Designs commissioned for a Western Expansion CFL Team

[VICIOUSCIRCLE]

Interesting .... thoughts?

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/26/de ... own-client

[TheLionKing]

Link not working.

[WestCoastJoe]

Design was for CFL team ... but not the Stamps

By Scott Mitchell,Calgary Sun

First posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 06:23 PM MDT | Updated: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 08:53 PM MDT

This stadium rendering was one of two making the rounds online Tuesday. CEI Architecture developed the concept in 2010. ceiarchitecture.com photo

Client: Confidential.

Location: Confidential.

Verdict: Nothing to do with Calgary.

As many expected, the “New Calgary Stadium” renderings, which had some locals excited to get a sneak-peek at plans for the Calgary Stampeders’ new digs after a pair of graphics showing a new multi-purpose football/soccer stadium graced the Internet on Tuesday, are that of an old project with CFL ties.

Apparently, they’ve been on the world wide web for a while, too, as part of a Vancouver-based architectural firm’s portfolio of work.

CEI Architecture developed the concept for a 28,000-seat stadium, according to its website, back in 2010 for a confidential client in a confidential location “as part of a new North American sports franchise.”

Mark Hentze, a CEI partner, confirmed the renderings have nothing to do with Calgary, but the since-discarded project that someone decided to dig up, purportedly as part of the Canadian Soccer Association’s 2026 World Cup bid, did have something to do with the Canadian Football League.

“There was a city in western Canada that was exploring the opportunity to build a stadium and potentially have a CFL expansion franchise in it,” Hentze said, adding it’s not the first time he’s seen designs show up in unexpected places.

“We had previously done work on their hockey arena, which was a Major Junior hockey team and had been looking at potential ways that arena could be a temporary home for an NHL team should an NHL team run into financial challenges. At the same time, the group that operates that arena were looking at an initiative to explore building a stadium that would house a CFL football team.”

While Hentze couldn’t reveal the exact city, a couple of educated guesses — or maybe just one — and you’ll likely arrive at the right destination.

Either way, the project cost back in ’10 was a cool $117 million.

Or if you wanted the fully-loaded option with a roof, it would’ve run a professional sports team $134 million.

For comparison’s sake — and inflation’s sake — one-year old Investors Group Field in Winnipeg holds 33,422 and cost approximately $210 million.

Considering the Calgary Flames Limited Partnership bought the Stampeders in March ’12 and the franchise is the furthest thing from “new,” the mountain-range backdrop as well as the prominent Stampeders-B.C. Lions action photo in the renderings can be chalked up as nothing more than coincidence.

In addition to a late-January appearance of a Flames logo inside a state-of-the-art arena on the Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet, this week’s sighting brings the count of debunked renderings and graphics with Calgary-related aspects to an even two.

It doesn’t make the stadium chase any less interesting, however, as both hockey and football fans in this city dream of what could be and, eventually, what will be in one form or another.​

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/26/de ... own-client

[WestCoastJoe]

CEI Architecture developed the concept for a 28,000-seat stadium, according to its website, back in 2010 for a confidential client in a confidential location “as part of a new North American sports franchise.”

Mark Hentze, a CEI partner, confirmed the renderings have nothing to do with Calgary, but the since-discarded project that someone decided to dig up, purportedly as part of the Canadian Soccer Association’s 2026 World Cup bid, did have something to do with the Canadian Football League.

“There was a city in western Canada that was exploring the opportunity to build a stadium and potentially have a CFL expansion franchise in it,” Hentze said, adding it’s not the first time he’s seen designs show up in unexpected places.

“We had previously done work on their hockey arena, which was a Major Junior hockey team and had been looking at potential ways that arena could be a temporary home for an NHL team should an NHL team run into financial challenges. At the same time, the group that operates that arena were looking at an initiative to explore building a stadium that would house a CFL football team.”

While Hentze couldn’t reveal the exact city, a couple of educated guesses — or maybe just one — and you’ll likely arrive at the right destination.

Greg Kerfoot (Whitecaps) comes to mind. He tried to build a stadium near the waterfront. Turned down by the watchdogs over all things Vancouver.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/26/de ... own-client

[Toppy Vann]

Hmm was it the waterfront stadium? Hmmm. While Kerfoot seems just to be a soccer guy and Vancouver guy I was wondering if it was supposed to be the Saskatoon CFL idea?

Victoria at one time was floated somewhere as a city (not official float). CEI has an office there.

What city had the major junior hockey facility get built in?

Here's the bio of the guy who did the work on this project - listed at top. I see Saskatoon listed here too in his background.

This firm is world renowned it seems - has an office in Victoria too. What an impressive list of Boychuk's projects and he's just one person in the firm but clearly important in sports and other sectors:

http://www.ceiarchitecture.com/wp-conte ... uk_web.pdf

Conrad Boychuk - a grad of UBC in 1972 - the year I graduated from SFU. He has a Fine Arts and B Arch from UBC which IIRC was a Bachelors degree but is more like a grad degree.

"Experience
Spectator Facilities
•
Confidential Stadium Study, project for a CFL franchise – 28,000 seats
•
FIFA Stadium Analysis, Phase II, Halifax, NS
•
Thunder Bay Event Centre, Phase II Study, Thunder Bay, ON
•
Wings Stadium Feasibility Study, Kalamazoo, MI
•
Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre,* Abbotsford, BC
•
BC Place, Original Building and New Roof Concept,* Vancouver, BC
•
Budweiser Events Center,* Loveland, CO
•
Canada Games Arena Expansion Study,* Grande Prairie, AB
•
Cranbrook Recreation Centre and Arena,* Cranbrook, BC
•
El Paso Multi-Purpose Centre,* El Paso, TX
•
Everett Regional Special Events Center,* Everett, WA
•
Harbour Station,* Saint John, NB
•
Kelowna Omni Centre,* Kelowna, BC
•
La Marque Multi-Purpose Center,* La Marque, TX
•
Maple Leaf Gardens Feasibility Study,* Toronto, ON
•
Mile One Stadium,* St. John’s, NF
•
Moose Jaw Communiplex,* Moose Jaw, SK
•
North Delta Recreation Centre, Delta, BC
•
Prince George Multiplex,* Prince George, BC
•
Red Deer Altaplex,* Red Deer, AB
•
Retractable Roof Proposal, BC Place Stadium,* Vancouver, BC
•
Sarnia Entertainment Complex,* Sarnia, ON
•
Saskatchewan Place,* Saskatoon, SK
•
ShoWare Center,* Kent, WA
•
Sovereign Center,* Reading, PA
•
State Farm Arena,* Hidalgo, TX
•
Tennis Centre,* Bangkok, Thailand
•
Tri-Cities Coliseum,* Kennewick, WA
•
Town Centre Park Grandstand,* Coquitlam, BC
•
University of Saskatchewan Arena Complex,* Saskatoon, SK
•
Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympic Bid,* Vancouver, BC
•
Vernon Multiplex Arena-Referendum Design Package,* Vernon, BC
•
Whistler Conference Centre,* Whistler, BC
•
Windsor Sports and Entertainment Centre Concept Design,* Windsor, ON"