Parking

[npsh]

Somebody told me at tonight’s game there was a presentation at Legends on parking at the new facility. Anybody share the details on what was presented

[ilikehockey]

It was a very poorly prepared presentation by the City, that seems to have only added fuel to the fire.

They continue to talk down to us and compare us to Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver......not cities that are more similar like Saint John or Halifax.

I think most of us left there quite angry and many suggesting they will not renew tickets. I felt bad for the Wildcat organization, you could see their frustration with the City as well.

The majority of parking will not be close, not be free and not be easy to access. Serious lack of handicap parking. They are not building any pedway or parking garage and they also think we can walk to the new rink from City Hall in 10 minutes in January. Most people laughed at that. It takes them about 3 days to clean the sidewalk after a snow storm.

I want to support the team, but have major doubts about the leadership of this City.

With (quite likely) a large increase in property taxes coming up ( to pay for the rink), having to pay $5-$10+++++ per game for parking and then trudge through unplowed streets and sidewalks, combined with likely higher concession and ticket prices..........it may be a tough sell.

Many long time season ticket holders commented that they were not going to renew, or would buy a flex pack and try it for a year. I am likely in the flex pack group.

[Captain Obvious]

Oct 28, 2017 6:54:18 GMT -4 ilikehockey said:

It was a very poorly prepared presentation by the City, that seems to have only added fuel to the fire.

They continue to talk down to us and compare us to Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver......not cities that are more similar like Saint John or Halifax.

I think most of us left there quite angry and many suggesting they will not renew tickets. I felt bad for the Wildcat organization, you could see their frustration with the City as well.

The majority of parking will not be close, not be free and not be easy to access. Serious lack of handicap parking. They are not building any pedway or parking garage and they also think we can walk to the new rink from City Hall in 10 minutes in January. Most people laughed at that. It takes them about 3 days to clean the sidewalk after a snow storm.

I want to support the team, but have major doubts about the leadership of this City.

With (quite likely) a large increase in property taxes coming up ( to pay for the rink), having to pay $5-$10+++++ per game for parking and then trudge through unplowed streets and sidewalks, combined with likely higher concession and ticket prices..........it may be a tough sell.

Many long time season ticket holders commented that they were not going to renew, or would buy a flex pack and try it for a year. I am likely in the flex pack group.

Finding a partner and plan for a parking lot/structure should have been part of the project from day 1. Not sure why the city is making it so hard, as you said, walking 10 minutes from City hall in winter doesn't seem realistic.

[ronmac]

They have to make sure their is still some money in the pot for their vote increases, can't forget the little piggies, Moncton is a nice smaller city, it does not even compare with Halifax, time for this council to realize that.

[SteveUL]

Oct 28, 2017 7:54:37 GMT -4 Captain Obvious said:

Oct 28, 2017 6:54:18 GMT -4 ilikehockey said:

It was a very poorly prepared presentation by the City, that seems to have only added fuel to the fire.

They continue to talk down to us and compare us to Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver......not cities that are more similar like Saint John or Halifax.

I think most of us left there quite angry and many suggesting they will not renew tickets. I felt bad for the Wildcat organization, you could see their frustration with the City as well.

The majority of parking will not be close, not be free and not be easy to access. Serious lack of handicap parking. They are not building any pedway or parking garage and they also think we can walk to the new rink from City Hall in 10 minutes in January. Most people laughed at that. It takes them about 3 days to clean the sidewalk after a snow storm.

I want to support the team, but have major doubts about the leadership of this City.

With (quite likely) a large increase in property taxes coming up ( to pay for the rink), having to pay $5-$10+++++ per game for parking and then trudge through unplowed streets and sidewalks, combined with likely higher concession and ticket prices..........it may be a tough sell.

Many long time season ticket holders commented that they were not going to renew, or would buy a flex pack and try it for a year. I am likely in the flex pack group.

Finding a partner and plan for a parking lot/structure should have been part of the project from day 1. Not sure why the city is making it so hard, as you said, walking 10 minutes from City hall in winter doesn't seem realistic.

Walking 10 mins in winter doesn't seem realistic ?

1st ... you're a lazy fuck if that is your opinion. You live in Canada.

2nd ... There are many places to park inside of a 10 min walk near to the new facility. Get there early to get a closer spot.

3rd ... some areas of our Coliseum parking lot can take 10 mins to walk to when the game is letting out and cars are going everywhere.

4th ... people are so opposed to change until they actually try it out. Then they find out there was nothing to worry about. This will not be a big deal ... but social media fear mongering won't help it.

5th ... with minimal effort, I have made arrangements already for parking in two areas that are about a 5 min walk or less.

6th ... I walk my dog 3 times a day in the winter and each walk is about 15 mins ... I don't die and I don't fear for my survival.

7th ... bring a touque

[WhiteTyAffair]

Oct 28, 2017 10:59:16 GMT -4 SteveUL said:

Oct 28, 2017 7:54:37 GMT -4 Captain Obvious said:

Finding a partner and plan for a parking lot/structure should have been part of the project from day 1. Not sure why the city is making it so hard, as you said, walking 10 minutes from City hall in winter doesn't seem realistic.

