Post by Jack Bauer on Jul 6, 2023 8:40:03 GMT -4
There are 60 teams in the CHL and half will never - just do not qualify to ever bid for a Memorial Cup and get it. Cape Breton is not in that 30.
There is a road map to follow to bid and it's lengthy but doable.
Set the dream and show the community why it's good for Sydney & the CBRM, local hockey long term, getting future events * any improvements to CBRM infrastructure is paving way for later* and good for the Q especially Maritime teams and the Eagles franchise.
If you don't dream big and shoe your serious you will never matter. I hope you get there. Glass is half full actually.
I don't view it as realistic mostly because the goal posts are always moving on what is needed.
Just 10 years or so ago (2009/10ish I believe) we were to believe the rink was good enough. Video scoreboard and private boxes were supposed to be a game changer. We got the exact same bag of crap from management and government leaders that we're hearing now....only now its spend $10 million and we'll get more.
Our building, as is, hosts 5000 or so for major events. Without spending any additional money we hosted a Scotties and secured the Womens World Curling championship.
But for a Memorial Cup we need...a different scoreboard? Is 4k highlights part of a Memorial Cup? Does $500K even get you an upgrade on a video scoreboard in 2023? We also need a new concessions area...badly overdue but the cost of all of it is also kind of insane. $10 million is the last figure we were told which is all coming from levels of government that are completely gutting people financially as it is in the current state the world is in.
And for what? ANOTHER Brian Adams concert? Another 1st round Q playoff exit? I view us as a sucker willing to pay money to enter bidding processes we have no shot at winning when it comes to this Memorial Cup stuff. The money spent is needed but 100% its the wrong time to spend it on C200 and make the experience of buying an overpriced hot dog a better one.
I just dont see this magic path to becoming a top franchise hosting a Memorial Cup(thats it....1) and getting events that even a Halifax doesn't get with a rink twice the size. Our 5000 seats and our market will always limit us no matter if we have gold plated seats and the best french fries to be found at a sporting event.
And after we spend all the money and go through another decade of not understanding our own limitations? Its 2033 and we're back discussing a $15 million reno for the next shot at a Memorial Cup.
We're already getting major events. But I really have a tough time seeing how we somehow step into some other tier after spending 8 figures for 1750 fans per night to watch a Q game.