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getbak · 01-15-2014, 03:02 AM

Is Airdrie ever going to build a spectator arena of any size?

Airdrie is almost the same size as Medicine Hat now. It's much larger than Medicine Hat and Lethbridge were when their arenas were built. As far as I can tell, the biggest arena in Airdrie has a capacity of less than 500.

You'd think they could build something in the 5000-7500 seat range that would attract concerts similar to what they get in Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat. They could put the AHL team in this imaginary arena. It would (probably) be far enough away that they could make it their own team without cannibalizing from the Hitmen, while still close enough to pull in people from Calgary. The extra advantage is that players wouldn't have to move across the country when they got sent down or called up.

I saw/read an interview that Burke gave a couple of years ago talking about things that the Leafs take advantage of to attract free-agents even though the cap prevents them from outspending other teams on player contracts. One of the things he mentioned was the fact that the Leafs and Marlies both play in downtown Toronto.

I don't remember who it was, but he mentioned a European prospect who signed with the Leafs and one of the big deciding factors for him was that he could get an apartment in downtown Toronto and know that he was living there for the whole season whether he was in the AHL or NHL. I think it may have been Marcel Mueller ( http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=94087), who didn't amount to much with the Leafs, but that's not the point.

01-15-2014, 03:02 AM	#76
getbak Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	Is Airdrie ever going to build a spectator arena of any size? Airdrie is almost the same size as Medicine Hat now. It's much larger than Medicine Hat and Lethbridge were when their arenas were built. As far as I can tell, the biggest arena in Airdrie has a capacity of less than 500. You'd think they could build something in the 5000-7500 seat range that would attract concerts similar to what they get in Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat. They could put the AHL team in this imaginary arena. It would (probably) be far enough away that they could make it their own team without cannibalizing from the Hitmen, while still close enough to pull in people from Calgary. The extra advantage is that players wouldn't have to move across the country when they got sent down or called up. I saw/read an interview that Burke gave a couple of years ago talking about things that the Leafs take advantage of to attract free-agents even though the cap prevents them from outspending other teams on player contracts. One of the things he mentioned was the fact that the Leafs and Marlies both play in downtown Toronto. I don't remember who it was, but he mentioned a European prospect who signed with the Leafs and one of the big deciding factors for him was that he could get an apartment in downtown Toronto and know that he was living there for the whole season whether he was in the AHL or NHL. I think it may have been Marcel Mueller ( http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=94087), who didn't amount to much with the Leafs, but that's not the point. __________________ Turn up the good, turn down the suck!