Quote:
Originally Posted by cam_wmh
That is probably the most ridiculous suggestion I’ve read, and I feel the forum is dumber for having it.
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Well, I don’t think it’s that far fetched. I had heard the idea before too. There is to be massive retail development on the Tsu Tina, south of the Casino, unlocked by and thanks to the ring road which will have hundreds of thousands of people much closer driving wise to that area in general, basically anyone south of Glenmore Tr and West of Crowchild north of the river. Live up in Tuscany? 15 minute drive to Anderson once you get onto Stoney. Auburn Bay at the far south east, probably about the same to Anderson and 37th via the RR.
But more so, my guess is that the developers would love to have the rink there, for the shopping,hotel, and entertainment district they can create around it, even though there is one going in regardlesss. And likely, would provide a huge incentive financially for the Flames owners to build there. Probably save the owners $100m or more in land costs and tax savings etc, nevermind construction shared costs.
But yes, of course access, even with a 8 lane ring road spawning the city making commutes to and from the rink a lot shorter for a lot more people then current, is a problem.
That said, if you could make access to and from the rink by car a shorter trip than most people who drive to a train station and pack on a train, would those people drive? Let’s say parking is $25, of course it may be more but with more space out there and a district and the Flames in control of it, and looking to have traffic into the area, maybe it’s not. Compared for a family of 4 to spend $10x2 on transit to take the train down. Going to be spending 20% to 30% more on game tickets probably, and the same increase on food and booze, so a night out is going to cost regardless. Do people take the train due to convienence or cost savings over driving themselves, currently?
Anyways, yes, transit and ctrain line is preferable. But if they could make an experience where commmuting to and from games is about the same time for 80% of the people in attendance currently, it may be worth the risk. I have been to Ottawa and it is a ride from downtown for sure, but up until recently, the building has been pretty full there, and this would be a better setup with said ring road and an entertainment district hotel, bar, restaurant etc, keeping people there longer or having people get there early. Ottawa is basically the arena in a field with a couple interchanges feeding it, that’s it. This would not be as far for most people then Ottawa is.
But the space the Flames would have to build without restriction, probably build a practice facility out there too. Go the full shot and build a field house out there too. Add in the incentive and large cost saving they’d have from the developers, and also not have to deal with the city and or the Stampede board (these are massive things for the owners) as part of the process, or going forward, and it would be nothing to sneeze at, so a good chance it’s been kicked around at some level at some point, as an albeit unorthodox option.