New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Doug]

Originally Posted by polishavenger

Not being an engineer, I could be wrong in what I am about to say. Firstly, if parking can be built under a 60 storey sky scraper, it can be build under a stadium. The only issue would be how many columns and how far apart they need to be. Since parking doesnt need wide open spans like say office space of bleachers, I can imagine they could build several floors of parking under a stadium. Secondly the area directly under the arena surface (Im thinking you mean the field/rink) would have the smallest loads and the greatest loads would be under the bleachers. Thirdly, getting out would be just as much of a pain in the ass as surface, the only difference is you need proper ventilation so that idling engines dont suffocate everyone. I would think you would need at least four entrances/exits, one on each side of the block

I would suspect the water table would be a huge problem on the Stampede grounds given the location in a loop in the Elbow River.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Plus with the price of concessions you'd think the city would make it back in tax dollars in one night.

Also, actually attracting concerts, and etc., to come to Calgary would be a boost.

The City wouldn't earn any tax dollars from the arena. Most of the scams that US pro sports teams pull from municipalities typically involve no rent, all concession revenues and revenue from non sporting events like concerts. At least in the US, the municipality would earn some sales tax revenue. In Calgary, only the Feds would benefit (in terms of GST).

[sim]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Hockey often doesn't make a profit either, just look at Phoenix.

I guess in my mind the biggest thing is "how many people benefit" when it comes to spending public dollars. We have no problem with tax money going to things a small number of people use (most cultural facilities, let's face it, are not used by the masses) and yet there's a huge uproar over spending money on something that 20,000 people attend every night.

This is a pretty good point, but I think it might also be necessary to qualify the said benefits: Obviously this is always going to be somewhat subjective. However, for the most part, things like museums, art galleries, etc are benefits that are (hopefully) meant to broaden and stimulate our minds; make us smarter and so on, whereas the benefits of a new rink are mostly for entertainment. Although there are certainly benefits from how it is able to bring a community together and give people a common ground.

My point being not that it necessarily shouldn't be funded, just that it maybe shouldn't be funded and compared to those other types of facilities that do.

[jeffwhit]

I wonder how much (of at all) the talk of the Flames building a new arena would diminish the price/cachet of the Saddledome naming rights.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

I wonder how much (of at all) the talk of the Flames building a new arena would diminish the price/cachet of the Saddledome naming rights.

I suppose it would depend on whether those naming rights would move over to the new building if and when it is built.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by lubicon

I suppose it would depend on whether those naming rights would move over to the new building if and when it is built.

Personally, I think an exit-clause triggered by the Flames moving to a new arena would be more likely to be included in the agreement/deal than a transfer of naming rights. I'm no lawyer though, that would be my sisters, just trying to think like one.

[jeffwhit]

^^I didn't even tink of that, thanks guys.

[hrisemiky]

we need a new football stadium

[Calgarian]

Yes we do, though it won't happen for a long long time.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Riise

Personally, I think an exit-clause triggered by the Flames moving to a new arena would be more likely to be included in the agreement/deal than a transfer of naming rights. I'm no lawyer though, that would be my sisters, just trying to think like one.

Since the Flames lease the Dome, they cannot by law sell rights, even naming rights outside of the term of the lease. Therefor, if they move when they plan to, for the fall 2014 season (if my memory is correct) when their lease is up there should be no issue.

New stadium = new naming rights to sell.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Doug

I hate these types of designs, basically a throwback to modernist disasters like Olympic Stadium in Montreal. While they look great from a distance, they are stark and oppressive close up. Target Field in Minneapolis is far better.

I understand what you are saying and I'd like to reiterate that I simply drew inspiration from the Arena Zagreb, mainly from the white orbish building inside th rib cage. While I use to be preoccupied with the multifunctionality of sporting venues and how they can be apart of the urban fabric, the appeal of arenas and stadiums as pieces of art incorporated into their urban surrounds has grown on me. The inspiration I have taken from Arena Zagreb has lead to an interesting idea for an arena as an art piece in Calgary in my head, I really need to obtain the assistance of one of my architect friends to extract it from my mind.

Anyway, here are some examples of what I believe to be a good job of placing stadia in and integrating them with urban areas. Although I hate Sp*rs, they might be onto something with their New White Heart Lane:

Originally Posted by nick_taylor

External view looking eastwards, the new residential development is visible to the right


The new 'fan' square


Non-matchday view of the stadium in winter with ice-rink

Link to Nick Taylor's New White Heart Lane Post.

[jeffwhit]

^^That stadium will suck. Mainly because Spurs'll be playing there.

[jsbertram]

Why not build on the West Village area (Greyhound, GSL Chevy, Renfrew Chrysler)

Build a new McMahon stadium and a new Flames arena there. It already has Bow Tr and Crowchild Tr (although the interchange will need serious upgrades), and the West LRT.

Redevelop the old McMahon site as housing to pay for everything.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Why not build on the West Village area (Greyhound, GSL Chevy, Renfrew Chrysler)

Build a new McMahon stadium and a new Flames arena there. It already has Bow Tr and Crowchild Tr (although the interchange will need serious upgrades), and the West LRT.

Redevelop the old McMahon site as housing to pay for everything.

Thats been suggested a few times. There seems to be some support for it, but the odds seem to be against it and in favor of the Stampede Grounds.

[GoflamesGo]

seems odd that vancouver got the covered stadium and we got a windy open air stadium.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by GoflamesGo

seems odd that vancouver got the covered stadium and we got a windy open air stadium.

It seems kind of odd that BC Place is getting a retractable roof, and the Lions are playing outdoors at the old Empire Stadium next season.

[fatboy]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

It seems kind of odd that BC Place is getting a retractable roof, and the Lions are playing outdoors at the old Empire Stadium next season.

Even more odd...the cost of the roof is 7x times the cost of the original stadium...yours and mine(tax dollars)paying for it.
Whoever Whines the most gets the $$$.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by GoflamesGo

seems odd that vancouver got the covered stadium and we got a windy open air stadium.

Rain. 'nuff sed.

Plus, Calgarians are just tougher.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

It seems kind of odd that BC Place is getting a retractable roof, and the Lions are playing outdoors at the old Empire Stadium next season.

Wasn't the old empire stadium demolished already?

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Wasn't the old empire stadium demolished already?

Yes, and the city has refurbished the field to a baseball diamond/soccer field. however, they're being innovative and using the seating from the Olympic venues to make it into a 25,000 seat outdoor stadium. Should be something else to see.