Walking 10 mins in winter doesn't seem realistic ?

1st ... you're a lazy fuck if that is your opinion. You live in Canada.

2nd ... There are many places to park inside of a 10 min walk near to the new facility. Get there early to get a closer spot.

3rd ... some areas of our Coliseum parking lot can take 10 mins to walk to when the game is letting out and cars are going everywhere.

4th ... people are so opposed to change until they actually try it out. Then they find out there was nothing to worry about. This will not be a big deal ... but social media fear mongering won't help it.

5th ... with minimal effort, I have made arrangements already for parking in two areas that are about a 5 min walk or less.

6th ... I walk my dog 3 times a day in the winter and each walk is about 15 mins ... I don't did and I don't fear for my survival.

7th ... bring a touque

This is my vote for ‘Post of the Year’.

Thank you.

[Captain Obvious]

Oct 28, 2017 10:59:16 GMT -4 SteveUL said:

Oct 28, 2017 7:54:37 GMT -4 Captain Obvious said:

Finding a partner and plan for a parking lot/structure should have been part of the project from day 1. Not sure why the city is making it so hard, as you said, walking 10 minutes from City hall in winter doesn't seem realistic.

Walking 10 mins in winter doesn't seem realistic ?

1st ... you're a lazy fuck if that is your opinion. You live in Canada.

2nd ... There are many places to park inside of a 10 min walk near to the new facility. Get there early to get a closer spot.

3rd ... some areas of our Coliseum parking lot can take 10 mins to walk to when the game is letting out and cars are going everywhere.

4th ... people are so opposed to change until they actually try it out. Then they find out there was nothing to worry about. This will not be a big deal ... but social media fear mongering won't help it.

5th ... with minimal effort, I have made arrangements already for parking in two areas that are about a 5 min walk or less.

6th ... I walk my dog 3 times a day in the winter and each walk is about 15 mins ... I don't did and I don't fear for my survival.

7th ... bring a touque

Not sure if you're shit disturbing or even if you live on the same planet.

The die hard 1,500 wildcat fans would walk 30 minutes in a snowstorm to a game, that's a non issue.

The other 2,000-4,000 that are not the 10-15 year fans that are always there, WILL NOT all stay or show up at the same rate or not at all if they have to park 10-15 minutes away and walk. This is reality. People live in the age of convenience and maybe they are generally lazy, but they are your client base if you're the Wildcats.

Reality is that getting dressed up to walk your dog is much different than getting dressed up to go to a hockey game. Nobody wants to sit in a warm building for 3 hours in longjohns, big boots, a parka, tuque and big gloves. Some have kids, are older or less mobile.

The current walk to the Coliseum is a 2 minute walk for most. Maybe as much as 5 minutes when it's full...and some will avoid the walk/drive when it's cold/rainy/storming.

If they have no plan to upgrade the current parking situation, it will cost them fans once the 1st year "newness" wears off.

[lirette]

Oct 28, 2017 6:54:18 GMT -4 ilikehockey said:

It was a very poorly prepared presentation by the City, that seems to have only added fuel to the fire.

They continue to talk down to us and compare us to Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver......not cities that are more similar like Saint John or Halifax.

I think most of us left there quite angry and many suggesting they will not renew tickets. I felt bad for the Wildcat organization, you could see their frustration with the City as well.

The majority of parking will not be close, not be free and not be easy to access. Serious lack of handicap parking. They are not building any pedway or parking garage and they also think we can walk to the new rink from City Hall in 10 minutes in January. Most people laughed at that. It takes them about 3 days to clean the sidewalk after a snow storm.

I want to support the team, but have major doubts about the leadership of this City.

With (quite likely) a large increase in property taxes coming up ( to pay for the rink), having to pay $5-$10+++++ per game for parking and then trudge through unplowed streets and sidewalks, combined with likely higher concession and ticket prices..........it may be a tough sell.

Many long time season ticket holders commented that they were not going to renew, or would buy a flex pack and try it for a year. I am likely in the flex pack group.

Some of your concerns don't add up. You are upset that you won't be able to park for free but you want them to build a parking garage? Do you understand the costs of a parking garage? Peel Plaza in Saint John that was built 5-6 years ago cost $16.5 million and only just in the last year or so has started to fill up on monthly spots (used by workers during the day) and was operating at a loss every year. If a parking garage is built you can be sure you are paying, and likely at a much higher price

You can't have it all and not incur any additional costs. Improving quality of life in a city costs money. The coliseum is falling apart, attracts almost zero travelling acts and no additional developments have been put near it in its lengthy existence.

There's 24 handicapped spaces right next to the new events centre, that seems adequate to me. Many of the Wildcat fans who come to games & have mobility issues are dropped off and picked up right at the door.

As with anything people will adapt, the older couple who decides its too inconvenient to go downtown for a game is replaced by 2 buddies in their 30's who grab a bite before the game and a beer after the game. They are spending more money. Unfortanutely we live in a province with far too much negative thinking, and the vocal minority that comments on every single City of Moncton facebook status does nothing but help make the problem worse.

