Quote:
Originally Posted by WaitWhat?
I hate to think this way but would putting an arena over top of train tracks be a security risk? Consider the devestation of Lac Megantic with only a few cars exploding. We have trains full of diluent running through downtown, I wouldn't think having 19,000 people sitting on top of that would be a good idea.
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I think it’s good to think about worst case scenarios, but in this case I don’t think a Lac Megantic type accident is very likely. That was caused by a runaway train rolling down hill which ended up going so fast it jumped the tracks. The train accordioned when it derailed and I think several dozen cars at least exploded and burned. We’re not likely to ever have a train moving at high speed going through downtown Calgary, so if one did derail it would likely be only a small number of cars. Still, theoretically one or more could explode, but I think the underside of concrete stands would stand up to that kind of explosion and fireball quite well. You’d probably want to make sure the stands were concrete and not steel, however. Tunnels and fires can be bad news as well, but if you made this tunnel big, say starting at right at the LRT stop and extending over the tracks and one leg of Bow Trail, with large openings at either end, I’m guessing that would be fine. Obviously you’d need to do all the right calculations, but my first thought is that it would be doable.
I think this is a good idea in general. It would make use of otherwise unusable space. It would give you access from both the top and the bottom, which would allow you to get people in and out quickly. It would also create some very interesting and unique views. Offhand I can’t think of another stadium where you enter at the top. There would be opportunities for some great views of both the stadium bowl and field, and the downtown skyline, and in fact much of the greater downtown area. I like it.
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