Olympics 2026 Potential Bid Thread

[MalcolmTucker]

Another full size arena. Even if Edmonton just took curling, that saves building a new venue.

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Another full size arena. Even if Edmonton just took curling, that saves building a new venue.

I don't know a thing about the coordination of all the arena sports. One would have to evaluate if the Saddledome and Maxbell could handle the 2 hockey tournaments, 2 curling tournaments and 5 figure skating events that occur in the two week period.

Ferrying athletes, media and operations people back and forth between Edmonton and Calgary would be a pain.

Also note, Father David Bauer Olympic Arena has a capacity of 2000.

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by UofC.engineer

I don't know a thing about the coordination of all the arena sports. One would have to evaluate if the Saddledome and Maxbell could handle the 2 hockey tournaments, 2 curling tournaments and 5 figure skating events that occur in the two week period.

Ferrying athletes, media and operations people back and forth between Edmonton and Calgary would be a pain.

Also note, Father David Bauer Olympic Arena has a capacity of 2000.

'88 Olympics used (says Wikipedia):
- Men's Hockey: Saddledome, Corral, Father David Bauer
- Women's Hockey: didn't exist
- Figure Skating: Saddledome, Corral, Father David Bauer
- Men's and Women's Curling: Max Bell (only had 8 teams on each side then, 2012 had 12 teams each)

[WhipperSnapper]

Why would you need 2 full sized arenas?

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Why would you need 2 full sized arenas?

Men's hockey, women's hockey, men's figure skating, women's figure skating, men's curling, women's curling. You likely need one large arena, a second mid-sized arena, and then a modest to mid-sized arena (the third of which would be for curling).

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Men's hockey, women's hockey, men's figure skating, women's figure skating, men's curling, women's curling. You likely need one large arena, a second mid-sized arena, and then a modest to mid-sized arena (the third of which would be for curling).

Can build a 7000 seater for around $50 million. Something tells me that would be cheaper than the security and logistics of hosting a few events in Rogers Arena.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Another full size arena. Even if Edmonton just took curling, that saves building a new venue.

The international arena at WinSport would be excellent for curling or for some of the hockey games also. Better than David Baurer. Real top notch space IMHO.
http://www.gecarchitecture.com/sites/default/files/WinsportGather2.jpg?1325541949

[Innersoul1]

I don't think that we need to include Edmonton in the bid. Really their presence would add a opening/closing games venue and two arenas for potentially hockey/figure skating and curling. They might also push for an event like aerials and or ski jumping which might steal potential infrastructure from Calgary where we already have a concentration of Olympic training venues. Plus you add the distance which has a realistic cost.

There is a really question and that is will the NHL be involved in these games. I would lean to yes. This would mean the necessity for large venues (new or renovated to support all the ice sports). I see it like this assuming NHL involvement:

Hockey: New Building, Saddledome, Max Bell or Winsport
Figure Skating: Saddledome
Short Track: Winsport
Curling: New 8000 seat venue at the UofC or MRU.

**we have to keep in mind that curling is a big draw (pun intended) in these parts. It's an easy ticket sell and it creates the opportunity to build a medium sized venue that the city really needs

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Hockey: New Building, Saddledome, Max Bell or Winsport
Figure Skating: Saddledome
Short Track: Winsport
Curling: New 8000 seat venue at the UofC or MRU.

**we have to keep in mind that curling is a big draw (pun intended) in these parts. It's an easy ticket sell and it creates the opportunity to build a medium sized venue that the city really needs

Given that high quality temporary ice surfaces have been possible for the NHL, and that there have been good examples of temporary sports surfaces created indoors in exhibition type spaces, I'm wondering if a good enough quality ice surface could be created within one of the BMO Centre halls? By the time 2026 rolls around, there will be 4 pillar-free BMO Centre halls of 50K sf each. If one of those was converted for a custom curling facility, and given that the Saddledome would be an additional venue next door, perhaps some of the additional BMO Centre space could be utilized as other complimentary Olympics space, IE art / culture / heritage type exhibitions exchanges / global village - that type of thing. It could be a great Olympics hub near the centre of the city.

I've also always wondered if the grandstand at Stampede Park could somehow be used for an opening or closing, or alternate event. It clearly is not as large as McMahon, but just pointing out that there are other non-traditional possibilities in Calgary, either for sports or for complimentary events.

