12/21/24
October 22, 2003
Yeah, I got your storied history right here, buddy: - MLG the icon, the cathedral, the home of (English) hockey... The best place to get fresh fish, flowers, and Presidents Choice products. Does the board of directors answer directly to Satan, or do they have to go through his admin assistant and make an appointment?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey to hockey at 10:35 AM - 14 comments
bill, I hear ya, but I'd be interested to hear what the Boston contigent would have to say if they turned Fenway into a grocery store after building a new ballpark. Maple Leaf Gardens and the Montreal Forum ARE Canadian sports history...
posted by smithers at 11:11 AM on October 22, 2003
No I expect it to be used as a historical building where people can play hockey. They just want to sell it to the highest bidder and turn it into retail-world. The option of having it be the home of the St. Mike's Majors was turned down because MLSEL didn't want another arena in town - for concerts, fundraisers, or anything. Just seems so sacrilicious. Agreed that it doesn't have to remain empty, but a grocery store? Is nothing sacred? have we resigned ourselves to this fact? For me it's kind of indicative of the two-faced bullshit that surrounds modern professional sports - they want fans to make an emotional connection with the team and the franchise (becuase players come and go now) and appeal to the idea of being beyond simple economics - passion, accountability and loyalty - they lobby governments for money, and call out to rally fans for seasons tickets because they mean more than just another store or service provider - they're special and aren't in fact just another business. And people buy into and make that personal investment. Then when it no longer suits them, they bring up the whole business, investors and fiscal responsibilty crap - and shit all over the notions that they invited in the first place. And we fans, for the most part just swallow it all. It ain't the end of the world, but doesn't it ring somewhat hollow to you?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:19 AM on October 22, 2003
It's like turning MSG into a A&P. Or Yankee Stadium into a Costco. It just shouldn't be done. When I saw the headline yesterday, the idea of the Garden turning into a grocery didn't even cross my mind, that's how out of whack this decision is. Hopefully, there will be a public outcry loud enough to change the plans.
posted by garfield at 11:45 AM on October 22, 2003
Look, sports is a business. We're the consumers, and for the most part, we have no say. I see your point though, Weedy, and agree that it sucks. I think Fenway is a couple decates older than MLG, but if the fans up there have the same kind of passion for hockey that Boston fans have for Baseball, I doubt the people of Toronto will put up with this.
posted by Samsonov14 at 12:17 PM on October 22, 2003
Actually Sammy, it's that very passion for the Leafs (like the Sox) that will result in nothing changing. If the Sox tore down Fenway, put up a better park (ACC is WAY better for fans, players and the like) and ignored the flurry of hate mail, would they really suffer at the gate? Would rabid Sox fans tune out the team? Not likely. Same in T.O. - loving, hating, yelling and screaming at the Leafs is in the blood and the drinking water. They will get away with this without any difficulty - unless the government steps in and prevents it, but they won't (nor, I guess, should they). As it stands right now MLG is a recognized historical building - but that just means that the owner has to keep a certain percentage of the original facade and other stuff when gutting it and rebuilding. It's going to happen.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:13 PM on October 22, 2003
I agree that it is a sad thing for the city. MLG is an important piece of Toronto sports history. On the other hand, grocery shopping downtown is damn near impossible, and the area could really stand to have a decent store. I'm not sure if the end justifies the means though. As for protesting, Maple Leaf fans aren't willing to protest. They haven't protested a thing in years. For all the screaming over management foibles, why are the seats still full?
posted by Succa at 03:02 PM on October 22, 2003
It's like turning MSG into a A&P. The current MSG is the fourth building in Manhattan to wear the name (opened in 1968) and it's my understanding--though Google is not helping me find anything confirming to link--that plans are well underway to build a new Garden. The current building will not be preserved at all once the replacement is ready if the past is prologue; the first three were torn down.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:05 PM on October 22, 2003
Bill, the Boston Garden was also initally known as the Boston Madison Square Garden before they realized that was totally lame. No kidding.
posted by Samsonov14 at 04:09 PM on October 22, 2003
I guess MSG was a bad example...great link, btw.
posted by garfield at 04:13 PM on October 22, 2003
I can't believe you all would complain about tearing down an empty building and not be upset by this.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:53 PM on October 22, 2003
Well, I've had memories within that building, and around that building... and it is a recognizable landmark in the city. Which is even more important in Toronto, an architecturally dull and boring core with, mostly, no personality. I don't think that jerseys are comparable. Does the board of directors answer directly to Satan Satan? No, worse: the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund.
posted by mkn at 05:53 PM on October 22, 2003
Bum-bum-bum.
posted by lilnemo at 06:08 PM on October 22, 2003
Considering the Air Canada Centre is a refurbished Canada Post building, and the Hockey Hall of Fame is a refurbished Bank of Montreal, I really don't see anything wrong with the reverse happening to old hockey arenas. It's better than being torn down. Besides, my wife is a teacher and anything that adds to her pension so I...er...she can live off it later is fine by me.
posted by grum@work at 06:47 AM on October 23, 2003
Didn't they build a new place to play? I mean this is a huge building in the heart of a major metropolis and you expect them to leave it as an essentially unused ice rink? Weedy, you been smoking too much!