New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Doug

Good news. Maybe this will turn the tables on pro sports owners pillaging government. The Oilers won't move because there are too many other teams looking to move.

There are? Name one...

[polishavenger]

Originally Posted by Barnes

There are? Name one...

I dont follow NHL but isnt Nashville, Florida, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Phoenix, Tampa all in crappy markets?

[monocle]

Keep in mind that Edmonton has a new 2.7 km track just finishing paving out at castrol, if the new barn doesn't make sense

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by polishavenger

I dont follow NHL but isnt Nashville, Florida, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Phoenix, Tampa all in crappy markets?

Crappy market doesn't necessarily mean they are wanting to move.

Nashville has seen a large jump in valuation recently and Calgary's Brett Wilson has joined the ownership group.

Florida, yeah kind of but the team was purchased in 2009 and has sucked for a long time. Things are looking better for them.

The Islanders need a new building badly but moving out of the area makes no sense.

New Jersey is an enigma.

Phoenix is a gong show and as long as the City of Glendale is dumb enough to keep paying for the team or an owner actually comes up with financing the team will stay. They are the most likely to be moved but the NHL is in no rush.

Tampa has had some of the worst ownership groups in the league but as of 2010 have had a really strong ownership that have made some really good moves to better the team and have had some successes with Yzerman as GM.

NHL owners are quite happy to break even or not on NHL hockey if they can make money on other events through owning or operating an arena. The Oilers neither own nor operate Rexall Place. They don't get to deduct any costs for hockey related revenue owed to the league to pay players. Outside of Rexall being a dump, the primary reason for a new building is to deduct as many costs by either owning and/or operating a popular building.

There are a few markets that will soon support NHL hockey but there is no way the NHL board of governors OKs a move of an existing team and gives up a massive expansion fee for Qubec City, Seattle, GTA. As far as I know (outside the Coyotes) there are no teams currently up for sale.

[Barnes]

The Islanders will announce today that they are moving to the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. Calgary will have the third oldest building by 2015.

[Ayreonaut]

Probably a good move for the Isles, getting closer to the core of the city. Is that where the Nets are now?

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by Barnes

The Islanders will announce today that they are moving to the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. Calgary will have the third oldest building by 2015.

The Barclay Centre is a great facility. It seemed like an obvious mover, just needed to be negotiated! I wonder how the whole revenue thing will play out with them moving to "The Bank."

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Probably a good move for the Isles, getting closer to the core of the city. Is that where the Nets are now?

Yes, the Nets are playing there, starting this year. The building is brand new. And the building is right in the core, not merely closer to the core.

[Ayreonaut]

I think Brooklyn seems to have the most 'local' pride of the boroughs, so hopefully the team is well-supported as 'Brooklyn's team'.

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

Yes, the Nets are playing there, starting this year. The building is brand new. And the building is right in the core, not merely closer to the core.

It's a great looking building but given that it was not built for hockey the configuration for hockey games is REALLY wonky at one end. Check out the pics on this page:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=159071&page=45

[Calgarian]

It's too bad they didn't think of hockey when they designed that place, otherwise great looking building.

[freeweed]

What's interesting about the Isles is that they're expecting to fit barely 15,000 in for hockey once a few adjustments are made. Which is pretty much the same as Winnipeg's "too small" arena.

I think this really speaks volumes as to the future of the NHL. This is the continent's largest market and their second team is going to play out of the smallest barn in the league, on par with the smallest city in the league. Their 3rd team is basically bankrupt and could move at a moment's notice.

I only hope Calgary doesn't follow this pattern. 15,000 seats here would exclude anyone who doesn't work at Banker's Hall. You'd be talking $100+ for nosebleeds - demand would be insane. It would be worse than Toronto.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by freeweed

What's interesting about the Isles is that they're expecting to fit barely 15,000 in for hockey once a few adjustments are made. Which is pretty much the same as Winnipeg's "too small" arena.

I think this really speaks volumes as to the future of the NHL. This is the continent's largest market and their second team is going to play out of the smallest barn in the league, on par with the smallest city in the league. Their 3rd team is basically bankrupt and could move at a moment's notice.

I only hope Calgary doesn't follow this pattern. 15,000 seats here would exclude anyone who doesn't work at Banker's Hall. You'd be talking $100+ for nosebleeds - demand would be insane. It would be worse than Toronto.

I think the numbers they have been throwing around are all in the 18000 seat range.

How are site lines in the Bell Centre? they hold around 22 000 and have about the number of boxes Ken King is looking for.

[MalcolmTucker]

I have sat in the super nose bleeds in the Bell Centre. Sure, you are high up, but I had no complaints.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I think the numbers they have been throwing around are all in the 18000 seat range.

How are site lines in the Bell Centre? they hold around 22 000 and have about the number of boxes Ken King is looking for.

We'll never see another Bell Centre (never say never, but still...).

The reduced seating is less about boxes, and more about the fact that nosebleeds just don't pay for themselves. At least not unless the building lasts 50 years (which is unheard of these days).

[Joborule]

Looks like renovating McMahon is the plan for Flames ownership.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Selling+nam...Stadium/7479587/story.html#ixzz2AwMXVzTP

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Looks like renovating McMahon is the plan for Flames ownership.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Selling+nam...Stadium/7479587/story.html#ixzz2AwMXVzTP

Only $15m....sounds like more of a bandaid than a long term solution.

[monocle]

Article says possibly a $100MM reno eventually, and new stadium "a long shot".

[Calgarian]

They say the renos are mostly involving the washrooms and stuff like that. King admits it needs at least $100 million or we need a new stadium, and a new stadium is a long shot.

[artvandelay]

Oh didn't see that quote, I should have read it more thoroughly.

Pretty soon Regina and Winnipeg will have brand new top class stadiums; it would be a shame if we here in Canada's wealthiest city could not come up with something at least as nice if not better.