New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Tills13]

Originally Posted by monocle

Any chance we can get some covert pics of renderings, site plans, etc?

If my Dad gets them, I'll get them, and you guys will get them.

[Mista_Incognito]

This article is suggesting that the flood restrictions could have an impact on the Flames building a new arena on Stampede grounds and suggests that the university area is a possibility. I sure hope not, anything beats fire park area but I would much rather it be west village if its not the stampede grounds. I sure hope we hear something about the arena soon.


http://www.examiner.com/article/flames-could-be-impacted-by-new-development-regulations

[Doug_Cgy]

Originally Posted by Mista_Incognito

This article is suggesting that the flood restrictions could have an impact on the Flames building a new arena on Stampede grounds and suggests that the university area is a possibility. I sure hope not, anything beats fire park area but I would much rather it be west village if its not the stampede grounds. I sure hope we hear something about the arena soon.


http://www.examiner.com/article/flames-could-be-impacted-by-new-development-regulations

I wouldn't put much stock into that article. If memory serves me correctly, the Dome is in a "Flood Fringe", which still permits development with certain building conditions/codes in place to mitigate future issues. Also, I believe the West Village is actually in a safe zone. No parts of Downtown West we're impacted by the floods (I live in the area), so I'm sure there would be no issue moving forward with any plans in this area.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Doug_Cgy

I wouldn't put much stock into that article. If memory serves me correctly, the Dome is in a "Flood Fringe", which still permits development with certain building conditions/codes in place to mitigate future issues. Also, I believe the West Village is actually in a safe zone. No parts of Downtown West we're impacted by the floods (I live in the area), so I'm sure there would be no issue moving forward with any plans in this area.

It would be silly to invest $500m+ on a facility in the "flood fringe", and I'm surprised anyone would be surprised by a move away from an area that was so badly hammered.

West Village is good. University could work, with redevelopment of "motel village" and a major upgrade to the LRT station. Roll in the NW transit improvements that are being contemplated and we could have a winner.

[SEsupporter]

Has anyone heard any stadium/arena updates? In response to Mista Incognito July 21 stating anything but firepark I believe is incorrect. After the flooding and the crowchild trail traffic congestion and lack of room in the west village for a stadium and arena the Max Bell Arena LRT station would have been perfect considering the room available and the major roads access with room for underground parking and the new east calgary ring road access fairly close by with the billion dollar view looking west as well. Amenities can easily be built in the area as there is lots of room to build around the facilities. I sure hope Ken King considers this firepark location as the leading site to build.

[Bigtime]

It will not be built at Firepark.

[YYCguys]

Bigtime, that's a pretty definitive statement. Must be insider knowledge?

Firepark is quite detached from downtown currently. ALOT of infrastructure (including shops, restaurants, hotels) would need to built to make it a destination. Right now, Max Bell is pretty secluded.

Yes, access to Firepark is quite handy via transit and the roads seem adequate to handle increased traffic, but perhaps Firepark isn't the wisest location. What location is suitable in terms of access, transit, shops, proximity to the core, etc and not in a flood zone is beyond me. I know that West Village has been mentioned. What other locations other than Stampede Park are on the radar?

[Tropics]

Firepark should be where the Calgary bus terminal is relocated to when it is finally removed from the downtown core. I has great transit access, is right off of Deerfoot which is extremely handy for Alberta bus travel, and it has ample room to expand as the city grows.

I cannot think of a better location for a bus terminal in this city then Firepark and the location on the west side of the core has to go soon. It is outdated, small, and the location is terrible as far as logistics of getting large busses to and from the terminal go.

Not to mention the ability to re-purpose and re-develop the land the current terminal is on which as tremendous potential whether it be for a arena or an urban, high density, riverfront, TOD development full of medium to high density residential an middle to high end retail and services to bring some much needed life to the west side of the core.

So, put the arena where the bus terminal currently is, then put the bus terminal at Firepark. Those are better locations for both of those structures. Doing it the other way around and having the arena at Firepark and the bus terminal remaining on the west side of the core is simply wrong.

