Bl7 - Wednesday, April 11, 1984 - North Shore News

a sport

TWO MILLION FANS COMING UP

Stadium debut beyond forecast

B.C. PLACE Stadium will top the two million at-
tendance mark in its first 9'2 months of operations
and has made a better debut than even its own most

opumistic forecasts.

Stadium General Manager
Harry Renaud confirmed this
last week as he released the
highlights of the first fiscal
operating period which ends
March 31 and began with the
opening of the dome on June
19, 1983.

“Our books are all but
closed for the year and we
can now report thal it was a

sensational 9'2 months,”
Renaud said.
Attendance records were

set for both the B.C. Lions
and the Vancouver
Whitecaps during the year in
which the total attendance
for all Stadium events to
March 31, 1984, will exceed
two milhon. Omnginal fore-
casts set the expected atten-
dance at 1,450,000 for the
first part year, but by
December 31, 1983 this had
already been topped with
1,$12,000 through the turn-
stiles

The number of event days
will have reached 115 by the
end of the fiscal year

REVENUES UP

Renaud said revenues will
be approximately $5,172,000,
up nearly $400,000 from the
forecast of $4,800,000. The
Stadium actually made a
modest operating profit
betore depreciation and start
up costs were deducted

The pleasant’ surprise of
the year was the BC. Lions
reaching the Western Final tn

the Canadian league and
eventually the Grey Cup
Gaame The Western Final

was not included in| Stadium
budpecuny The (© anadian
Poorball League Champion

stup Game. Grey Cup 84
revenues set a Canadian pro
fesstonal sports tecord with a
KEOSS Kale ol Net $- |

traatdrerta
With attenadances up. seo
wer were the revenues from

hve food and

beverage

souvenir concessions manag-
ed by Canteen of Canada
Lid. for B.C. Place. Gross
sales from all stadium con-
cessions will exceed $8
million which is 175% more
than forecast.
ADVERTISING UP

In-Stadium advertising was
another high point, accor-
ding to Renaud. The total
topped the forecast of
$825,000 by almost half a
million dollars thanks to ‘‘ag-
gressive marketing and the
excirment of the building
with so many people atten-
ding the events.”’

To-date, 20 Pacific Rim
Suites (private boxes) have
been leased and another 15
are expected to be leased this
year as the economy picks
up. Further suites will be
built as demand 1s confirmed.

Renaud doubted that the
Stadium’s first full year from
April 1, 1984 to March 31,
1985, would be anything but
another success story.

‘*There are those who say
the noveltv of the new
Stadium will wear off, but I
disagree. Our projections for
another successful year are
not at all euphoric,’” he said.

“The Whitecaps had a
superb year and there might
be some drop off this coming
season due to their shortened
1984 schedule. The B.C.
Lions should repeat their at-
tendance tevels in their 2nd
year under the dome.”’

“LT feel we will exceed the
two million attendance mark
again in 1984 &%S and there
should be noticeable tm
provements in certain areas
of our Operatloas

Several trade

and con
sumer Shows were locked into
a ooprevious cOonthacth In Our
opening months but some
have cnchioated they want to
move to the Stadium when

they clear these obligations,’

UNDLCRWATE>,
RESEARCH
RAEVEALS

wee

ae

Stk th IN ©. OSE UF

said Renaud.

Rock concerts also put the
B.C. Place Stadium in the
news throughout North
America.

“‘Amusement Business
Magazine rated us the top
covered stadium in North
America for rock concerts,’

(most

Renaud said.
FIRST IN GROSS

“*In their poll of the ‘Top
100 Boxscores’ we were rated
13th for the David Bowie
Concert, 6th for an = in-
dividual show opening, and
Ist.in gross gale compared to
other major indoor stadiums.

“‘In fact, very few
stadiums or music halls had a
performance record
anywhere near as good,"’

Renaud predicts 140 activi-
ty days in the first full year.
At March 31. 1984, Che
Stadium will have 59 full-

tume employees.

Quality and dependability

at great prices.

2 FRONT WHEEL DISC SERVICE

domestic cars)

includes * Replacing front disc pads
© Machining rotors
e Repacking front wheel bears
© Complete ispechon

ee

C

free imispecton

BIG EMPLOYER
In the first year, Canteen
of Canada, the concessions
management firm, had
employed 962 people on a
part-time basis generating a

See page 828

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