[npsh]

I believe the STH base or majority if you will, are my age(66yrs) and older at least that’s what I observed during my past 15 yrears attending. Personally I consider myself in relative good shape for my age( I am active, lift weights at a gym heavy at times) so 15 min walk in whatever conditions I can handle and will park wherever I can and deal with it, winter/summer no matter what. Speaking with respect and sensitivity, there are many in our location section eleven who are long time fans/STH who are my age and older who are nowhere near my shape and indeed have mobility issues getting to and from their seats. I suspect these are the folks who will be most inconvenienced by the “ parking and mobility “issues and from I have been hearing are prepared to take a pass and that is fair enough. Whether that “void” should it happen and I suspect it will , it will be interesting to see if it will be filled by a newer slate of younger STH group because of the newness of this facility despite parking and increased admission/concessions etc. I bet that is an issue on the minds of the Wildcats Organization.

[ronmac]

And most of the younger 30 year olds that you say will go downtown for a beer and a meal, come to the games 3 or times a year, not real Wildcats fans, just a night out from time to time, it's been the old folks that you see time in and time at the Wildcats games, it will cost them in my opinion.

[Dman]

One of the suggestions that they had was to park on the side streets along some of the bus lines that have a stop near the new events centre. Some of the suggested streets to park on, however, are not necessarily in the most secure or safe neighborhoods (for lack of better terms). It appeared as though, this parking meeting started at 6PM, and they got together around 5Pm at the bar, and tried to brainstorm some parking ideas to see if the meeting attendees were stupid enough to think that they had some great ideas.

My biggest concern with all of this is whether or not I will be able to park in the parking lot outside my office that is about a 5 minute walk away. Sometimes, myself and other coworkers need to work overtime on evenings and weekends to meet deadlines for our clients. If we need to come into the office during game day, will we have a place to park? I realize that is between my employer and the building owner, but it is concerning, since our lot was included in the count of available parking spots for the new events centre.

I would likely be retaining my season tickets, but certainly expect to be able to park in my parking spot that my employer pays for (which is, essentially, part of my salary/benefits) during an event at the new events centre.

The City of Moncton simply failed to realistically consider parking in their planning. I wonder if they counted driveways on Enterprise Street in their analysis.

I can certainly see alot of STHs not renew, especially considering that a fair number of STHs are getting older. That being said, at almost 47yo, I would likely find a way to get to the games, one way or the other.

[Deleted]

They don't want a parking complex..it is wasted real estate. The entire area around the new arena will be shops restaurants and condos. There were studies done in the last 8 years that showed Moncton has more parking that most cities. A 10 - 15 minute walk is more than reasonable in the winter. Quit whining if you are that delicate and lazy stay home.

My plan is to go early grab some food and a meal when possible and then stroll down main street and enjoy the game.

You would think we live at the North Pole from the comments by the usual experts...

[WHEELsnipePARTY]

Oct 28, 2017 23:11:42 GMT -4 @jason said:

They don't want a parking complex..it is wasted real estate. The entire area around the new arena will be shops restaurants and condos. There were studies done in the last 8 years that showed Moncton has more parking that most cities. A 10 - 15 minute walk is more than reasonable in the winter. Quit whining if you are that delicate and lazy stay home.

My plan is to go early grab some food and a meal when possible and then stroll down main street and enjoy the game.

You would think we live at the North Pole from the comments by the usual experts...

the no parking issue is more or less an issue for the older
Crowd.

[SteveUL]

Oct 29, 2017 1:11:45 GMT -4 WHEELsnipePARTY said:

Oct 28, 2017 23:11:42 GMT -4 @jason said:

They don't want a parking complex..it is wasted real estate. The entire area around the new arena will be shops restaurants and condos. There were studies done in the last 8 years that showed Moncton has more parking that most cities. A 10 - 15 minute walk is more than reasonable in the winter. Quit whining if you are that delicate and lazy stay home.

My plan is to go early grab some food and a meal when possible and then stroll down main street and enjoy the game.

You would think we live at the North Pole from the comments by the usual experts...

the no parking issue is more or less an issue for the older
Crowd.

No I think it is an issue for everybody ... young families especially. But like anything we'll adapt to the change and find that it was nothing to worry about.

People hate change. If we had no rink before this and were building a rink to get a new Q team, people wouldn't be upset ... they'd just be excited by the new facility and new entertainment opportunity. But they got use to the Coliseum and don't want to change the convenience of the giant parking lot.

[Captain Obvious]

Oct 28, 2017 18:26:19 GMT -4 ronmac said:

And most of the younger 30 year olds that you say will go downtown for a beer and a meal, come to the games 3 or times a year, not real Wildcats fans, just a night out from time to time, it's been the old folks that you see time in and time at the Wildcats games, it will cost them in my opinion.

Exactly. Being downtown will help bring in more casual fans, but if parking is a major headache, it will cost them some longtime fans...