West Coast Cats

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

What if any events are you going to see during our two weeks of glory?

I will be at 3 hockey games (maybe a 4th)

I have USA-Switzerland on Feb 16
Finland-Belarus on Feb 17
and then yesterday through the fan to fan site on vancouver2010.com, I bought two tickets to Canada-Switzerland. I am paying $445for my ticket (my sister is buying the other) but I had to see Canada play at least once in an Olympics.

I have my new Team Canada jersey ready.

Vive le Canada.

I would have loved to see speed skating but the rink is too small and there are no tickets available

[worm]

I imagine hotels are through the roof. So it looks like im crashing at count's house.

[GGpX]

Enjoy yourself, Count. I'd love to see the Olympics at least once.

[hablov]

I expect you to take tons of pics and to post them on here!!!! Have fun!!! Lucky bum.

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

The only event I will be attending is the "how the f*** am I supposed to get to work downtown every morning for the next month?" marathon.

Oh wait, I almost forgot. I will also be participating in the "Guess who gets to pay for this corporate rip-off for the next 25 years on his property tax bill?" relay.

I have my "Nobody cares 2010" novelty t-shirt ready.

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

You are so negative Wehave, tsk tsk

[worm]

You should hear the stink about the Edmonton Indy and property taxes... I could only imagine the winter games fallout!

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

The Count doesn't have to commute downtown to get to work so he can afford to be cavalier about the traffic nightmare. He also actually likes Olympic hockey, a version of the sport which I abhor.

If I had Olympic hockey tickets they'd be on e-bay right now waiting for a sucker to buy them off me.

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

Take the train downtown. I have a court appearance Feb 19 so I have to take the train. Not many people get to go to two Olympics in their home town. I have that luxury.

[bayrider]

Didn't VdM just pay off their Olympic debt a little less than 10 years ago?

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

yeah but Montreal was stupid about it, stadium too expensive, didn't have world wide sponsors like they do now, tv revenue was crap etc

summer olympics are also way bigger

I saw a cool carflag today (yeah as if there is one) that said Vas-y Canada, that was cute

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Yep, corruption is a wonderful thing. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

But look at the great legacy of the 76 Olympics. You've got the Big O, for one. I mean, good luck getting that monster truck show without that! And what great sightlines it had for baseball. The Expos really had a leg up on signing free agents with that stadium, let me tell you.

And then there's the velodrome/biosphere next door which spawned the careers of all those great Olympic cyclists we've had over the past 34 years...all 2 of them.

Here in Vancouver we have a speed skating oval that is already subsiding and will be rendered completely useless for work class speed skating events pretty much the day after the Olympics leave town (speed skating requires a perfectly level ice surface which is impossible to achieve long-term when you decide to build your oval on what amounts to a sand bar)

The only "good news" is that the winter version of this fiasco costs less to put on than the summer games. Your biggest venues (BC Place Stadium, GM Place and the Pacific Coliseum) are already built and paid for a long time ago. But not to worry, I'm sure that VANOC will find a way to waste millions if not billions of our money before it's over. Wining and dining the rich and well-connected costs money, don't you know.

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

speed skating was supposed to be built at SFU, but political factors took it to Richmond, and Wehave is right, the bloody thing is already sinking, typical retarded move for this provincial town Wehave and I choose to live in

[TheLeftCoast]

I will be avoiding the lower mainland at all costs. Wake me in March...

[Lotusland]

Hey how about that... just 10-minutes ago I had no tickets to anything and then boom... a business rep dropped by to say he has a fan zone ticket available for the Canada-Slovakia women's hockey game Saturday and I am in. Food and drinks all included. Sweet.

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

Nicely done my liege.

I was downtown on Saturday and the Olympic buzz is palpable. It is exciting for sure.

I want to go to the Quebec pavillion and say bonjour. Maybe I will see La Belle Chantale

Jr wanted us to put up our Canadian flag so we did. He is really into the Olympics, it's so cute.

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

chicken

[Lotusland]

I was down at the Bay downtown last week and it certainly is busy... the Olympic merchandise was flying out the door, it was nuts.

I was purchasing another set of the red mittens. I had got 3-pairs a couple of weeks ago for the ladies upstairs at work who are always bringing me back goodies on their frequent shopping excursions down south. I tried several times to buy the mittens in early Dec and around Xmas but they were always selling out. Lots in stock now though... and the ladies love 'em.

What's with The Terminator running with the flame in Stanley Park on Friday? I like him but what is his connection to our games?

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

just the fact he is Arnie is usually enough Remember he's the running man

[SnagglepussLuvHabs]

I have tix to the women's Gold medal hockey game. Will be taking the westcoast express down so traffic and parking shouldn't be a big problem. Would have like to gone to more events but tix are too damn expensive!