New Downtown Calgary Arena

[H.E.Pennypacker]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I agree, Calgary severely lacks space for these types of conferences where smaller rooms are required for talks/presentations. In terms of exhibition space, Stampede is just ok. The GO Expo in June has 20,000 attendees and the Global petroleum Show is 63,000 but the conference side of both shows is really small in comparison.

Aside from what has been posted here in terms of hotel development, there are plenty of plans for even more.

When the new GM of the City's PDA department, Rollin Stanley first came to Calgary he was shocked at how little hotel space was available downtown .. Combine that with his vision of increasing the density with the core via mixed use developments, I'm sure he is willing to make some concessions if developers are proposing these kinds of ideas.

I also know he hates stadiums from a planning point of view for a municipality (especially public funded) .. IMO if a large mixed use district, dense with hotels, residential/retail/office mixed use developments is put forth it will definitely get the process moving much sooner than later .. From the City's POV anyways

[Deepstar]

I don't care if the arena is in West Village or near the Stampede grounds or along the tracks as long as it's downtown.

The best place of all would be the big Four building, but it does't look like that will happen.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Deepstar

I don't care if the arena is in West Village or near the Stampede grounds or along the tracks as long as it's downtown.

The best place of all would be the big Four building, but it does't look like that will happen.

Not nearly enough room there for an arena + stadium. The grounds are already bursting at the seems!

[Bigtime]

I'd take just an arena on the Big 4 site. It has always been the best opportunity, just having the ability to have an LRT station right inside of it was awesome.

Too bad it is nothing more than a pipe dream...

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I'd take just an arena on the Big 4 site. It has always been the best opportunity, just having the ability to have an LRT station right inside of it was awesome.

Too bad it is nothing more than a pipe dream...

I think even if it is just the arena (and I'd be sad if this opportunity for a pseudo-enhancement of our convention hosting ability didn't happen with a co-located retractable roof stadium) it would need to bridge over-top of Macleod to get enough space. The footprint of the saddledome is not a good touchstone as it doesn't have enough service areas (one of the gripes about it).

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

My point is I am not crazy on a arena and new field together if it costs us valuable space in the core that could be put to a much better use if we are only talking about fitting an arena in the space.

What if the high density housing is 'right across the street' on 10th ave in Sunalta?

Like this (blue arena district, red high density)

[Joborule]

I figure that the football stadium would actually go in the Pumphouse area, and the arena would be across Bow Trail westbound, or the road would be realigned/bent southward so then the arena would be beside the stadium eastward. Keeping it on the same 'block'.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Joborule

I figure that the football stadium would actually go in the Pumphouse area, and the arena would be across Bow Trail westbound, or the road would be realigned/bent southward so then the arena would be beside the stadium eastward. Keeping it on the same 'block'.

The pumphouse area is too far from the train station. These facilities would need to be right smack near the middle of West Village, with the river promenade to the north, flanked by the mixed-used gateway districts. Would certainly need to find a way to get a good amount of mid to high density in there, so the pumphouse and the area south of the tracks would need to be it. The gateway districts would need to have several, in fact more than several, hotels.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by suburbia

The pumphouse area is too far from the train station. These facilities would need to be right smack near the middle of West Village, with the river promenade to the north, flanked by the mixed-used gateway districts. Would certainly need to find a way to get a good amount of mid to high density in there, so the pumphouse and the area south of the tracks would need to be it. The gateway districts would need to have several, in fact more than several, hotels.

It's not that far away. The walk to there would be about the same equivalent as it is now to Flames game from Stampede station. It's much more ideal to have those two venues located right by the station though if they find a way to do that, while making the rest of the complex work.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by suburbia

The pumphouse area is too far from the train station.

A gondola would solve that problem.

[speedog]

So leave the Pumphouse area for the housing that so many desire and put the two sports complexes in the blue area - much closer to the LRT than the Saddledome or McMahon Stadium currently are.

[Cowtown_Tim]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Not nearly enough room there for an arena + stadium. The grounds are already bursting at the seems!

I don't care if the arena and stadium are combined. I would be happy with just the new arena downtown, and the Big Four would be the best spot, but like you say probably not enough room. Mute point anyway, sounds like it's already not in the plans.

[Innersoul1]

I imagine that a Stadium in the pump house area would have some serious shadowing issues.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

I imagine that a Stadium in the pump house area would have some serious shadowing issues.

Is the city concerned about shadowing on that part of the pathway?

Does Sunalta station have a connection to the north side of the CPR tracks?

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Does Sunalta station have a connection to the north side of the CPR tracks?

Yes, it connects to the pedestrian bridge that runs over towards the greyhound station.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Is the city concerned about shadowing on that part of the pathway?

Does Sunalta station have a connection to the north side of the CPR tracks?

Not only does it have a connection to the north, that connection, in the West Village ARP, cuts straight through to the river, linking with the river promenade centred at that point. As Innersoul1 has highlighted, there is nothing there that would prevent further augmentation. Heck, all the roads are to be re-done based on the current vision of the West Village ARP, so what big deal is a pedestrian way?

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by mersar

Yes, it connects to the pedestrian bridge that runs over towards the greyhound station.

Obviously the connection to the north would be completely redone as the current pedestrian bridge would be too small to accommodate such large crowds.

[Coldrsx]

10-3 in favour for the Downtown Arena in Edmonton... over to you

WOOOOOOO

[RicoLance21]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

10-3 in favour for the Downtown Arena in Edmonton... over to you

WOOOOOOO

Great news for Edmonton! Your miserable downtown will finally see the light!

I am betting the shovels will be on the ground for construction of the new Calgary arena in 2015. Ready to move in by the 2017/18 season. Ba-da-bing-ba-da-boom!

[craner]

Sure hope this speculation of a new stadium combined with the arena in an entertainment district is true.

Oh, and NO STAMPITECHTURE!