[speedog]

K, what about NNW of the TELUS World of Science? Plenty of room there but access might be a bit of a bear although with the right kind of monies some off-on ramps could be made off of the Deerfoot .

Or what about the big vacant plot of land on the south side of Blackfoot Trail sandwiched between Highfield Road, 26th Ave SE and thew Crossroads Market - not ideal but certainly a chunk of land that is big enough.

Better yet, bulldoze the Sears at North Hill and put it on the east side of that site. Good road access, transit on your doorstep and enough room to add in a hotel or two as well.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Tropics

Firepark should be where the Calgary bus terminal is relocated to when it is finally removed from the downtown core. I has great transit access, is right off of Deerfoot which is extremely handy for Alberta bus travel, and it has ample room to expand as the city grows.

I cannot think of a better location for a bus terminal in this city

That's silly. All of what you've said makes it a perfect location for a sports complex and rejuvenating development all around.

Hmmm ... wonder if the arena could replace max bell instead of be up in firepark, and then the stadium could be accompanied by development on the actual firepark site.

[Tills13]

Originally Posted by suburbia

That's silly. All of what you've said makes it a perfect location for a sports complex and rejuvenating development all around.

Hmmm ... wonder if the arena could replace max bell instead of be up in firepark, and then the stadium could be accompanied by development on the actual firepark site.

the issue I see with the Max Bell site is that there's no transit to that area... and there's not enough room for a stadium, parking lot, and everything else.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by Tills13

the issue I see with the Max Bell site is that there's no transit to that area... and there's not enough room for a stadium, parking lot, and everything else.

Actually the Saddledome would fit where Max Bell currently is, LRT is directly on the north side and there would be tons of room for parking at Fire park.

[artvandelay]

I can't see the Flames moving that far from downtown. Corporate ticket sales are their bread and butter.

[joe498]

Probably to small of a lot but the YWCA has been in talks of relocating recently to a new facility.

[Calgarian]

They aren't going to demolish Max Bell, especially since they just renovated it a few years ago (which looks stupid to me). Firepark could work, but they would need major upgrades to the road network and probably the utilities in the area to make it work, and with the city vowing no public money will go towards the new building, the costs to CSEC to do the upgrades would be a major obstacle. If they go in the West Village, the city will probably eat a lot of the infrastructure costs as they want to make major changes already anyway.

[speedog]

Don't believe anyone suggested demolishing Max Bell - all that was made was a comment that a new arena couldn't fit on that space.

Now someone made a comment earlier that a new arena would have to be near the downtown because of corporate ticket sales - that I call BS on because I would bet that most people who buy or use these corporate tickets aren't just casually walking to the Saddledome. They are most likely ether taking transit or some other motorized form of transport and as such, the 'right' out of the core location might work - hello, east side of North Hill Mall?

[Coldrsx]

Just for context/reference, the DP for Edmonton's arena has been officially submitted.

[evolv]

Originally Posted by speedog

Don't believe anyone suggested demolishing Max Bell - all that was made was a comment that a new arena couldn't fit on that space.

Now someone made a comment earlier that a new arena would have to be near the downtown because of corporate ticket sales - that I call BS on because I would bet that most people who buy or use these corporate tickets aren't just casually walking to the Saddledome. They are most likely ether taking transit or some other motorized form of transport and as such, the 'right' out of the core location might work - hello, east side of North Hill Mall?

I think you would bet wrong. A lot of people going to the game go from work to beers/supper at a downtown restaurant to the game. Or from work and rush to the game. Especially on weeknights. I think it would be a huge mistake to move out of the core for the Flames, thing is ownership gets that dynamic; most work or have worked downtown Calgary.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

I think the location will depend on when the Flames want to get this thing built ... Cooperation from the City will be a lot easier if it's in the EV for example, but if they want to build it in the West Village (which needs a lot of roadwork and change) it would have to wait awhile

I think the City will want an arena on the LRT line too .. So unless ownership wants to spend all the money themselves (which is doubtful) then they'll have to cater towards the City's demands

[artvandelay]

Hopefully we hear something concrete now that the election is over.