Quote:
Originally Posted by GordonBlue
Rogers in edmonton is 77th worldwide at 256,000
Calgary is 161 at 80,000
that seems to settle the argument about calgary losing concerts and events to edmonton. that's a huge difference.
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That 80,000 number seems wonky. Garth Brooks played 7 sold-out shows at the Dome last year. I'd guess that the total attendance at each show was in the 15,000 range, which would put the total for just those shows over 100,000.
Even still, being below Abbotsford on the list isn't a good look.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Muta
And Saskatoon is about to build a new professional hockey arena as well.
It's sad when we're the 4th biggest city in Canada and we're falling behind in sports infrastructure to the likes of Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Edmonton.
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From what I've read, "about to build" is an overstatement of the situation in Saskatoon. They're still pretty early in the process there. If I were a betting man, I'd say the Flames are likely to be playing in their new arena before the Blades.
We have to be cautious to not assume that every other city won't go through the same struggles that Calgary has (and every city before them) in the process to get a new arena built.
Hell, just last week, Melnyk was apparently speaking at a Senators STH event and expressed concern over the downtown arena development plan and suggested that the Sens might just stay in Kanata. At this rate, I wouldn't bet against the Flames being in their new building before the Sens.
This process doesn't go smoothly anywhere.
Also, I really dislike the whole "falling behind" argument on this.
Edmonton has had a better arena than Calgary from 1974 to 1983 and from 2016 until Calgary's new arena opens. Outside of those two windows, Calgary has had the better arena between the two cities (or, at least on par).
Looking at the Stadiums, McMahon was superior to Taylor Field, Winnipeg Stadium, Ivor Wynne, and Lansdowne Park for decades. Those stadiums' replacements have been superior to McMahon for a few years so far.
Over the balance of time, Calgary has had the superior facilities for much longer than those other cities. Unless this process drags out for decades more, that will stay true over the long term.
McMahon and the Saddledome could both improve the guest experience. Their concourses and washrooms are too crowded. It can take too long to buy food or drink during breaks so you miss part of the games. When it comes down to it, they're both still functional and neither one is falling apart. Remember the final season the Renegades were in the CFL, they had close off part of the stadium because it was considered unsafe for human occupation.
We don't need instant gratification. I'd love for the Flames and Stamps to be playing in new and shiny buildings right now, but I'm willing to wait for the best deal for the people of Calgary to get made.