So there’s been a lot of
talk about Lansdowne 2.0
.
What better time to go back to 1.0 and see what they got right, and wrong, during the last completed reno in 2014.
Before that, Lansdowne looked like a crime scene or the set of an abandoned lot, right down to weeds sprouting up from the cracked pavement. It was an empty parking lot most of the time. Only busy when the 67’s were playing.
So what worked?
Well, it went from a crummy parking lot to a destination where you can pretty much do anything. It went from one sports team to six.
The new South Side stands were a huge success. The new stands are still on point today when it comes to accessibility, modern washrooms, party zones, the buffet and beyond.
It was a huge transformation into a vibrant entertainment district — from movie theatres to restaurants, markets to splash pads, a skateboard park and much more. The outdoor rink (yes, it’s refrigerated) has been a hit too.
“The change has been night and day, from asphalt to brass and everything in between,” said Coun. Tim Tierney, the public works committee chair who was in office for 1.0 and pushed for 2.0,
which was approved by council Friday
evening in a 15-10 vote.
Still in the what worked column, Lansdowne went from 250,000 visitors per year to four million.
That has a lot to do with how well OSEG has marketed the place to keep the calendar loaded.
Some highlights have so far included the Grey Cup, NHL Outdoor Classic, FIFA women’s World Cup, World Juniors, concerts and about 2,000 events. (And don’t forget The Brier.)
It was quite a makeover down on Bank, from crumbling to thriving.
What did they get wrong?
Well, they didn’t renovate the North Side stands, or the aging arena that was built for the 67’s, named in honour of the country’s centennial back in 1967. Almost 60 and leaking enough to stop hockey and basketball games.
“Lansdowne should have all been done in one shot, and it needs to be fixed and not left to rot,” Tierney said.
“Doing nothing is just going to cost us more down the road,” he said.
Since the days of Ottawa’s original CFL team, the Rough Riders, there’s been a longstanding rivalry between the North Side and South Side stands, with loud chants of mostly “South Side sucks.”
“These days, the North Side really does suck,” Tierney said.
They use go-huts because there are serious plumbing problems.
What were they too optimistic about?
For starters, they were too optimistic about the lifespan of the buildings they didn’t renovate.
“There was a bad assumption around the old civic centre’s ability to play its role for 40 years. It can’t and is obsolete,” said OSEG CEO Mark Goudie.
The building’s bad accessibility and energy efficiency are far from today’s standards.
So is pretty much everything about the old arena and North Side stands.
Sure, the North Side stands are still safe and sound, at least structurally, but functionally, it’s a loser.
Its design and operational limitations are a problem for not only guests but
event organizers, pro athletes and performers
. Beyond the technical requirements for the big events, washrooms aren’t fully accessible and the concourses are narrow and outdated. And if you’re looking for premium seating, you have a much better shot at that on the South Side, which was renovated in 1.0.
The buildings are just too hot (literally)
It’s unlikely UFC events will ever return unless they get the climate under control. It’s either too hot or too cold, with UFC organizers complaining it was like being in an oven.
And you know there’s a problem when they pull out portable heaters for big charity breakfasts at one of the old buildings.
Until the temperature is controlled properly, Lansdowne will continue to miss out on a lot of popular events.
The old arena, like the old stands, also has its fair share of problems that come with age. It was built in the 1960s, and since then, everything under the sun and moon has changed. Everything except that old barn.
They can’t meet the requirements of big touring productions, from climate control to outdated lighting and sound systems.
Cirque du Soleil, Curling Canada and Skate Canada have said their events will give TD Place a pass until it’s modernized. Not up to standards either for hosting another Memorial Cup.
After so many years, you wonder how long an OHL team can call it home ice.
It also lacked housing
OSEG’s Goudie says there should have been more residential density. A place like Lansdowne needs more places to live and there should have been more housing units, including above some of the commercial spaces.
What about the money?
It’s
consistently lost money
, and COVID didn’t help.
“We should have done it all in one shot and been more conservative in our financial forecasting,” Tierney said.
Let’s not forget getting to Lansdowne
Bank Street traffic in the Glebe has always been an issue, and the revitalization of the urban park made it more congested at peak times and seasons. It’s a difficult thing to manage, especially with some of the summer closures on Queen Elizabeth Driveway.
As for solutions, the chair of the public works committee plans to call for dedicated OC Transpo lanes on Bank Street. It’s expected to be brought to committee in January.
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