New Downtown Calgary Arena

[The Urbanist]

Originally Posted by geotag277

I wonder if the Flames will connect the lack of demand for their product with their insufferable behaviour?

This is not how business in Calgary is successful. Whining and pouting and bitching and threatening your own customers and extorting hard working tax payers in the largest recession this city has seen in a generation where real small business owners are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising taxes.

They should leave. Their entire management team has shown itself to be absolutely tone deaf, incompetent, and outright insulting to the intelligence of every citizen of this city and every one of their loyal fans.

I've always thought it made the most sense for them to just leave to a new American market so that the NHL can continue with their expansion and interest building in the American market, while a hopelessly non-viable expansion south of the border can come back to Calgary once they are on the brink of bankruptcy. It makes sense for them to have a proven profitable market in their back pocket as they continue to experiment with the NHL in different American markets.

Hopefully next time the team can have owners more like Harley Hotchkiss, and less like these entitled overly political conservative old boys club idiots who routinely think nothing of insulting our mayor and threatening their own fans. Hotchkiss would have never allowed this.

Amen!

[ST1]

I don't care for the way the Flames have handled this, but at the same time I read all these comments from people here with the dumbass 'go ahead and leave anyway' attitude, and I'm not sure which side is more hypocritical. I don't suspect they'll leave, because not everyone in the city has that attitude. When they do finally get past all the posturing, etc... and a new arena gets built, you guys will be the first people to be back on the bandwagon. The first people to be enjoying big name concerts, and enjoying the new arena etc..

[jc_yyc_ca]

FFS did you even read the article?? The only talk about Calgary in the article is from the writer, speculating on Calgary being considered in the move. There's no official threat. What a jackass comment.

Originally Posted by patm

The relocation threats are now official.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/houston-nhl-expansion-calgary-flames-arena-relocation/?shawct=1

Frankly, if the only way they stay is by extorting hundreds of millions of dollars from tax payers with no chance of recouping any of it then they can leave. Seeeee ya.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Another link accompanied with a brilliant comment. A link to and article that says they are now a 'have not' team, due to a variety of factors, but not from lack of interest. Somehow though you've managed to equate that to lack of interest, even though attendance hasn't changed, and somehow you've managed to equate the two, and also equate it to the arena talks, even though they were a have not team before all that began.

The Flames are a 'have not' team because they happen to fit into the criteria.

For a bottom-15 team to collect a full revenue sharing cheque, it must reach at least 80% capacity in home attendance (last year that meant averaging about 14,000 per game) and show revenue growth that exceeds the league average. And the Flames have done that.

Teams in markets with more than 2.5 million television households cannot qualify for revenue sharing. By my unofficial estimate, that means the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Flyers, Blackhawks, Ducks, Sharks, Stars, and Kings are ineligible. And the Flames qualify in this regard also.

Originally Posted by geotag277

I wonder if the Flames will connect the lack of demand for their product with their insufferable behaviour?

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by ST1

I don't care for the way the Flames have handled this, but at the same time I read all these comments from people here with the dumbass 'go ahead and leave anyway' attitude, and I'm not sure which side is more hypocritical. I don't suspect they'll leave, because not everyone in the city has that attitude. When they do finally get past all the posturing, etc... and a new arena gets built, you guys will be the first people to be back on the bandwagon. The first people to be enjoying big name concerts, and enjoying the new arena etc..

How is it hypocritical? I couldn't care less if the Flames leave, in fact I'd like it as it would get all this nonsense out of the city and I find them to be the most vile form of corporate entitlement, failed capitalism. But I appreciate other people place value on having a team here and there are other uses for the arena, so I support some public money being spent. Just not giving them everything they want.

[ZeDgE]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Exactly! I also just don't get how people can still be so loyal to a team that shows such disdain for its fans.

Its the owners, not the team playing on the ice. Big difference.

[patm]

lol I'm on the city's side in all of this. Just saying the relocation articles are starting to come out.

Don't shoot the messenger.

[The Urbanist]

Originally Posted by patm

lol I'm on the city's side in all of this. Just saying the relocation articles are starting to come out.

Don't shoot the messenger.

It's the only tactic the ownership group can fall back on. This is an old story when it comes to arena negotiations. These things take time. Godspeed Nenshi.

[Northern]

Originally Posted by The Urbanist

It's the only tactic the ownership group can fall back on. This is an old story when it comes to arena negotiations. These things take time. Godspeed Nenshi.

If they do move it will suck, and it will all be because of people like you.

[YYCguys]

I recently read a report prepared in the event the Saddledome becomes vacated by its main tenant. There were some very interesting ideas laid out, including

1. Renovating the Saddledome into a recreation centre complete with soccer fields, ice surfaces and a workout facility at an estimated cost of $165M.
2. Repurposing the building into a convention centre at an estimated cost of $156M
3. Transforming the stadium into a 6,000 seat facility.
4. Utilizing the existing building for the 2026 Winter Olympics should Calgary elect to submit a bid and is awarded the games.
4. Continuing the current operations at an estimated cost of $1M per year.
5. Demolishing the building at a cost of roughly $13M.

Sadly I didn’t my dream idea in the report: creating an awesome water park similar to, and maybe better. than, the water park at WEM!

