The middle of nowhere debate is interesting - it is really a trade off between vehicle access/egress/parking, and pedestrian vibrancy. Bigger cities have the existing density, capable transit systems, and general lifestyle that make it possible to plunk an arena in the middle of a busy area with limited parking.
That's not Calgary. Imagine the arena was built where the Bow Building not stands. Or Eau Claire. Or North Hill Mall. Or CNext proposed location. None of those locations could really be called 'middle of nowhere' (except CNext). But I don't think any of them would work any better in terms of 'vibrancy'. They wouldn't be any better for transit, but would be much worse for cars.
Calgary isn't New York, Toronto, Montreal, or even Vancouver. Cars are king here, and the Vic Park location is the best compromise to serving vehicular traffic, with the potential to achieve the entertainment district 'vibrancy' everyone desires.
There is only one conceivable pipe-dream location to me that might have been even better of both worlds: between 9th ave and 10th Ave SW and 5th St-7th St. (where the old Alberta Boot used to be) - but, there are considerable drawbacks that make it impossible (space not quite big enough, land ownership, not to mention the substantial added cost of designing a building over the CN tracks/sinking the tracks, etc.). Even if all of those things were engineered, I still don't think it would be the MSG type situation people are dreaming of.
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