A ?best-of-times? and ?times-could-be-lot-better? tale of two arenas.
First on Point Grey, the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. The 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics hockey complex?s white thunderbird-head logo could just as easily be a white elephant.
The July 2008-opened rinks cost taxpayers $38 million. Mitchell, a University of British Columbia law school graduate and Borden Ladner Gervais co-chairman, stepped up to raise the remaining $10 million. In 2011, the centre has hosted only eight externally promoted event dates and none are scheduled for the rest of the year. The most recent was the two-day Sesame Street Live show in August.
UBC claimed a $417,733 profit for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, on $2.266 million revenue. It lost $130,133 a year earlier. With only a $99,000 revenue bump, the arena benefited from $468,000 in utilities, repairs, maintenance and equipment savings.
?We?re at a stage now where we?re on the positive side of the ledger,? said Kavie Toor, UBC Athletics associate director of facilities and business development. ?I?d say the white elephant comment would be inaccurate, as you have more key learnings and, operating a venue with the complexities of being on a university campus, you?re able to revise your strategies.?
Toor said UBC is battling a perception that it?s too far away from the rest of Metro Vancouver while working to bring more events.
Help might be on the way. Tennis Canada CEO Michael Downey confirmed it?s one of the venues that could host the February 10 to 12, 2012, Davis Cup world group tie against France. Downey declined to identify the other shortlisted Vancouver and Calgary sites.
Meanwhile, the $56 million Langley Events Centre?s (LEC) problem could be too few days off for staff. The home of the Trinity Western University Spartans and BC Hockey League?s Langley Rivermen also hosts the World Junior A Hockey Challenge and Canadian Junior Hockey League Top Prospects Game in November.
The Hockey Night in Canada Hyundai Hockey Nation tour comes December 3 to 5. The Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League meet the Washington Stealth in a December 10 exhibition game. The Continental Cup of Curling is scheduled for January 12 to 15.
Like UBC, the LEC holds 5,000 fans and is not on a rapid transit line. One of B.C.?s top sports marketers, former Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions executive Glen Ringdal, was its inaugural general manager. By contrast, UBC doesn?t have a marketing or business plan.
Board games
Even more BC Place Stadium teething problems.
The height of the giant, centre-hung video board – I?ve dubbed it the Titanic Tube Under the Tarp – is a source of frustration. It was lowered for soccer but cast a shadow over the pitch. TV types were not amused. When it?s raised for football, it?s not visible from many Level 3 suites.
The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch is investigating after Budweiser cans were sold during the Vancouver Whitecaps? season finale on October 22. Booze must be poured into plastic or paper cups at stadiums in B.C.
The BC Pavilion Corp. cut a new deal with members of the BC Government and Service Employees? Union late October 24 to avoid a strike. But the two sides will be back at the bargaining table next spring because the new contract expires May 31, 2012.
Golden Plates
The 2011 version of the Own the Podium fundraiser Gold Medal Plates is November 4 at the Westin Bayshore, which was the official International Olympic Committee hotel during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Aura?s Tim Cuff, Cactus Club?s Rob Feenie and Bao Bei?s Joel Watanabe are among the chefs girding for battle. B.C. gold medallists attending include rowers Adam Kreek and Marnie McBean, skicross? Ashleigh McIvor and triathlete Simon Whitfield.
GE and EPCOR are no longer along for the ride as presenting sponsors. The Globe and Mail and Big White are listed as national sponsors. Ticket information can be had at goldmedalplates.com
Fluid investments
Liquid Nutrition Group, the upstart Toronto-based juice bar chain, is coming to B.C.
Steve Nash and Toronto investor Mark Attanasio are planning to open 20 locations. The first will be at the Steve Nash Sports Club in Vancouver.
On a flatter note, Papa John?s Pizza has become the NFL?s official pizza in Canada, just in time for the annual Buffalo Bills regular season game in Toronto on October 30. The Louisville, Kentucky, chain has 53 north of the border stores and is already an NFL and Super Bowl sponsor from 2010-12.
The deal happens a month before Vancouver hosts the 99th Grey Cup. Neither the Grey Cup nor the BC Lions have an exclusive pizza sponsor.
Coincidentally, a CFL Pizza does exist. It?s a 90-location Pizza Hut franchisee based in Celebration, Florida. ?
