New Arena for Downtown Edmonton

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by IKAN104

Holy — that's a big site. What kind of amenities are already in that area?

[Kevin_foster]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Holy — that's a big site. What kind of amenities are already in that area?

It fronts 104th Ave, which is edmontons up and coming street of choice. Tot he West you have grant MacEwan college, which attracts multiple retailers/shops/etc. and has done so via railtown & the 109th corridor. Then you have the city center wall, I mean mall, that acts as a massive barricade to the north fringe of the CBD. Man would it be nice if the Delta/mall entrance were open street and/or above street

Mostly everything is either south or west of this site. To the North and East... not much (save China town & little italy perhaps)

[Calgarian]

So there are already lots of bars and restaurants in the area.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So there are already lots of bars and restaurants in the area.

it is across from the CBD so there are some bars/res but far too few...

As for sketchup, i will work on something soon.

[ue]

I'd hardly call 104 avenue our street of choice downtown. I think you're referring to 104th STREET, with all the old warehouses, the Sobeys, the awful ICONs, lots of potential, etc.

As for amenities there really isn't that much. The paarking lot south of 104 is home to the Greyhound, and City Centre Mall. City Hall isn't too far, nor is Chinatown or 104th Street. Grant MacEwan is a few blocks away but overall, that whole area is a blank slate and so much could be done with it it's unbelievable. I mean look at that picture, it's literally blank land. Right beside a sea of high-rises. So much to do.

EDIT: Cold, it's south of 105th so it's still downtown, and with the CN Tower and new EPCOR tower right beside it along with other towers like Bell, Oxford i'd call it apart of our Central Business District. Especially when the arena is built.

[Kevin_foster]

^ err yep, I meant 104th Street

[Calgarian]

So there aren't too many places to 'pre-game' then. I'm sure by the time this thing is finished there will be more than enough places. I can't wait to come up and watch the Flames wax the Oilers in the new barn.

[ue]

Well not to mention the Entertainment district portion will probably create new nightlife/restaurant streets and on the news they said businesses from around / near Rexall would be willing to move...

Some stuff currently though at City Centre and a couple blocks away on jasper.

[lubicon]

Apparently some of us in Cowtown are a little jealous....


Yearning for a revamp
Calgary fans can only long for arena Edmonton hopes to build

By MICHAEL PLATT

Thou shall not covet your neighbour's house, wife or donkey. Fair enough -- especially the donkey part.

But what about your neighbour's brand-spanking new, half-billion dollar hockey arena, equipped with every luxury and amenity a modern NHL fan could desire?

Surely Calgarians can covet just a little, as Edmonton moves a huge step closer to replacing Rexall Place with an ice-palace that will make the Saddledome look like the wooden skate-shack at the local, outdoor shinny rink.

Yesterday, the neighbouring team to the north confirmed it has secured land for a new arena in the northwest corner of downtown Edmonton, on a site currently filled by a casino and surface parking lots.

"Like a lot of Edmontonians, we are very excited about the prospect of a revitalized downtown and a new, multi-use development that can make Edmonton the place to be," Oilers owner Daryl Katz said in a release.

"But we still have a lot of work ahead to make this vision a reality."

In other words, the shovel isn't in the ground yet -- but the fact the Oilers now have earth to move is enough to have Calgary fans drooling with envy.

As well as a new rink boasting the deluxe suites, gourmet restaurants, extra seats and high-tech equipment lacking in the current 35-year-old arena, the Oilers new home might end up as a major entertainment hub.

Katz is reported to be planning a $1-billion mega-project, including an 18,000-seat rink and 10,000-seat practice rink, along with a hotel, casino, stores and condos.

The Oilers now have the task of finding funding for the arena, a tab expected to be shared between Katz, private investors, and hopefully, a public share of between $300 million to $400 million.

The issue of using public tax dollars to pay for a private sports complex is always controversial, but a committee struck by Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel last year recommended public investment in the new rink.

