All I want for Christmas is a New Rugby Stadium: From Mini Donuts to a Mini Stadium: Campaign for a National Rugby Stadium
All I want for Christmas is a New Rugby Stadium
Is it time for Rugby Canada to plan out a new (1st and only ever) national rugby stadium. Should they work with a local authority and or Club/Provincial Association to get a new stadium off the ground? Clearly our stadium situation is inadequate forced to rent public facilities in which we have no control or make and assemble make shift stadiums for international matches drawing the derision of the international community for our carnival fair ground type rugby experience. Sorry, we are out of Guinness but plenty of mini donuts available. We saw at the recent Canada v. Ireland game in Vancouver that the stadium situation was inadequate not enough seating for some fans as they were forced to see the match through VIP tents blocking their view. How many fans could we get if we had a more professional facility? If fans could meet the players after wards in a pub inside the stadium that certainly would enhance the experience. So, what are the solutions, we all know that Rugby Canada lacks the required funds to build a proper stadium right? Well true to a point but like a family sets aside a budget for housing Rugby’s house is their stadium and if we don’t plan for proper facilities now then we will not be able to grow the game in the future. Setting aside even a modest amount of money for a stadium campaign shows that we are forward thinking and have confidence in the game. Too bad this forward planning wasn’t done by our forefathers some 30 years ago and we wouldn’t be in this stadium dilemma.
Here are some ideas, work with the City of Richmond in British Columbia to have a small Rugby only stadium built and start out with a 3,000 seat stand with a further 3,000 terrace stand on the opposite end. As far as I am aware Richmond has no stadium at all and may offer some incentives to have one built in their area. Richmond is close to the Vancouver International Airport and perfect location for visiting international teams. Perhaps, if a stadium campaign was started interested donors may come forward to get involved in the project, but with no campaign and no media awareness then these donors definitely will not come forward. $75,000 from Rugby Canada would support a approximate 1.5 million mortgage on a stadium. How much extra revenue could be achieved from owning and controlling your own stadium? How much are the costs in assembling make shift stadiums and how many fans are lost from unprofessional game set ups.? How many volunteer hours does it take to set up these make shift stadiums and are games just not organized as a result of the venues not being available or no resources to plan these stadium builds. These questions need to be answered in coming up with plans for the future. We need to look at reducing Rugby Canada’s administrative costs and if we can come up with $150,000 a year that will support a $3,000,000 mortgage on a stadium. Perhaps, Rugby Canada could have 1 office instead of 2 and its offices could be made in the stadium. In any event it is time that some leadership be taken and we plan on solving now the inadequacy of our Rugby stadiums in Canada. Who else but the National Rugby Association, Rugby Canada, to get this going. Maybe Tim Hortons can have naming rights, TimBits Stadium. “home of the Canadian National Rugby Team”.
photo credit: Hugh Jervis
article: credit Moosehead
Tags: Canadian National Rugby Stadium, Canadian Rugby Stadiums, Need for National Rugby Venue, New Rugby Stadium, Rugby Canada
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I see that they are building a temporary stadium at the PNE for the Lions and the Whitecaps, why not make it a permanent one for rugby.
I see that they are building a temporary stadium for football and soccer at the PNE on the site of the old Empire Stadium, why not make it it permanent and add rugby to the mix.
The Olympic stadium is always empty in Montreal!
Whitecaps Stadium couild have donethis for Canada. The owner proposed to build the stadium at no expense to any taxpayer at any level. Unfortunately, BC politics killed the progect.
What about the West Hamilton stadium proposal? This could be a viable option considering the train access and proximity to US and TO. If the Ti-Cats don’t want to go there, they need lease options!
Empire stadium would be perfect for use as a national stadium, if that configuration is to large, swangard in burnaby is also available and can easily hold 6,000.
just a quick comment also on the poll for is it good for development of canadian rugby to send nat players to n wales, i find far to often we look to europe when the program we should be following more closely and working with more is argentina.
Just to clarify, I’m from Ontario so hold no western bias, but I think the Vancouver area would be far more practical and beneficial to the Canadian rugby program for a permanent home stadium due to the weather being more agreeable year round, unlike south western Ontario. Would also allow for better alignment with the European season since the Sunshine Coast isn’t under six feet of snow while the rest of the world is in rugby season