New Downtown Calgary Arena

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by RyLucky

Great assessment. Except, I think Calgary actually has a chance for an Olympic bid in 20-30 years, even before Quebec. Anything could happen.

That said, decent transport to the Airport would do more for a bid than a new stadium. I'm a little offended that the Flames' owners think talk of an unlikely olympic bid can win over popular opinion so they can build a stadium with more boxes.

On another note, I looked up the net worth of a few owners...
Edwards 2.2 Billion
Libin ?
Markin 0.76 Billion
McCaig ?
Riddell 3.5 Billion
Seaman ?
They don't seem like the kind of people who should be asking the government for a hand out. Some of these guys could donate hundreds of millions of dollars every year (which, to their credit, they do) until they die and still die rich. What do you buy for the man who has everything? A (new) stadium.

Yep. Edwards and Riddell could split the cost and barely see a dent in their net worth. This is beyond absurd that these people want a cash strapped municipal and provincial government to subsidize a project that will only make them heaps more money per year with corporate boxes (which I hate because people who use them let's face it are not always even fans).

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Yep. Edwards and Riddell could split the cost and barely see a dent in their net worth. This is beyond absurd that these people want a cash strapped municipal and provincial government to subsidize a project that will only make them heaps more money per year with corporate boxes (which I hate because people who use them let's face it are not always even fans).

You don't become a multi-Billionaire by spending you own money.

You get others to buy into your ideas & you take a slice of the proceeds.

In this case 'others' is local & Provincial and Federal politicians.

[The Urbanist]

I ran into one of major stakeholders of the Stampede grounds and he confirmed that the new arena+stadium will be located near the grounds. He wouldn't tell me where exactly, but I almost jumped up and hugged him.

[count0]

Originally Posted by The Urbanist

I ran into one of major stakeholders of the Stampede grounds and he confirmed that the new arena+stadium will be located near the grounds. He wouldn't tell me where exactly, but I almost jumped up and hugged him.

One of the rumored locations is up by 11th or 12th Ave north of the grounds. I'm not sure the Stampede is much of a decision maker here though.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by The Urbanist

I ran into one of major stakeholders of the Stampede grounds and he confirmed that the new arena+stadium will be located near the grounds. He wouldn't tell me where exactly, but I almost jumped up and hugged him.

Very interesting and welcome news. Ultimately if they built it north of the Stampede I think it would be better than the west end. The only real thing is it will likely rely on a future SELRT. This combined with quarry park might actually give more of an argument to get the green line done sooner. That is the only form of 'subsidy' I would support for the new stadium.

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Very interesting and welcome news. Ultimately if they built it north of the Stampede I think it would be better than the west end. The only real thing is it will likely rely on a future SELRT. This combined with quarry park might actually give more of an argument to get the green line done sooner. That is the only form of 'subsidy' I would support for the new stadium.

Most of the area north of the Park is the same distance to the LRT as the current stadium. Now the walk to the City Hall Station is manageable so both lines are reasonable. Plus add some crowds to the ped-oriented retail scene of future Vic Park and East Village scenes. Probably can't ask for much better of a location, given the requirements that such a large project.

The SELRT certainly wouldn't hurt, but isn't a prerequisite. Hopefully this project will be add another good reason the SE LRT's business case. More in the timeframe however, this will be a good test of the Green Line BRT system.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

Originally Posted by The Urbanist

I ran into one of major stakeholders of the Stampede grounds and he confirmed that the new arena+stadium will be located near the grounds. He wouldn't tell me where exactly, but I almost jumped up and hugged him.

Thanks for sharing, exciting news!

Originally Posted by count0

One of the rumored locations is up by 11th or 12th Ave north of the grounds. I'm not sure the Stampede is much of a decision maker here though.

Yeah I think the corner of 11th Ave and 4th St SE would be the location here... Makes sense with the EV going up quickly - also it would be walkable from the Vic Park station still, the City Hall station, and possibly from the Green Line too once it's built

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by The Urbanist

I ran into one of major stakeholders of the Stampede grounds and he confirmed that the new arena+stadium will be located near the grounds. He wouldn't tell me where exactly, but I almost jumped up and hugged him.

This would have to be the Railtown lands. Not sure this confirms anything yet, so we shall see.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ What about the Elbow river casino site that had the crazy super tall visioning a few years back? There is enough land to leverage a little 'district'.

