was more enthusiasm than a detailed analysis that went into the proposal to the league / Lions. I am sure that the City will pull it off but I question the cost. Anyone willing to bet that Johnson and Pandora don't get some attention as an example?

Edited by spanky123, 01 December 2023 - 09:31 AM.

[Ismo07]

What's the latest on seating capacity at RAP? I know it can be expanded to 10,000 but I think they're going to want/need bigger numbers than that, with Lana Popham saying 10,000 to 12,000.

 

It'll be interesting for sure...  I think they can get to around 6,000 now to the brim...  Would need bleachers on the north side and high ones....  Football field needs to be 150 yards.  That will barely fit in RAP.

 

I do love how people think Starlight can sit 6,000 today.  Count the seats one day when you are bored..  I bet it's closer to 4,000.    Starlight is also only 140ish yards

Edited by Ismo07, 01 December 2023 - 09:45 AM.

[Ismo07]

Why is everyone worried about hotel space for 10 to 12,000 people for this event?  We don't think 8-9,000 folks locally will go?

[Victoria Watcher]

Well it’s being sold as a tourism draw.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 December 2023 - 09:59 AM.

[Ismo07]

Well it’s being sold as a tourism draw.

 

Well it's an exciting time...  Sure some people from up-island will come down and rabid fans on the mainland but most would treat it like an away game probably..  It'll have some 'one-time' event excitement I suppose.  But the population here can support an event like this.

Edited by Ismo07, 01 December 2023 - 10:02 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Langford says it was blindsided by this week’s announcement that the B.C. Lions will play a Canadian Football League game in Victoria next year instead of at Langford’s Starlight Stadium.

 

The Lions will play the Ottawa Red Blacks at Royal Athletic Park on Aug. 31 in the CFL’s first Touchdown Pacific game.

 

The City of Victoria and Mayor Marianne Alto, a long-time fan of the Lions, are rolling out the red carpet with expanded seating for up to 14,000.

 

In a Facebook post on Friday, Langford said staff and council had been in ongoing discussions with the Lions about a potential game in Langford since 2022, and more recently in July.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ictoria-7912945

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 December 2023 - 03:40 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Why is everyone worried about hotel space for 10 to 12,000 people for this event?  We don't think 8-9,000 folks locally will go?

 

 

 

The Touchdown Pacific game will, for at least this year, replace the Touchdown Atlantic CFL games that have been held recently in Halifax, Moncton, N.B., and Wolfville, N.S.

Tickets for the Victoria game are going on sale in March.

 

CFL officials said Touchdown Atlantic events resulted in$10 million to $17 million in economic impact for the host communities.

 

Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey estimated an economic impact of $12 million in the region.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ictoria-7912945

[Ismo07]

 

The Touchdown Pacific game will, for at least this year, replace the Touchdown Atlantic CFL games that have been held recently in Halifax, Moncton, N.B., and Wolfville, N.S.

Tickets for the Victoria game are going on sale in March.

 

CFL officials said Touchdown Atlantic events resulted in$10 million to $17 million in economic impact for the host communities.

 

Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey estimated an economic impact of $12 million in the region.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ictoria-7912945

 

 

so if we have 12,000 seats, each person will impact the region by $1,000 each?  Is there more to this?

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]

so if we have 12,000 seats, each person will impact the region by $1,000 each?  Is there more to this?

 

There is always lots of fanciful accounting in these things.

[Mike K.]

Why won’t anyone tell us how many seats Starlight currently has? I see 6,000 is the amount listed on Wiki but I’m also told that’s not right.

[Ismo07]

Why won’t anyone tell us how many seats Starlight currently has? I see 6,000 is the amount listed on Wiki but I’m also told that’s not right.

 

Might have to count them...

 

I get about 2,000 in the main seating area...  It's less more like 1,900...

 

Another 1,000 in the grandstand...

 

18 suites, lets say 15 per, that's another 270...

 

That's tickling around 4,200...  There is a lot of standing room area on the other side of the pitch but you are not putting nearly 2,000 people there to get you 6,000 capacity... Maybe 3-400 tops.

 

So maybe a generous 4,600....

 

remembered there are some bleachers on the other end...  That could push it to around 5,000 to 5,200 maybe

Edited by Ismo07, 01 December 2023 - 04:24 PM.

[spanky123]

The City of Langford says it was blindsided by this week’s announcement that the B.C. Lions will play a Canadian Football League game in Victoria next year instead of at Langford’s Starlight Stadium.

 

Don't know if they were ever in the running. BC Lions rep was on CFAX yesterday and said the CEO wanted it in Victoria and wanted a venue where people could walk downtown.

[spanky123]

There is always lots of fanciful accounting in these things.

 

You can read the last report from the event in Halifax here. HEADLINE TEXT HEADLINE TEXT (sporttourismcanada.com)

 

The economic impact of course includes things other than just visitor spending and visitor spending itself is based on an email survey completed by people who attended the event.

[Mike K.]

My money’s on Langford not being able to satisfy the seating demands in time for the event. If they’ve been talking to the league since 2022, what happened that we’re still without those bleachers?

Victoria came to the rescue at the last minute, it sounds like.

[lanforod]

It says right in that press release their capacity would be 8-10k. If RAP can squeeze in 12k, that makes sense.

[spanky123]

My money’s on Langford not being able to satisfy the seating demands in time for the event. If they’ve been talking to the league since 2022, what happened that we’re still without those bleachers?

Victoria came to the rescue at the last minute, it sounds like.

UVIC already has a football stadium with 6,000+ seats. It would have been easy to add temp bleachers there.

Bottom line is that Victoria was always the choice, perhaps the Lions played Langford to get a better deal. It is insincere to suggest that Langford ever was in the running. The Lions CEO said as much.

[Mike K.]

The City of Langford says they've been chatting with the CFL about a game since 2022.

 

I don't think discussions with Victoria would have been secretive, over a long period of time. Victoria as the location seems like a very recent shift. Maybe Langford wasn't willing to subsidize the event, and Victoria is?

[LJ]

Well it's an exciting time...  Sure some people from up-island will come down and rabid fans on the mainland but most would treat it like an away game probably..  It'll have some 'one-time' event excitement I suppose.  But the population here can support an event like this.

Yeah, pols and their friends will take up at least 1000 seats.

[UDeMan]

This will most likely be an afternoon game. People from up island and the mainland will be able to come to the game and head home after without the need for a hotel room.

BC ferries may even put a late night ferry to Vancouver that night.

Edited by UDeMan, 02 December 2023 - 05:55 PM.