[Socguy]

That's good thinking. The only way an Olympic bid would work is if it could be put on for substantially less than what's currently expected. Any new facilities to be constructed would need to have a firm plan for use after the games. Definitely don't want to end up in the situation of so many other hosts who end up with billions of dollars wasted on abandoned Olympic infrastructure.

[CalgaryCheese]

I think rail transport to Banff would be great to host the olympics again, but what would the cost be?

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by CalgaryCheese

I think rail transport to Banff would be great to host the olympics again, but what would the cost be?

I have a strong feeling that Parks Canada (and nor the environmentalists) would allow new train infrastructure within Banff National Park. Now that being said, while it wouldn't be for people moving, I wonder if the current rail line could be opened up once again for passenger service from Calgary to Lake Louise, with stops in Canmore and Banff? Perhaps something like to Olympics will make people think about that once again.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by CalgaryCheese

I think rail transport to Banff would be great to host the olympics again, but what would the cost be?

Originally Posted by suburbia

I have a strong feeling that Parks Canada (and nor the environmentalists) would allow new train infrastructure within Banff National Park. Now that being said, while it wouldn't be for people moving, I wonder if the current rail line could be opened up once again for passenger service from Calgary to Lake Louise, with stops in Canmore and Banff? Perhaps something like to Olympics will make people think about that once again.

I've heard the number $500 million thrown around to get to Cochrane. So around double?

You basically have to double track with a good amount of triple track, which the right of way is wide enough, but in lots of places isn't flat, is perched on a river bank, or otherwise super constrained.

The line is a freight mainline after all.

With Banff investigating a gondola town transport system, and maybe with the same in Lake Louise, I could see major utility with it.

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

I've heard the number $500 million thrown around to get to Cochrane. So around double?

You basically have to double track with a good amount of triple track, which the right of way is wide enough, but in lots of places isn't flat, is perched on a river bank, or otherwise super constrained.

The line is a freight mainline after all.

With Banff investigating a gondola town transport system, and maybe with the same in Lake Louise, I could see major utility with it.

Wow, nothing comes cheap these days!
I don't have traffic data but the TransCanada highway is always packed on a Friday/Sunday evening. I think a train from Calgary to Lake Louise would be wildly popular.

The Banff to Canmore bus has been very successful:

http://roamtransit.com/services/canmore-banff-regional/

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by suburbia

I have a strong feeling that Parks Canada (and nor the environmentalists) would allow new train infrastructure within Banff National Park. Now that being said, while it wouldn't be for people moving, I wonder if the current rail line could be opened up once again for passenger service from Calgary to Lake Louise, with stops in Canmore and Banff? Perhaps something like to Olympics will make people think about that once again.

I'm not sure why Parks Canada wouldn't be on board with using the existing rail infrastructure to improve public transit and reduce vehicle usage in the park. There is a study in the works on the subject to answer questions regarding necessary upgrades:

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/banff-seeks-revival-of-passenger-rail-service-to-calgary

Even CP has signed on:
http://www.cochraneeagle.com/article/Canadian-Pacific-on-board-with-passenger-rail-study-20160310

I think it's a great idea, provided there is some type of Park 'n Ride in Calgary. I'm not sure if it's because of the tourists or the city folk not used to highway driving, but Highway 1 between Calgary and Banff is chronically home to some of the worst driving habits in Canada. Being able to avoid that frustration is very welcome indeed.

[MalcolmTucker]

[del]

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Here is Banff's initial idea for a gondola system:

http://www.banff.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2639

The last station is a 1km away from the train station, though an indirect link would probably be better than a direct one since it wouldn't destroy the playing field, and could have a higher ppdph link down Elk Street from the train station/maybe an intercept lot than the rest of the system may have.

That's a great post! I had no idea a new gondola was being planned for Banff. I think the BVRTSC want's to introduce a bus service along highway 1A that goes to Lake Louise next year.

[MalcolmTucker]

[del]

[simster3]

I find the issue with the train is that many people in the summer are not going from Calgary to Banff townsite exclusively. I know when I go to Banff it is to go hiking somewhere, or even into Kananaskis or Spray Lakes area and I assume that is the majority of the Hwy 1 traffic. Mostly people couldn't utilize a train because they are not staying only in an area the train stops. But I think it would be a cool experience and I would probably try it once for the novelty. Also, I think CP would be the hard sell to allow passenger service on their line.

[Innersoul1]

The Banff gondola looks cool. I think it would make sense to have an actual station at Tunnel Mountain given the density of camping sites as well has hotels.