Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

The MLS is coming along nicely as a league, and I'd love to see a team here. The problem is, Calgary is a graveyard for professional soccer, and even the talk last year of a NASL team starting up here (an important first step) is doomed from the start because of inadequate venues. Playing at McMahon would kill it before it begins.

I'd support an MLS team much more than an NASL team...if I'm going to pay money for something, I want the quality to be has high as possible, and the MLS is as good as its gets in North America. With NASL...might as well just go to a local park and watch some of the pickup games, or go watch community/school soccer.

The lack of even a half-decent soccer stadium is definitely an issue.

[RM14]

Very cool roof, I suppose they lower the roof for hitmen and rougneck games too?

However, the arena bowls are a little too cookie cutter for me in that rendering.

[metroneck]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

It's probably just a conceptual rendering of what things could be, not the actual design. Who knows who put it together.

Most likely the creator placed the Flames branding as a marketing piece for his company.

It in no secret that one of the few and next potential arenas to be built in North America is in Calgary. It keeps them on the Flames radar.

[Muta]

I wouldn't take what you saw in that video of what actually is getting built. From what I understand, that was a very, very high level conceptual idea created a while ago. You could have slapped any logo on centre ice in that arena; the point was an arena with moveable ceilings.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'd support an MLS team much more than an NASL team...if I'm going to pay money for something, I want the quality to be has high as possible, and the MLS is as good as its gets in North America. With NASL...might as well just go to a local park and watch some of the pickup games, or go watch community/school soccer.

The lack of even a half-decent soccer stadium is definitely an issue.

Oh I agree. Most people would rather watch the best that is available on the continent. But the reality is, no A-level professional league is going to enter a market where B and even C level franchises can't even last more than a year or two.

But would I rather sit and watch an MLS game over an NASL game? Absolutely, yes. It's just a chicken and egg thing.

[GreenLantern2814]

So, no new update?

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Muta

I wouldn't take what you saw in that video of what actually is getting built. From what I understand, that was a very, very high level conceptual idea created a while ago. You could have slapped any logo on centre ice in that arena; the point was an arena with moveable ceilings.

But but it had Flames into on the jumbotron as well.

[Tyler]

I'm almost more excited for the stadium than the arena. Going to be a beaut

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

I want an NFL team in Calgary

This is probably the closest you'll get

[strombad]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

So, no new update?

No. Did you miss the post this thread was bumped with?

[RW99]

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

The information I posted is exactly how it was presented to my source. Was just a quick mention, but from a VERY reliable person.

Was this before or after he bought his Julius Original and hotdog?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Muta

I wouldn't take what you saw in that video of what actually is getting built. From what I understand, that was a very, very high level conceptual idea created a while ago. You could have slapped any logo on centre ice in that arena; the point was an arena with moveable ceilings.

This makes me think the rumor the Flames are looking at a dual purpose stadium is true.

Moveable ceilings is the key for that. Ceiling comes down for a 20k hockey stadium and then transforms for a 40k capacity football stadium.

Not sure how the lower bowl would have to collapse to make room for a football field, and hopefully whatever they do doesn't impact the sightlines for a hockey game (Flames rink should be priority #1 IMO) but I would be shocked if that is not something the Flames are looking at.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This makes me think the rumor the Flames are looking at a dual purpose stadium is true.

Moveable ceilings is the key for that. Ceiling comes down for a 20k hockey stadium and then transforms for a 40k capacity football stadium.

Not sure how the lower bowl would have to collapse to make room for a football field, and hopefully whatever they do doesn't impact the sightlines for a hockey game (Flames rink should be priority #1 IMO) but I would be shocked if that is not something the Flames are looking at.

I wouldn't put my eggs in that basket, but that's just me.

[MikkaVernon]

So does our '89 and '18 Stanley cup banner move with the ceiling? What about brad Moran????

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This makes me think the rumor the Flames are looking at a dual purpose stadium is true.

