Jump to content

      



























Photo

Royal Athletic Park's future


  • Please log in to reply
48 replies to this topic

#21 baconnbits

baconnbits
  • Member
  • 235 posts

Posted 20 December 2011 - 02:25 PM

I would not support having the City pay for any renovations to RAP for the benefit of a private company.

If professional baseball makes financial sense, the team should build their own stadium. In fundamentally disagree with any public money being spent on professional sports.


if the city builds it and retains ownership of the stadium it can lease the building out to various tenants provided they offer a positive cash flow, allowing the city to get a return on its investment.

alternatively, the city can redevelop it and lease it at an appropriate rate, so as to provide the city with a suitable return on its cost, to a private operator who will manage and operate the building.

I don't have a problem with the city renovating the facility provided they get a return on the cost or at least break even. i can't fathom how the city redeveloping the grounds to suit baseball would do that however. the crowds aren't there and a diamond limits the attractiveness to a multitude of other sports that could bring in as good if not better crowds than a sub par semi-pro baseball team.

that said, the sports i am referring to are largely amateur anyways.

#22 tedward

tedward
  • Member
  • 1,974 posts
  • LocationJames Bay

Posted 20 February 2012 - 11:04 AM

I would not support having the City pay for any renovations to RAP for the benefit of a private company.

How about giving control of the stadium to a private company without competitive bids or commitment to investment in the facility?

City staff are still negotiating in secret to turn RAP over to a non-existent baseball team and there has been no word on what sort of deal the team is proposing. Are they going to fund renovations? Are they going to pay a fee for the privilege? Current tenants are being shut out of the process with only vague assurances that they will be able to secure use of the facility after 2012.

Lake Side Buoy - LEGO Nut - History Nerd - James Bay resident


#23 Lorne Carnes

Lorne Carnes
  • Member
  • 61 posts

Posted 14 May 2012 - 08:26 PM

No one has pointed out that Royal Athletic "Park" is actually zoned R2, and as such could be sold by Council at any time. The public planning process would only come into play if purchasers wished to change the zoning from the current Two Family Dwelling or sought variances.

#24 Bernard

Bernard
  • Member
  • 5,056 posts
  • LocationVictoria BC

Posted 15 May 2012 - 10:56 AM

No one has pointed out that Royal Athletic "Park" is actually zoned R2, and as such could be sold by Council at any time. The public planning process would only come into play if purchasers wished to change the zoning from the current Two Family Dwelling or sought variances.


There is park zoning in Victoria other than a specific one for the Cathedral precinct another for the Inner Harbour. Pioneer Park is one zoned as a park by the Cathedral. Most of the Inner Harbour Park is not what you think is park - Fisherman's Wharf Park is part of that.

Almost all the parks are some sort of R zoning. Hollywood Park is R1-G, Stadacona Park is R1-B

#25 Lorne Carnes

Lorne Carnes
  • Member
  • 61 posts

Posted 17 May 2012 - 03:25 PM

Do we have any idea how much it costs to maintain Royal Athletic... and what revenue the City generates from the current community user groups?

#26 Lorne Carnes

Lorne Carnes
  • Member
  • 61 posts

Posted 19 May 2012 - 07:22 AM

With a little digging I found the 2011 budget for Royal Athletic. Expenditure $509,967 vs revenue $ 374,125. Looks like City needs tenant to bring in added revenue and pay property tax. Assume anyone looking to lease would expect a very long term exclusive before committing capital for improvements.

One option could have Council sell the property. Use proceeds to develop separate sport specific facilities elsewhere in the community. Allow developers higher density in exchange for amenity of smaller neighbourhood park on site.

#27 baconnbits

baconnbits
  • Member
  • 235 posts

Posted 24 June 2012 - 01:21 AM

Selling would be a terrible idea. The stadium is well located within the city and keeping the facility near crystal garden, the curling rink and save on foods arena creates a strong sports precinct within the downtown area. the problem is how difficult the city seems to be at dealing with the property.
the city should be striving for more regular tenants. the highlanders are there and now a baseball team again. letting the victoria rebels go was a bad idea. not sure on the numbers they attracted, but as an open air facility I'd imagine operating the park is not that expensive (confirmed by total operating costs of 500k a year)
further, the city should be looking to lock in some major events each year. beer fest and the music fest are great additions. there should be more of them.
rugby canada is headquartered in langford. with rugby's strong following in victoria the city should be locking in one national men's test game a year which would easily pull 7,000 in vic and possibly even higher if they were to secure a canada usa test match, market the game in vic, seattle and vancouver.
the victoria international 7's should be held at RAP. The city should try to secure a women's national soccer team game a year.
on top of all this, an effort to renovate and improve the facility should be undertaken, maybe this means a lottery to raise funds or private equity (which will only get involved if the city works to get more events at the stadium)
i find it interesting that langford has poached rugby and football from the city and now this (see the bottom comments from stew young)
http://www.timescolo...1873/story.html
i just wonder what the city of victoria is doing sometimes....

there are so many events they could bring to the park in the winter/spring as well - high school soccer finals, high school rugby finals, the smus/oak bay boot game has drawn over 1,000 people several times, major games between castaways, uvic, and James Bay rugby.
it's just about making a bit more of an effort. all of these could draw strong crowds, bring money into the stadium and draw people downtown to spend more money.

annoying.