Which of the above options makes most sense to you? While I still think my water park idea rocks, of the options presented, I think a convention centre or recreation centre are the best uses.

https://www.scribd.com/document/364740642/FOI-Saddledome-Future-Use-Study#from_embed

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

I recently read a report prepared in the event the Saddledome becomes vacated by its main tenant. There were some very interesting ideas laid out, including

1. Renovating the Saddledome into a recreation centre complete with soccer fields, ice surfaces and a workout facility at an estimated cost of $165M.
2. Repurposing the building into a convention centre at an estimated cost of $156M
3. Transforming the stadium into a 6,000 seat facility.
4. Utilizing the existing building for the 2026 Winter Olympics should Calgary elect to submit a bid and is awarded the games.
4. Continuing the current operations at an estimated cost of $1M per year.
5. Demolishing the building at a cost of roughly $13M.

Sadly I didn’t my dream idea in the report: creating an awesome water park similar to, and maybe better. than, the water park at WEM!

Which of the above options makes most sense to you? While I still think my water park idea rocks, of the options presented, I think a convention centre or recreation centre are the best uses.

https://www.scribd.com/document/364740642/FOI-Saddledome-Future-Use-Study#from_embed

1. Why would we need a rec center in that location when the Repsol Center is more or less across the street and has plans for a $200 million expansion?

2. Isn't BMO being expanding into a major convention center? The Saddledome could serve a purpose but as an auxilliary facility not the main one.

3. No need for such a facility. Or at least not enough of a need.

4. If we bid for and get the 2026 Olympics that would be a good use but then after the fact we'd have to revisit the issue.

5. Demolishing it sounds good to me.

I like your water park idea. I think it could be done at a reasonable cost and could end up being a huge tourist attraction. I would add a major casino nearby or even attached and it make it a family attraction.

[craner]

The latest word-of-mouth, totally unsubstantiated rumour I heard is the Flames are looking at the Tsuu T'ina Nation as a location for their new arena.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by craner

The latest word-of-mouth, totally unsubstantiated rumour I heard is the Flames are looking at the Tsuu T'ina Nation as a location for their new arena.

It's not that crazy of an idea when you think about what the Flames really want.

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by craner

The latest word-of-mouth, totally unsubstantiated rumour I heard is the Flames are looking at the Tsuu T'ina Nation as a location for their new arena.

They'd have to be pretty stupid to go out there given how desperate the Senators are to get out of a similar location in Kanata.

[craner]

^And they still need someone to pay for construction of the building.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by craner

The latest word-of-mouth, totally unsubstantiated rumour I heard is the Flames are looking at the Tsuu T'ina Nation as a location for their new arena.

That is an absolutely ridiculous idea.

Suburban arenas have been universally unsuccessful. Ottawa, Anaheim, Dallas, Arizona and Florida are some examples of poorly sited facilities.

People will endure the nuisance of travelling to watch a winner, but if the team starts sucking, the attendance plummets more that it would had the arena be more accessible.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

It's not that crazy of an idea when you think about what the Flames really want.

They would pay for it fully if they got full reigns on developing many hundreds of acres and a stake in gambling. Of course, that would mean the nation would be left out of most of the profits.

It is a dangerous path for multiple reasons actually.

While I've never been bound by the city centre, I agreed with most that the arena needs to be centrally located and accessible by high-bandwidth transit.

[patm]

Originally Posted by craner

The latest word-of-mouth, totally unsubstantiated rumour I heard is the Flames are looking at the Tsuu T'ina Nation as a location for their new arena.

That would be pretty smart on both sides.

Tsuu Tina will give them what they want and they can build out that Grey Eagle area like crazy. Even though it won't be central if they do build out an entertainment district around it and have the ring road near by it won't be that bad. It's not like it's Balzac. Sucks if you're limited to transit though but I mean, meh. I doubt most people buying tickets are limited to transit.

We get to keep the Flames and don't have to pay for the arena? Win Win.

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by craner

The latest word-of-mouth, totally unsubstantiated rumour I heard is the Flames are looking at the Tsuu T'ina Nation as a location for their new arena.

Brilliant! Would definitely be entirely funded by the Federal Government then!

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

I recently read a report prepared in the event the Saddledome becomes vacated by its main tenant. There were some very interesting ideas laid out, including

1. Renovating the Saddledome into a recreation centre complete with soccer fields, ice surfaces and a workout facility at an estimated cost of $165M.
2. Repurposing the building into a convention centre at an estimated cost of $156M
3. Transforming the stadium into a 6,000 seat facility.
4. Utilizing the existing building for the 2026 Winter Olympics should Calgary elect to submit a bid and is awarded the games.
4. Continuing the current operations at an estimated cost of $1M per year.
5. Demolishing the building at a cost of roughly $13M.

Sadly I didn’t my dream idea in the report: creating an awesome water park similar to, and maybe better. than, the water park at WEM!

Which of the above options makes most sense to you? While I still think my water park idea rocks, of the options presented, I think a convention centre or recreation centre are the best uses.

https://www.scribd.com/document/364740642/FOI-Saddledome-Future-Use-Study#from_embed

I vote for the water park idea as well.