Moveable ceilings is the key for that. Ceiling comes down for a 20k hockey stadium and then transforms for a 40k capacity football stadium.

Not sure how the lower bowl would have to collapse to make room for a football field, and hopefully whatever they do doesn't impact the sightlines for a hockey game (Flames rink should be priority #1 IMO) but I would be shocked if that is not something the Flames are looking at.

Originally Posted by Muta

I wouldn't put my eggs in that basket, but that's just me.

I can't see how you could design a building to expand/contract enough for CFL and hockey, and still provide a good experience for both events.

And if you could, I can't see how it would be even close to being cheaper than just building separate facilities.

If you watch that Discovery video, there is a short clip that shows something like that.

[Tyler]

I still see us going with something similar to the VTB Arena in Moscow, but on a modified scale (bigger arena, smaller football stadium)



Benefits

- One primary location (re: sporting/entertainment district)
- Year round use of overall facility (hockey, football, concerts, etc)
- One location for Calgary Transit (SunAlta Station)
- One main parkade
- Major concerts and sporting events can operate simultaneously (hockey and big concert, football and small concert, etc).

Here's where it COULD go:



thanks technomad on SSP for the above image

[Icon]

^ that's pretty cool.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This makes me think the rumor the Flames are looking at a dual purpose stadium is true.

Moveable ceilings is the key for that. Ceiling comes down for a 20k hockey stadium and then transforms for a 40k capacity football stadium.

Not sure how the lower bowl would have to collapse to make room for a football field, and hopefully whatever they do doesn't impact the sightlines for a hockey game (Flames rink should be priority #1 IMO) but I would be shocked if that is not something the Flames are looking at.

I would think that it a changable stadium was the way they were going, it would be more for concerts and shows than football. Both reference by the video it self, but also because it's been something they've been lamenting about the design of the current Saddledome. Also changing from 20-12 seems a lot more doable than 40-20.

I know the Flames own the Stamps, and I know that McMahon needs serious renos, but I don't think that's on the horizon for them right now, and I'm not sure what they'd get out of having their own football arena anyway.

[DT77]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This makes me think the rumor the Flames are looking at a dual purpose stadium is true.

Moveable ceilings is the key for that. Ceiling comes down for a 20k hockey stadium and then transforms for a 40k capacity football stadium.

Not sure how the lower bowl would have to collapse to make room for a football field, and hopefully whatever they do doesn't impact the sightlines for a hockey game (Flames rink should be priority #1 IMO) but I would be shocked if that is not something the Flames are looking at.

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If you watch that Discovery video, there is a short clip that shows something like that.

Yeah, at 5:19 you can see a short clip of how the stadium seating might transform. I'd originally thought it was simply something like Olympic/NHL ice, but the clip appears to show a change from near football size right down to a boxing style lay-out.

Either way, I'm quite interested to see what happens. Just so long as we don't all get our hopes up for some revolutionary and/or awesome design then get slapped with some cookie-cutter monstrocity (aka - third jersey).

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I know the Flames own the Stamps, and I know that McMahon needs serious renos, but I don't think that's on the horizon for them right now, and I'm not sure what they'd get out of having their own football arena anyway.

Parking revenue, for one. If I'm not mistaken, the Stampede gets all of the parking revenue at the Dome, and the University gets all of the parking revenue at McMahon.

The large, 20,000+ concert potential also exists, which is hampered at McMahon because of the complaints of nearby residents.

Not to mention the increased opportunities to simply sell more stuff - corporate boxes, better/more concessions, etc. I certainly think that McMahon is adequate (some would say "barely") for the 10 CFL games it hosts every year, but a new facility would open up a lot more revenue streams. Particularly if it is fully enclosed.

I'm certainly in the camp of "I'll believe it when I see it", but I do think that there are a lot of reasons they'd want to build a new football stadium as well.

Not to mention, and it shouldn't be understated, that building a multi-sport, multi-use facility that can benefit more Calgarians might attract more investors, or more likely, it could be a better pitch for some for tax dollars.