[bt04ku]

Originally Posted by The Urbanist

I ran into one of major stakeholders of the Stampede grounds and he confirmed that the new arena+stadium will be located near the grounds. He wouldn't tell me where exactly, but I almost jumped up and hugged him.

Oh this is fantastic news. Everything about a Vic Park arena is better than the West Village. Better for transit users, better for drivers, better for pedestrians, better for business, better for the Stampede, it's just better. So if this turns out to be bad information, it will break my heart.

I would have to think it is that 4th St/11th Ave corner simply because it's big enough and it was the land rumoured to be part of the land swap a while back. Plus it has to be one of the less desirable plots in the area.

While I'm against money going to arenas and stadiums I'm definitely not against the city giving an empty piece of land along the rail tracks in a developing neighborhood to people who want to build one.

[artvandelay]

I'd still be surprised if it's anywhere near the Stampede grounds.

[CorporateWhore]

I just hope the Stampede itself isn't a stakeholder. Because you know what that means.

[The Fisher Account]

Yeah I call BS on this one.

My bet is still the West Village

[bt04ku]

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

I just hope the Stampede itself isn't a stakeholder. Because you know what that means.

I can't see the Stampede being any kind of stakeholder this time around.

IIRC the rumours for the West Village coincided with rumblings that the Flames wanted as little to do with the CS as possible because of strained relations (especially regarding parking). So if the Flames were to go with a Vic Park location, then I think it would be a safe bet to assume that they'd have as distant a relationship as possible with the Stampede.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by bt04ku

I can't see the Stampede being any kind of stakeholder this time around.

IIRC the rumours for the West Village coincided with rumblings that the Flames wanted as little to do with the CS as possible because of strained relations (especially regarding parking). So if the Flames were to go with a Vic Park location, then I think it would be a safe bet to assume that they'd have as distant a relationship as possible with the Stampede.

This makes more sense to me. Why on earth would the flames want anything to do with the Stampede when they can own it all themselves. One thing for sure, the Flames are very good at keeping every aspect about this extremely secretive.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

One thing for sure, the Flames are very good at keeping every aspect about this extremely secretive.

Given this day and age, and all the various parties involved, that is one of the bigger understatements of year. Which is why I take every piece of rumour on this issue with a HUGE grain of salt.

I'm personally putting even odds on us doing an Olympics bid in the very near future. For a games possibly sooner than most people think. And I bet we'd win. There's a lot of pro-Canada in the Olympic realm right now, it's the perfect time to strike. And it explains just why it's taking so bloody long to figure out Saddledome/McMahon replacements. I think there's a lot more going on here than just "the Flames", as some focus on.

[Northski]

If the Flames build a new arena there are really not going to want to complete with the saddledome for concerts. If they locate on the stampede grounds they have a better chance of getting the saddledome torn down or a non-compete agreement.

[Chadillaccc]

The great part about that is, the Saddledome is shit for hosting concerts, so as long as the new stadium has even half-decent acoustics, there won't be any competition... other than maybe the price.

[bt04ku]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Given this day and age, and all the various parties involved, that is one of the bigger understatements of year. Which is why I take every piece of rumour on this issue with a HUGE grain of salt.

I'm personally putting even odds on us doing an Olympics bid in the very near future. For a games possibly sooner than most people think. And I bet we'd win. There's a lot of pro-Canada in the Olympic realm right now, it's the perfect time to strike. And it explains just why it's taking so bloody long to figure out Saddledome/McMahon replacements. I think there's a lot more going on here than just "the Flames", as some focus on.

I've always attributed the secrecy and delays because the Flames owners want to upstage the Oilers for the arena; see what they come up with, then build a better one. Given that the arena will be the 'jewel' and drive the success of the business, any talk of a McMahon replacement would get put on the backburner.



And just because I always love Olympic speculation even though I just don't believe it, that would definitely change the whole dynamic of funding and long term planning significantly. 2026 would be the time to go for it, even if it is only 16 years after Vancouver. Asia and Europe get the next two (or Asia-Asia I guess if Almaty can pull it off, but I think it's Oslo's to lose) which opens the door for another North American bid. Quebec City seems dead in the water given the problems with a ski hill so it really depends on what the US plans on doing, whether it be to make a bid for the Winter games or make a push for the 2024/2028 Summer games.

[red_179]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Yeah I call BS on this one.

My bet is still the West Village

My money is still on West Village as well.