New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Socguy]

Also, any post about Canadian cities changing arenas is totally relevant to the current speculation regarding a new arena in Calgary. What has worked and not worked elsewhere should always be considered.

Thanks for the link 5seconds!

[O-tacular]

I was just in Vegas and staying at the Monte Carlo. Right beside me they were building that city's new arena. It actually looks really nice. I know they are trying to attract an NHL team and that UFC needs another facility they can use. Since there is no existing team involved I assume it is being funded by the city.

In Calgary's case I think the Flames should fund it 100%. The argument that they need help is bullshit and if they do it themselves they can reap the most rewards as parking, concessions etc. will all fall into their pockets. I'm not holding my breath though. Didn't Ken King just say like 2 weeks ago that we would be seeing plans this month or next?

[bt04ku]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

In Calgary's case I think the Flames should fund it 100%. The argument that they need help is bullshit and if they do it themselves they can reap the most rewards as parking, concessions etc. will all fall into their pockets. I'm not holding my breath though. Didn't Ken King just say like 2 weeks ago that we would be seeing plans this month or next?

It has been in "the next couple of months" phase for three or four years now I think.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by bt04ku

It has been in "the next couple of months" phase for three or four years now I think.

Yep. I'll believe it when I see it. All I can say is that if Ken King is waiting for them to get all of their ducks in a row there better not be any empty hat holding during the presentation.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Socguy

Of course as the article shows, that's not necessarily the case. Being that the Ottawa arena was designed to be the "centerpiece of a new commercial development that never materialized".

I was debating editing my post to say 'designed and located' correctly. You are correct but I think an inner-city arena has much more draw than the area surrounding the CTC.

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by bt04ku

It has been in "the next couple of months" phase for three or four years now I think.

No kidding. I've actually given up on this ever happening. Too many obstacles I suppose. I guess we are stuck with an 80's state of the art arena and a way past its due date, US high school stadium.

[Socguy]

Originally Posted by Riise

I was debating editing my post to say 'designed and located' correctly. You are correct but I think an inner-city arena has much more draw than the area surrounding the CTC.

In that case I do agree with you.

As far as Calgary is concerned, I'm having a hard time thinking of a better location for an arena, than near where it is now.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

So didn't we hear that something would be out about a new arena by years end awhile back? Only a few weeks until the end of December, what are the chances something is released?

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

No kidding. I've actually given up on this ever happening. Too many obstacles I suppose. I guess we are stuck with an 80's state of the art arena and a way past its due date, US high school stadium.

McMahon could easily be renovated to be a great venue, it just needs to be gutted and completely rebuilt with stands, concessions and washrooms on the north and south ends. The Saddledome is limited by it's design, and to renovate it to where it can be a competitive building with Rexall and MTS (both destroy the Dome in terms of revenue despite being much smaller) you would practically have to demolish everything and start over.

That being said, I do love the idea of having an arena district comprising both an arena and stadium.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

McMahon could easily be renovated to be a great venue, it just needs to be gutted and completely rebuilt with stands, concessions and washrooms on the north and south ends.

LOL!

Yeah - that's like consultant speak. When you ask them for stuff, the standard response is "it can be done". Well no guff - of course it is "possible".

[93JC]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

The Saddledome is limited by it's design, and to renovate it to where it can be a competitive building with Rexall and MTS (both destroy the Dome in terms of revenue despite being much smaller) you would practically have to demolish everything and start over.

I'm sure you're relying on Pollstar rankings for this assertion. Don't. Their rankings are based on "reported numbers to Pollstar", and that's not a clear number by any means.

E.g. Pollstar says Rexall had 214,833 concert tickets sold in the first half of this year, compared to the Saddledome's 71,756.

Concerts and other events at Rexall:
Justin Timberlake (two nights)
Pink
Keith Urban
Lady Antebellum
Kings of Leon
Hedley
Steve Miller Band
Florida Georgia Line
Black Sabbath
Investors Group Stars on Ice
Luke Bryan (two nights)
Backstreet Boys
City and Color
Lady Gaga
Doctor Oz
Michael Bublé
Cher
Queen + Adam Lambert

Saddledome:
CHL Top Prospects Game
Keith Urban
Harlem Globetrotters
Kings of Leon
Florida Georgia Line
Black Sabbath
Luke Bryan
Investors Group Stars on Ice
Backstreet Boys
City and Color
Lady Gaga
Doctor Oz
Michael Bublé (two nights)
Cher
Queen + Adam Lambert

The Pollstar numbers almost certainly don't take into account the Top Prospects game, and that's fine, but that's still 15 events at the Saddledome vs. 20 at Rexall. I find it very hard to believe that the concert crowds at the Saddledome average a paltry 4800...

[Surrealplaces]

Agreed. Something doesn't look right with the stats, not a whole lot of difference in events between the two venues. I wonder if there are numbers for just total revenue only?

Originally Posted by 93JC

I'm sure you're relying on Pollstar rankings for this assertion. Don't. Their rankings are based on "reported numbers to Pollstar", and that's not a clear number by any means.

E.g. Pollstar says Rexall had 214,833 concert tickets sold in the first half of this year, compared to the Saddledome's 71,756.

Concerts and other events at Rexall:
Justin Timberlake (two nights)
Pink
Keith Urban
Lady Antebellum
Kings of Leon
Hedley
Steve Miller Band
Florida Georgia Line
Black Sabbath
Investors Group Stars on Ice
Luke Bryan (two nights)
Backstreet Boys
City and Color
Lady Gaga
Doctor Oz
Michael Bublé
Cher
Queen + Adam Lambert

Saddledome:
CHL Top Prospects Game
Keith Urban
Harlem Globetrotters
Kings of Leon
Florida Georgia Line
Black Sabbath
Luke Bryan
Investors Group Stars on Ice
Backstreet Boys
City and Color
Lady Gaga
Doctor Oz
Michael Bublé (two nights)
Cher
Queen + Adam Lambert

The Pollstar numbers almost certainly don't take into account the Top Prospects game, and that's fine, but that's still 15 events at the Saddledome vs. 20 at Rexall. I find it very hard to believe that the concert crowds at the Saddledome average a paltry 4800...

[monocle]

So... a month and a half with no new news??? I'm dying here, somebody throw me a bone. Anything please...

Here's my conspiracy theory: CP is advertising during Flames games. Why in the hell does CP need to advertise? Because they are working with the Flames to build the arena on/over CP land, right? Ergo, Railtown is the obvious location.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by monocle

So... a month and a half with no new news??? I'm dying here, somebody throw me a bone. Anything please...

Here's my conspiracy theory: CP is advertising during Flames games. Why in the hell does CP need to advertise? Because they are working with the Flames to build the arena on/over CP land, right? Ergo, Railtown is the obvious location.

I love how every few months Ken King says a design will be revealed in a few months, only to repeat the same cycle again when the time comes to reveal.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

IIRC we were told by the "end of the year" we'd hear an announcement.

Should have specified which year.

[monocle]

Possibly, we are getting a bigger better building than the original plan? That's how these things work right? Underpromise, overdeliver.

[Bigtime]

Well if part of their plan involved funding from the different levels of government it's going to be pretty quiet on that front this year...

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Well if part of their plan involved funding from the different levels of government it's going to be pretty quiet on that front this year...

I figured their plan all along was to put out their beggars' cap. Corporate Calgary won't be too eager to donate millions of dollars right now either.

[bt04ku]

Perfect time for these oil barons to diversify their portfolio with a big real estate and entertainment push.

[The Fisher Account]

Apparently Gary Bettman was in town today and met with Nenshi...