#28 amor de cosmos

amor de cosmos

    BUILD

  • Member
  • 7,116 posts

Posted 09 September 2013 - 07:44 AM

what's with victoria? It used to be such a great place. Now it's being outdone by layritz & even a saanich middle school. that field has some real levelling & drainage issues that need sorting out. who do they expect to use it with so many other options? maybe they tried & there was always one neighbour who objected to the possible noise, or there were a couple people who didn't want a private sports team to benefit from the city's investment. maybe they'll do something, I noticed the two diamonds behind the crystal are both dug up. not sure what the plan is there but things are happening.

#29 Victoria Watcher

Victoria Watcher

    Old White Man On A Canadian Island

  • Member
  • 52,337 posts

Posted 31 July 2020 - 07:14 AM

[attachment=27587:screenshot-mail.google.com-2020.07.31-11_12_48.png]



#30 Victoria Watcher

Victoria Watcher

    Old White Man On A Canadian Island

  • Member
  • 52,337 posts

Posted 15 April 2022 - 01:12 AM

City sends staff to sniff out feasibility of off-leash dog park in Royal Athletic Park

Victoria city council is considering a pilot project to create an off-leash dog park at Royal Athletic Park.

https://www.timescol...ic-park-5269236

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 April 2022 - 01:13 AM.


#31 On the Level

On the Level
  • Member
  • 2,891 posts

Posted 15 April 2022 - 10:34 AM

Is this spill over from a battle between certain council members and the current lessee of the park?  There is also a political connection between North Park Neighbourhood Association and certain councilors so it may be stripping the site from city use and repurposing for NPNA?

 

Something isn't right here. 


  • Harry likes this

#32 Mike K.

Mike K.
  • Administrator
  • 83,184 posts

Posted 15 April 2022 - 10:38 AM

From the GM of the Cats responding to Councillor Isitt’s claims:

Preview: @sarahpottsvic motion passed!

@isitt_ argued baseball only happens ~50 days a year, & park could be used other 315 days.

“Certainly there’s an issue with fecal matter,” @isitt_ told colleagues. He expected few other issues “beyond addressing the fecal matter…”

Swanson:

It’s factually untrue that baseball happens ~50 days per year. And factually untrue that the part of the grass in question is unused/underused.

This proposal would end high school football, rugby and many, many soccer events.

- https://twitter.com/...qEGGdnHbiiPjGlQ

Is the City sort of sending signals to the Cats?

Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.


#33 Victoria Watcher

Victoria Watcher

    Old White Man On A Canadian Island

  • Member
  • 52,337 posts

Posted 15 April 2022 - 10:44 AM

Is the City sort of sending signals to the Cats?

 

After I got vaccinated my cat started receiving all my signals quite clearly.  Sometimes she gets the Seattle stations better than my rabbit (ears) too.


  • Mike K. and Nparker like this

#34 Spy Black

Spy Black
  • Banned
  • 2,461 posts

Posted 16 April 2022 - 05:30 AM

As Potts struggles to be noticed on Council by making yet another ridiculous motion, along with enough supporting Councillors to send it to City Staff shouldn't really come as a surprise to anybody.

 

That a Mayor and Council that literally screws up every single thing they touch seems to be on the cusp of screwing up yet something else only means it's just another day in the City of Victoria.


  • On the Level likes this

#35 spanky123

spanky123
  • Member
  • 20,976 posts

Posted 16 April 2022 - 06:01 PM

City sends staff to sniff out feasibility of off-leash dog park in Royal Athletic Park

 

The solution is pretty simple. Saanich allows dogs in sports areas mid-October to mid-March. No reason why RAP couldn't do the same if there is such a need.



#36 Victoria Watcher

Victoria Watcher

    Old White Man On A Canadian Island

  • Member
  • 52,337 posts

Posted 16 April 2022 - 06:07 PM

The difference is a dedicated high sports complex, and a city park.

Nobody is letting loose dogs into Centennial Stadium or Starlight or Save On.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 April 2022 - 06:08 PM.


#37 Harry

Harry
  • Member
  • 96 posts

Posted 16 April 2022 - 09:20 PM

https://npna.ca/wp-c...letic-Park-.pdf

 

It would seem that the NPNA has been working hard to get a foot in the door at RAP for a while now this seems just to be a way to "Get the foot in the door" and will most likely be used to get control of the park.


  • Nparker likes this

#38 spanky123

spanky123
  • Member
  • 20,976 posts

Posted 18 April 2022 - 08:17 AM

The difference is a dedicated high sports complex, and a city park.

Nobody is letting loose dogs into Centennial Stadium or Starlight or Save On.

 

Dogs have no problem at Layritz or other sports complexes off season.

 

I feel badly for the HC folks. They aren't millionaires trying to make a buck, they are family folks who genuinely want to bring family entertainment to the City and inspire youths. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they are thwarted at almost every turn by a Mayor and some council members who live transactional lives and can't understand why people want to have fun and share time with their families if there is nothing in it for them.


  • On the Level and Harry like this

#39 spanky123

spanky123
  • Member
  • 20,976 posts

Posted 21 April 2022 - 05:49 PM

Seems strange. Motion tabled and then postponed until next year. I wonder if a deal was cut.



#40 Tom Braybrook

Tom Braybrook

    tom braybrook

  • Member
  • 1,578 posts

Posted 21 April 2022 - 06:41 PM

Seems strange. Motion tabled and then postponed until next year. I wonder if a deal was cut.

nope...just backed off cuz' there was too much heat...


  • Midnightly likes this

You're not quite at the end of this discussion topic!

Use the page links at the lower-left to go to the next page to read additional posts.
 



0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users