Mandel has promised not to boost property taxes, but the city might borrow against the future value of the land to help fund the project, and in turn, take ownership of the twin arenas. That push towards a public investment in the Oilers new home may prove the winning strategy in Alberta's battle to replace its aging NHL rinks.

While the 26-year-old Saddledome shares many of Rexall's problems -- plus a design which deters many a major concert tour -- the Flames' desire to replace the building might be hampered by the city's outright refusal to help pay for construction.

Ald. Ray Jones reiterated that unwavering position yesterday, saying while the city will help supply land for a new arena, Calgary taxpayers can't be expected to help pay for the rink.

"I understand the city may be putting up leasable land for the Flames so they can build their arena, but I can't see taxpayer dollars going into building an arena when we already have one," said Jones, who sits on the Saddledome Foundation.

"There are so many project and other infrastructure needs that it's not as high on our list as it might be on Edmonton's."

That the city might grant the Flames arena land is actually a move in the right direction, as is the Stampede's newly expressed enthusiasm for keeping the franchise on Stampede land.

"It would certainly make a lot of sense -- our intention is to have Stampede Park as a year-round gathering place, and to have a sports arena which houses an NHL team certainly fits that plan," said the Stampede's new president and CEO David Chalack.

Chalack said he's been asked to meet with Flames boss Ken King in the coming weeks, possibly to discuss their relationship. King was out of town yesterday and couldn't be reached for comment.

Chalack's fond embrace of the Flames is a turnaround from last year, when past- Stampede president George Brookman said he doesn't foresee a new Saddledome in his lifetime. Still, it's all just talk -- and Calgary Flames fans have been listening and waiting for years, without tangible results.

Meanwhile, our neighbours up north can now go and stand on the very spot where the puck will someday drop, surrounded by the fanciest hockey arena a half-billion can buy.

Calgary Flames fans can only covet.

[240glt]

Gotta love what the naysayers are trotting out... "They're closing down hopsital beds and our schools are falling apart and they want to build an arena out of taxpayer money!!"

Good gawd. hospitals and schools are not even the citys' responsibility. But I guess any idiot can run a keyboard.

[Jasper and one o nin]

there are a couple of sound off comments that I actually liked:

"Judging by some of the comments. The negative ones appear to be from people who are misinformed and of low intelligence, whereas the pro-side make very good well thought-out points"

or


"I think a new arena would be AWESOME downtown. and I wouldnt care if tax dollars are used. ther are a lot of city projects that are paid for by tax dollars and I am glad we have them, and we are a much better ctiy for them. this is really no different. "

we are a big city now. lets start acting like it.

and we need more forward thinking people like darryl katz, and less naysayers and backward thinking people like tony caterina

[240glt]

^ But think of the children, J-109. FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN! And the homeless people! And the potholes !

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Apparently some of us in Cowtown are a little jealous....


Yearning for a revamp
Calgary fans can only long for arena Edmonton hopes to build

Link to original article?

[ue]

here's a pic of the current site - potential?



All photos are Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So there aren't too many places to 'pre-game' then. I'm sure by the time this thing is finished there will be more than enough places. I can't wait to come up and watch the Flames wax the Oilers in the new barn.

there are some but not enough

[Kevin_foster]

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

here's a pic of the current site - potential?

^ nope, none. Well, perhaps a Wal-Mart SuperCenter

Could you imagine if that Superstore would have been built there; OMG did we ever dodge a bullet.

[Coldrsx]

^yes and no... designed right with towers above it 'could have worked'.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^yes and no... designed right with towers above it 'could have worked'.

Yes indeed.

[Mikemike]

There seem to be a lot of numbers pulled from nowhere flying around. Has it ever been suggested that the public share be $300-400m, as the calgary article states?

I don't think that repeating the $450m cost for the arena even makes sense anymore, see how that number came out of the boom and things have changed.

[craneSpotter]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^yes and no... designed right with towers above it 'could have worked'.

You mean like this?



photo source