Air Canada Centre facelift for 10th anniversary

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Air Canada Centre facelift for 10th anniversary
$40 million job to begin in 2008

May add food court, playground

RICK WESTHEAD
SPORTS BUSINESS COLUMNIST

It might soon get a little easier to take the kids to Leafs and Raptors games.

In a move to mark the Air Canada Centre's 10th year in operation, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., the parent company of the Leafs and Raptors, is planning a $40 million renovation in three years that could see the arena add a children's playground and food court.

Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2008 and Maple Leaf Sports hasn't yet hired an architect to design the improvements.

In an interview with the Sports Business Journal, a sports industry trade publication that first reported the planned renovation, MLSE executive vice-president Bob Hunter said that the changes would "be similar to what Portland, Detroit and Phoenix are doing, but it will focus as much on public amenities as premium."

The Pistons' most recent upgrades of The Palace at Auburn Hills include a food court built as part of a 60,000-square-foot addition to the arena, while the Suns recently revamped America West Arena to create a children's playground in the arena's upper deck.

Phoenix also recently opened an indoor/outdoor bar that features a broadcast studio that doubles as a stage.

MLSE spokesperson Rajani Kamath said yesterday that most of the changes to the arena would be focused on its west side and would come as a result of plans to develop a new $350 million complex, to be called Maple Leaf Square.

Five months ago, Maple Leaf Sports announced the new facility, which will feature a sports bar and a 2,000-seat music club. Maple Leaf Square is to be located on a parking lot just west of the arena and will be connected to the arena by a glass-covered bridge.

Kamath said much of the renovation would focus on giving people arriving at the Air Canada Centre from Maple Leaf Square direct access to the arena's private-suite levels.

A shopping mall included in Maple Leaf Square is also set to have a 171-room, sports-themed boutique hotel and an upscale restaurant.

The Air Canada Centre, which cost $265 million to build, opened in February 1999 and was designed by Toronto architect Brisbin Brook Beynon, which this year has also worked on renovations for Madison Square Garden in New York and the Rose Garden arena in Portland, Ore.

Isn't 10 years a bit short to already be doing renovations? Oh well, I guess the cap gives MLSE lots of money to fool around with.

[The Insider]

It's about time they renavoted that place it's becoming a dive after what 10 years :shrug:

MLSE has huge plans for that entire area with Maple Leaf square in the works and all sorts of construction and renovations are in the cards which should look fantastic when it's all said and done. Maybe we'll have to make a bet with the Sens fans, that when we beat them again :laughing: we can bring them over to Maple Leaf square and they enjoy all the sights and sounds of the blue and white :thumb:

[bluemeanie]

I say they use that money to put a brewery into the arena... I mean, they must be currently paying a fortune to import all that beer from the LCBO two blocks away... why else would they charge 12 bucks for a beer?

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

I say they use that money to put a brewery into the arena... I mean, they must be currently paying a fortune to import all that beer from the LCBO two blocks away... why else would they charge 12 bucks for a beer?

Well buying beer from the LCBO is their first problem ;) I might be mistaken, but I don't believe you can buy a case of beer from there. Only 6 packs and oversized beer cans. So maybe the person in charge of buying the beer should be fired, because he's going to the wrong place :thumb:

[Rusty]

How dare they spend money on making life for sports fans easier!!!!!!!

And here we have been told by the Leaf bashers for years that the Leafs ownership has only been worried about lining their own pockets with profits for the Teachers Pension plan, and now they want to spend upwards to $350 million on upgrades...........................


:confused: :shrug:

[Newfie John]

How dare they spend money on making life for sports fans easier!!!!!!!

And here we have been told by the Leaf bashers for years that the Leafs ownership has only been worried about lining their own pockets with profits for the Teachers Pension plan, and now they want to spend upwards to $350 million on upgrades...........................


:confused: :shrug:

I was thinking the same thing.

MLSE has money to throw around, and they're spending it for the fans. Good to see. I hear there are cupholders going on all the seats.

[Madferret]

How dare they spend money on making life for sports fans easier!!!!!!!

And here we have been told by the Leaf bashers for years that the Leafs ownership has only been worried about lining their own pockets with profits for the Teachers Pension plan, and now they want to spend upwards to $350 million on upgrades...........................


:confused: :shrug:

Which would you rather Rusty, a slew of prospects and bluechippers brimming with talent on the Leafs or $350 M on upgrades to the arena for a team built with duct tape? They've done fooled you good.

:wicked:

[The Rover]

Which would you rather Rusty, a slew of prospects and bluechippers brimming with talent on the Leafs or $350 M on upgrades to the arena for a team built with duct tape? They've done fooled you good.

:wicked:

Sorry Dev, we Leafers aren't fooled. We'll do both, afterall the fans deserve something for waiting out the lockout. 8)

[Newfie John]

Which would you rather Rusty, a slew of prospects and bluechippers brimming with talent on the Leafs or $350 M on upgrades to the arena for a team built with duct tape? They've done fooled you good.

:wicked:

Fergy has also revamped the scouting staff too.

