Why do the Alouettes not use Le Stade Olympique?

Question

The Montreal Alouettes have the plan to expand Molson Stadium since it is deemed to be too small. In fact, it is the smallest venue in CFL.

My question is, rather than spending money expanding Molson Stadium, why don't they just use the big and underutilized Le Stade Olympique for their regular games? I understand that they play there once a season and for play-off game. Why not regularly?

Answer 1

OLYMPIC STATIUM in Montreal is called the "Big Owe", because the Montreal Olympics went in debt 1.5 billion dollars, just recently paid off.

Would you want to play in a big cement eye-sore with falling pieces, dispised by angry voters, and knicknamed "the big OWE"?!?

Construction of a new 15,000 seat soccer stadium for the Montreal Impact of United Soccer League will begin near Olympic Statium on the east side of the city, so the location is not the problem.

Perhaps the football club can't fill the cavernous domed Olympic Statium (like the Argos in Skydome) and prefer filling a smaller venue, rather than have sections of empty seats behind the action on TV.

Answer 2

The problem with Le Stade Olympique is multi fold.

First, location.  Its not centrally located, whereas Molson is much easier to get to from the downtown core.

Second, maintenance.  There has been a history of large concrete pieces falling off the "Oh".  Likely maintenance and reno costs there would be much higher than what they do at Molson.

Third, ambiance.  In this sense, I would compare the "Oh" to BC Place or the Jolly Roger Centre in Toronto...very little ambiance for pro sports at these stadiums.  Molson is more like McMahon in Calgary where the crowd is closer to the game.  Football is a lot more fun when played outside, anyway...elements may be annoying sometimes, but it makes it fun to watch the players in driving snow as opposed to air conditioned nothing.

Answer 3

They should, it would be a lot better than playing at Molson. It's a great stadium and it's really nice. It would be cool to see them play there more often.

Molson is great, but it's not worth spending a ton of cash when they have another stadium right there.

Answer 4

The Als were averaging 9,000 a game at the Big O, versus 71 consecutive sellouts at Molson Stadium.  The location of the stadium itself is worth the renovation.

Answer 5

because it keeps falling apart

Answer 6

It's too far out in the burbs. Thus, when they did play there, they were lucky to get 10,000 fans a game.

Answer 7

the same reason Vladimir Guerrero left the Expos to go to the Angels, artificial turf. I have heard that that turf is just as brutual if not worse than old Veterans Stadium's turf in Philadelphia. If you remember, in the Eagle's games there, they had to help someone didn't get hurt. That was the turf that ended Michael Irvin's career as a Dallas Cowboy

Answer 8

I think a better question would be why haven't they demolished Le Stade Olympique yet?  As far as I know, it hasn't been in regular use since the Expos left town...

As someone had already mentioned, when the Als moved to Montreal from Baltimore, they did play in the Big O, and drew less than 10 thousand fans a game.  And even for last year's playoff game, they only got about 35 thousand fans out, which meant the place was still far from sold out.  (I do believe that it holds 60 thousand, does it not?)

Also, having been there (once) before, I can tell you that it's far from being a modern, luxurious stadium.  I'd certainly take the Sky Dome, which is a good 15 years younger, over the Big O anyday.  So while the Als should definitely be able to draw more than 20 thousand fans a game, I'm not sure that playing in a half-empty, 60-thousand seat stadium is the best situation for them, either.  What would be ideal would be a 35 thousand seat outdoor stadium, built specifically for football, but as far as I know, that isn't even on the agenda for the team or the city.

Answer 9

It's too big, costs too much to rent and makes the fans feel alienated from the players on the field.  Part of Molson Stadium's attractiveness is the fact that the fans feel like they are part of the game, much the way the fans of NCAA football feel.  It's an atmosphere thing

Answer 10

Because they stupid and don't have enpugh fan support.