[Madferret]

How many Leaf games do good Leaf fans like Newfie John, Rovs and Rusty plan on going to at the ACC this year? Or any joe blow in TO. I know now, I'm in the area. I was hoping to go see a Sens/Leafs game at the ACC but I don't make the kinda scratch I'd have to dole out to get tickets off some Corporate ticket holder yes-man off Ebay.
Quick John, get me Oprah on the phone... :cry:

[The Rover]

Rusty has a better chance of reaching Oprah than Johnny does....

[Madferret]

Rusty has a better chance of reaching Oprah than Johnny does....

LMAO
He did, but he's changing his work clothes soon so that might change..
Dr. Phil on the other hand is on his speed dial..

:laughing:

[Newfie John]

How many Leaf games do good Leaf fans like Newfie John, Rovs and Rusty plan on going to at the ACC this year? Or any joe blow in TO. I know now, I'm in the area. I was hoping to go see a Sens/Leafs game at the ACC but I don't make the kinda scratch I'd have to dole out to get tickets off some Corporate ticket holder yes-man off Ebay.
Quick John, get me Oprah on the phone... :cry:

The market allows the leafs to sell the tickets expensive. I mean, the place is sold out every night right? Do we expect bums to eat at a fancy restaurant? Same logic applies here.

[Madferret]

Do we expect bums to eat at a fancy restaurant?

John, that has got to be the line of the year.....lmfao
I take the missus to McDonalds once in a while when we get those coupons in the mail box...

:rollover2

[The Rover]

Simple solution, work for a company that has season tickets, then wait your turn which should be around game # 1320.

[Newfie John]

John, that has got to be the line of the year.....lmfao
I take the missus to McDonalds once in a while when we get those coupons in the mail box...

:rollover2

I can see why you moved for her, a girl that thinks highly of a $5 meal must be good.

[Max Power]

How many Leaf games do good Leaf fans like Newfie John, Rovs and Rusty plan on going to at the ACC this year? Or any joe blow in TO. I know now, I'm in the area. I was hoping to go see a Sens/Leafs game at the ACC but I don't make the kinda scratch I'd have to dole out to get tickets off some Corporate ticket holder yes-man off Ebay.
Quick John, get me Oprah on the phone... :cry:

You're missing out this year my friend
I paid 120 for 2 tickets front row 200 section for the fan appreciation game against Pittsburgh.
Can?t wait for my first game against Tampa
Do you like the way I?m rubbing this in?

[bluemeanie]

How many Leaf games do good Leaf fans like Newfie John, Rovs and Rusty plan on going to at the ACC this year?

WTF???

[Newfie John]

WTF???

You're just an average leafer Blue. You may make it to the bigs one day. :laughing:

[Rusty]

Which would you rather Rusty, a slew of prospects and bluechippers brimming with talent on the Leafs or $350 M on upgrades to the arena for a team built with duct tape? They've done fooled you good.

:wicked:

So if it were the Sens going out and spending big money on improvements for the fans it would most likely be a good thing right?

Seeing as its the Leafs there has to be a profit angle to it?

Really in some fans minds regardless what the Leafs do or say it doesn't matter, they are all about profit, even though they are spending $350 million of their own money, unlike other teams out there who run around with their hands held out looking for money and ways to get out of paying off their own debts........

[bluemeanie]

You're just an average leafer Blue. You may make it to the bigs one day. :laughing:

You show me the ropes J, and I'll keep you posted on all the #97's that join. =]

[charlio lemieux]

Which would you rather Rusty, a slew of prospects and bluechippers brimming with talent on the Leafs or $350 M on upgrades to the arena for a team built with duct tape? They've done fooled you good.


Seeing as how the Leafs can no longer go out and buy a team every season, I think it is great that they are spending money on downtown T.O..

[Newfie John]

You show me the ropes J, and I'll keep you posted on all the #97's that join. =]

Now I know what you're talking about, and no need to worry, I'll be tapping that this time next week. :laughing:

[bluemeanie]

Now I know what you're talking about, and no need to worry, I'll be tapping that this time next week. :laughing:

lol. You do us proud J.
http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~cult/images/quagmire.gif


Maybe they can turn those butt ugly giant ice cream cone thingy's out front of the ACC into some kind of Laser Defence System. You know.. to zap Flyer fans as they approach the arena.

[Iced Tea]

How dare they spend money on making life for sports fans easier!!!!!!!

And here we have been told by the Leaf bashers for years that the Leafs ownership has only been worried about lining their own pockets with profits for the Teachers Pension plan, and now they want to spend upwards to $350 million on upgrades...........................


:confused: :shrug:
How is this making life for sports fans easier?

$350 million will be spent to develop a mall area and food court so that more money can be made off of Leafs and Raptors fans. These additions will make the ACC and area a year round entertainment and retail area. The rent from the mall tenants will be added to the profits from the Leafs, Raptors and other events held at the ACC. The children's playground is being put in place because the owners realize the kids won't want to watch the entire game so parents may not want to buy tickets. It's called marketing. These improvements are being put in place to induce another source of revenue and to call it anything else would be a joke.

Making life easier for sports fans would be lowering of Leafs ticket prices and spending more on fighting scalping of tickets.